These five students travelled 4,000 km to graduate from TMU
Graduates of The Chang School’s certificate in Full Stack Developer program celebrate their achievements alongside family and TMU leadership. Pictured from left to right: Linda Koechli (dean, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education), Zane Angel, Nazima Azeez, Stephanie Simon, Sameya Khan, Rashan Reid and Mohamed Lachemi (president and vice-chancellor, TMU).
This past convocation marked a special milestone for these adult learners from Guyana.
On June 24, 2025, they crossed the convocation stage at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC), having successfully completed The Chang School’s certificate in Full Stack Developer.
To celebrate their achievement, Linda Koechli, dean of The Chang School hosted a post-convocation celebration at the Peter Bronfman Learning Centre. Joining the celebration were the graduates' families, the Gold Medal recipient, representatives from Riavera, including founder Mark Itwaru and select members of TMU and The Chang School leadership.
While five of the graduates traveled from Guyana to cross the stage in person, they represent a much larger and growing community of learners. Since the program launched in May 2024, 92 learners have successfully completed the Full Stack Developer certificate fully online and officially graduated. The initiative demonstrates the power of flexible, career-relevant education to build technical capacity and drive digital innovation in Guyana and beyond.
“This moment shows the transformative power of online education,” says Linda Koechli, dean of The Chang School. “These graduates remind us what’s possible when learning crosses borders.”
This milestone reflects The Chang School’s deep commitment to making career-relevant education accessible to learners around the world. The success of these graduates not only highlights individual achievement but also underscores the school’s growing role as a leader in flexible, high-impact learning that transcends borders and transforms lives.
For many of the Guyanese graduates, enrolling in the certificate program was a strategic decision to build new skills in today’s rapidly changing job market. The program is designed for flexibility, offering working professionals the opportunity to build in-demand software development skills —such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React and Node.js —entirely online.
About the graduates
Among the graduating group is Rashan Roland Reid, a public communications officer at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority. Driven by a desire to contribute to Guyana’s growing tech sector, Reid embraced the self-directed nature of the online program to deepen his knowledge and build a strong foundation in web technologies.
From code to convocation: Full Stack Developer graduate Rashan Reid shares a proud moment with Linda Koechli, dean of The Chang School, after crossing the stage at TMU’s summer 2025 ceremony.
“I was surprised by my ability to meet every deadline, despite the program’s fast pace,” said Reid. “It tested my time management and self-discipline, but it also gave me the flexibility to explore topics that genuinely interested me.”
Reid credits his success to both personal drive and a strong support network, including his children, spouse, mother, uncle and close-knit classmates who stayed connected via WhatsApp and class discussions.
“Coming from humble beginnings, I’ve always seen education as the path forward,” he added. “Now I want to use my skills to help Guyanese businesses innovate and grow.”
Also graduating is Nazima Azeez, who transitioned from a career as a medical laboratory technologist and addiction community social worker to full-stack development. Motivated by a passion for technology and its potential to create positive change in Guyana’s health care and tech sectors, Azeez embraced the challenge of learning coding from scratch.
Full Stack Developer graduate Nazima Azeez celebrates her academic milestone with Linda Koechli, dean of The Chang School. With a perfect GPA and a passion for innovation, Azeez is ready to harness the power of tech to drive digital transformation in Guyana.
“The program’s support and flexibility were key to my success,” said Azeez. “Balancing studies with other responsibilities was tough, but the encouragement from my parents, instructors and study buddy helped me stay on track.”
Azeez hopes to leverage her new skills to drive innovation, develop digital solutions, healthcare, and mentor aspiring developers in her community.
Global reach, local impact
The success of this group reflects The Chang School’s mission: delivering education that meets learners where they are geographically, professionally and personally. As adult learners balance work, family and studies, programs like this prove that meaningful education can happen across time zones and borders.
Whether juggling parenting, full-time employment or other life responsibilities, learners like Reid and Azeez demonstrate that education is no longer confined by age, geography or circumstance.
“Our mission is to make high-impact learning accessible to everyone, no matter where they live,” says Koechli. “The success of these graduates from Guyana is a powerful testament to that commitment. It shows how flexible, high-quality education can empower individuals globally to transform their careers and communities.”
The partnership with Riavera, a key supporter of the Guyanese graduates, exemplifies how strategic collaborations amplify the reach and impact of The Chang School’s programs. Together, they create pathways for learners in developing countries to access world-class education and contribute to their home economies with newly acquired skills.
As the Chang School continues to expand its global learners, it remains dedicated to driving innovation across borders.
Learn more about the Certificate in Full Stack Developer program on the Chang School website.