University to hold convocation ceremony for Singapore graduates
Australia's 1998-99 University of the Year, the University of Queensland, will hold a convocation event on Friday, March 19 at 7.30pm at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore to acknowledge achievements of new graduates in the presence of alumni, family and friends.
A total of 111 recent graduates will be presented to University Chancellor Sir Llewellyn Edwards at the convocation ceremony to be attended by 550 guests.
Speakers at the event include inaugural UQ Alumni Association (Singapore) president Alvin Chew and Queensland Education Minister, the Honourable Dean Wells.
Sir Llewellyn, University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor John Hay, and University Secretary and Registrar Douglas Porter will also speak at the event, which will be followed by a cocktail reception.
In 1996 alumni associations were formed in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong to represent the interests of graduates and help them maintain contact with the University. Almost 600 graduates are listed on the University's convocation roll for Singapore.
The University's alumni include former Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew, awarded an honorary doctorate in 1995 for his outstanding contribution to the development of the Republic of Singapore.
The largest proportion of the University's overseas enrolments is from Singapore. This year 481 students from Singapore are studying at the University of Queensland, and the University has seen a 25 percent increase in new enrolments from Singapore, from 129 to 161 students.
The University also currently has agreements with Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. It is a member of Universitas 21, an elite grouping of universities limited to 20 members world wide, who are committed to quality enhancement through international benchmarking. Members of Universitas 21 include the National University of Singapore, University of Hong Kong, Peking University and Fudan University.
Sir Llewellyn said assemblies of alumni, or convocations, were as important to the University of Queensland as they were to its graduates. The University conducted such ceremonies to introduce new graduates to those who had preceded them, in the company of their families and friends.
Sir Llewellyn said the University had many international students during the past 50 years, but in recent years, had witnessed a remarkable growth in the diversity of its student body, particularly in offering places to scholars from the great centres of Asia such as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
"Knowledge and scholarship are not restricted by national boundaries and we see ourselves as an international institution, very much enhanced by the interaction of staff and students of different cultures," he said.
"This ceremony also signifies the University's willingness to participate positively within the Asian region. We hope that our graduates will take an active role in the University's regional activities and maintain contact with their fellow students.
"Participation in the University's graduate networks enables graduates to develop personal and business friendships and provides opportunities to continue their association with the institution which has played such a vital role in their education."
For further information contact: Ms Melinda Seymour, University Protocol Officer, care of the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore - telephone 737 3644 (Wednesday March 17 to Saturday, March 20)
Convocation ceremony for Hong Kong graduates Convocation ceremony for Malaysian graduates
