Hundreds of additional visitors were expected to descend on Armidale during mid-December for UNE’s inaugural summer graduation ceremony from December 13-15. The event will enable students who complete their studies in Trimester 2, to graduate in the same year.
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Pro vice-chancellor External Relations Professor Mingan Choct said complementing the autumn and spring graduation weekends with a summer ceremony held multiple advantages not only for students and the university but also for the Armidale community and local businesses.
Students and their guests will be staying at local accommodation providers, eating at cafes, restaurants and hotels and attending local attractions.
- Professor Mingan Choct
“UNE hosts between 200-400 graduates at each ceremony and most of those students who study online will be travelling from outside of Armidale for the event. Given most graduates bring up to five guests, this provides an additional economic boost for the local New England North West community to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Prof. Choct said.
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“In addition to tourism revenue, graduation weekend is also a great opportunity for graduates, their families and friends to experience our hospitality, explore our beautiful region and establish lasting linkages with the University and the local community.”
The new round of graduation ceremonies also hold advantages for UNE’s International students.
“Most of our international students have a visa requirement to return home within three months of completing their studies and were not always able to return to attend graduation. The additional graduation means all rounds are now held within three months of results being released and there is opportunity for them to attend,” Prof. Choct said.
The new December graduation ceremonies will be held on the lawns of Booloominbah at 4.30pm in the afternoon to avoid the full impact of the summer sun.
In 2019, the autumn graduation will take place on May 3-4. This decision ensures there will be no significant clashes with major town events as had happened in past years and will provide an additional boost to the region’s tourism and hospitality sectors.