A total of 2,764 qualifications will be awarded to 2,524 students over seven ceremonies, including one ceremony at the University’s Te Herenga Waka marae. Across the ceremonies, 37 students will graduate with a PhD and one with a Doctor of Musical Arts. A further 861 students opted to receive their qualifications earlier this year without attending a ceremony.
Victoria University of Wellington alumna and prominent Samoan writer and academic Letuimanu’asina Dr Emma Kruse Va’ai will receive an honorary Doctor of Literature at one of Thursday’s graduation ceremonies, acknowledging her outstanding commitment to education in the Pacific as well as her impressive body of work as a poet and author.
Among the graduands will be four members of one family—Rosalind Austin, her daughter Charlotte Austin, her niece Ashleigh Dale, and her nephew Joshua Dale. Joshua will cross the stage to receive his Bachelor of Arts wearing a hood that belonged to his great-grandmother, who graduated in 1926 with a Bachelor of Arts from what was then known as the University of New Zealand.
This week the first cohorts of students from the newly-established Master of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and Master of Science and Society programmes will cross the stage to receive their qualification certificates.
This graduation also marks the largest cohort of Deaf Studies graduands in the University’s history, with 13 students attending the ceremonies and 10 more choosing to receive their Certificate in Deaf Studies (Teaching NZSL) in absentia.
The University’s Chancellor Neil Paviour-Smith extends his congratulations to all graduands for successfully completing their studies.
“Graduation is a great time for the University and the city. It’s a chance for us to celebrate the achievements of our graduands—many of whom have made Wellington their home for the last few years, and who will continue to contribute to the city as the upcoming generation of thinkers, creators, leaders, and entrepreneurs,” Mr Paviour-Smith says.
“Victoria University of Wellington has a proud tradition of academic excellence, which is continuously demonstrated through the success of our alumni, both in New Zealand and around the world. I look forward to seeing how our new alumni will also make their mark in their communities and as global citizens.
“On behalf of the University, I wish each of them well in their future endeavours.”
There will be two formal parades of staff and graduands, starting at 12 pm on Tuesday and Thursday. The parades will run from Old Government Building along Lambton Quay to Te Ngākau Civic Square.
Mr Paviour-Smith encourages members of the public to come along and celebrate with the graduands.
“Sharing graduation with the city and wider community is a memorable moment and shows our graduands just how proud we are of them. We invite all Wellingtonians to come to the parades, share our pride, and join the celebrations.”
About Graduation
Parades
From 12 noon on Tuesday 14 and Thursday 16 May, staff and students parade in full academic dress through Wellington city, proceeding from the Law School, at the Old Government Building on Lambton Quay, through to Te Ngākau Civic Square.
If a graduation parade is cancelled due to wet weather, notification will be given on the Victoria University of Wellington website and the Victoria University of Wellington Facebook page.
Tuesday 14 May
Parade for Victoria Business School, Faculties of Architecture and Design and Law
Thursday 16 May
Parade for Faculties of Education, Engineering, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science
Graduation ceremonies
Tuesday 14 May
Ceremony One, 1.30pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Victoria Business School
Tuesday 14 May
Ceremony Two, 6pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Victoria Business School
Wednesday 15 May
Ceremony Three, 1.30pm,
Faculties of Architecture and Design and Law
Wednesday 15 May
Ceremony Four, 6pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculties of Engineering and Science
Thursday 16 May
Ceremony Five, 1.30pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculties of Health and Humanities and Social Sciences
Thursday 16 May
Ceremony Six, 6pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculties of Education and Humanities and Social Sciences
Friday 17 May
Ceremony Seven, 9am, Te Herenga Waka marae