The University of Queensland will hold a convocation event on Friday, March 14 at 8pm at the Oriental Hotel, Marina Square, Singapore to acknowledge achievements of new graduates in the presence of alumni, family and friends.
A total of 42 recent graduates will be presented to University Chancellor Sir Llew Edwards at the convocation ceremony.
Alumni association committee member Mr Chua Poh Kian will speak at the ceremony.
Last year alumni associations were formed in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong to represent the interests of about 1000 graduates and help them maintain contact with the University.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the University was proud of the achievements of its international students, and the outstanding contributions they made to society.
Professor Hay said overseas students accounted for about 5 percent of the University's 26,000 student population and in 1996 included 269 students from the Republic of Singapore, 226 students from Malaysia and 77 students from Hong Kong.
Professor Hay said for a student to travel to a university in another country demonstrated a true commitment to education. The University was working closely with educational groups to enable students to undertake some University of Queensland studies in their home countries.
For example, an arrangement with the Singapore Institute of Commerce allowed University of Queensland lecturers to share their expertise in postgraduate studies.
The Kuala Lumpur convocation ceremony will include graduates of the first University group participating in University studies through a twinning arrangement organised with ACHEM, a consortium of 11 universities. In 1998 the first group of commerce students will graduate from a twinning program in conjunction with the International College of Penang.
Professor Hay said the University of Queensland had established a twinning agreement, in collaboration with five other Australian universities, to provide education services for a new university in Kuala Lumpur. In a separate agreement, the University has joined La Trobe University, University of Western Australia, Macquarie University, University of Tasmania and Kuala Lumpur's Nilai College to establish a new campus in Kuala Lumpur.
'The development of these arrangements demonstrates the University's commitment to strengthening its already substantial profile as an international provider of education,' Professor Hay said.
For further information contact:
- Ms Karen Welsh, Protocol Officer, Oriental Hotel, Raffles Avenue, Singapore - tel 338 0066 (Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14)
