UNE Holds Graduation Ceremony in Hong Kong

November 15, 2007

The University of New England held its annual graduation ceremony in Hong Kong this week, with families and friends attending the joyful celebration of 97 graduates at the Miramar Hotel.

The graduates completed awards in Administrative Leadership, Counselling, Gerontology, Communication and Management and Professional Studies.

UNE has been offering courses in Hong Kong for more than a decade in partnership with The Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong and Shue Yan University. The courses are offered via distance education with intensive residential schools occurring in Hong Kong. UNE academic staff deliver the lecturers with the assistance of local tutors.

In delivering this year's Occasional Address, Professor Alan Pettigrew, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of UNE, said a university education should develop values of critical thinking, intellectual approaches to problem solving and intellectual consideration of what the future may bring.

"There are many challenges facing the world, especially through climate change and economic and social disparity," Professor Pettigrew said.

"Issues such as these provide a wonderful opportunity for graduates who have experienced an international collaboration in their education, and which has led to a qualification based on international values and experience, to make a difference in society.

"These thoughts are also crucial to our own planning at UNE as an international provider of tertiary education. We are moving quickly to renew the content and rigour of our programs and to create new study opportunities that are more attuned to the world situation and developments in modern societies.

"We aim to offer programs that will impart up-to-date, work-ready skills and strong values to all our graduates," he said.

Ng Chui Yee, a graduate from the Bachelor of Administrative Leadership, delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the newly admitted graduates.

Ms Ng said that she found the course of a high standard and spoke about the support and guidance she received from both UNE academic staff and local Hong Kong tutors.

"The course provided me with new critical thinking skills that are so important to my professional development and the workforce," she said.

Posted by Leon Braun at November 15, 2007 02:47 PM