A global education celebration
by Michelle Johnson
UniSA’s
mid-year awards ceremonies for international students offer an opportunity
not only to welcome newcomers to UniSA’s global graduate community, but to
catch up with the vibrant groups that have established alumni chapters in
Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.
More than 100 students were presented with awards in Malaysia at the Nikko Hotel ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. Pro Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Professor Robyn McDermott gave the occasional address welcoming groups of graduates who earned certificates in conjunction with KPJ Healthcare in critical care nursing, nurse management and leadership and nurse education and training. As part of the celebrations, more than 120 UniSA friends and graduates attended a gala dinner way up in the clouds in Kuala Lumpur's landmark Petronas Towers, two of the tallest buildings in the world.
The
crowds were even larger in Singapore. About 150 students were presented with
their awards including a PhD in Business. A special Singapore alumni
cocktail party drew 200 people to the Singapore Grand Hyatt with acting
Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, Kathy Klugman as guest of honour.
In Taiwan, the new but fast growing Taiwan alumni chapter held a special dinner at the Holiday Inn for about 60 graduates.
In
Hong Kong this year UniSA's award ceremony welcomed 150 students from all
four divisions of the University to the alumni fold at the Grand Hyatt
hotel. About 600 students from UniSA's divisions of Business, Education Arts
and Social Sciences and IT, Engineering and the Environment took part in two
award ceremonies highlighting a successful 10 year partnership between Hong
Kong Baptist University and UniSA. An alumni dinner and cocktail party
brought together about 120 graduates and friends, with guest speaker Mr
Herbert Hui Ho Ming, deputy and vice chairman of Ocean Grand Holdings Ltd.