Six diplomas, one degree, and still going: meet RP's 69-year-old graduate

A specialist diploma at 69, a career shift in motion, and a mindset that refuses to slow down. Adrian Lau is one of RP's most inspiring graduates.

Back in the 1970s, Adrian joined the army as a young man from a humble background, with just a basic trade certificate to his name. Through decades of hard work in health and safety across oil and gas, shipping, construction and manufacturing, he never stopped pursuing one goal: to keep learning, no matter his age.

This May, he added another qualification to an already impressive list. Six diplomas, one degree, and now a Specialist Diploma in Environmental and Corporate Sustainability from RP, earned part-time.

The decision to study sustainability came naturally after years in health and safety roles. Adrian wanted to gain a proper understanding of sustainability reporting and carbon emissions calculations, skills that are increasingly in demand across every industry today.

What makes his story even more remarkable is where he started. Growing up as the sixth of ten children, he remembers feeling lost in Primary 1, without even knowing his ABCs. That early sense of catching up stayed with him and became fuel for everything that followed.

"When I was in the army, one of my aspirations was that, by hook or by crook, I needed to get a degree," he shares. He finally achieved that in his 60s, graduating from the University of Newcastle, Australia, in collaboration with PSB Academy, at age 60.

Now recently retrenched and job hunting again, Adrian isn't slowing down. His outlook says it all: "Learning keeps you going. It oils your mind and you articulate your thoughts better."

Adrian is part of a growing trend at RP. Senior learners aged 60 and above now make up 11.3% of the student population, more than double what it was in 2022.

Inspired by Adrian's commitment to lifelong learning? Take the next step and explore RP's October 2026 intake to find a programme that fits your goals.