177 graduate on UCOL Wairarapa anniversary

Monday 11 April 2011

177 graduate on UCOL Wairarapa anniversary

Hard work and commitment has paid off for 177 UCOL graduates who earned degrees, certificates and diplomas at UCOL Wairarapa last year.
Many of the new graduates will attend this Thursday’s annual Graduation Ceremony in Masterton, to receive new qualifications.

Campus Manager Angela Hewitt says many programmes have other qualifications embedded in them, so students may come away with several nationally recognised qualifications. “It adds to their employability when they move into the job market,” she says.

Although the numbers attending graduation ceremonies have been increasing in recent years, Angela says many students have already been snapped up by employers, some outside the region, making attendance difficult. “But it’s for the best possible reason,” she says. “We’re always delighted to hear that our graduates have been successful in careers of their choice.”

UCOL Deputy Chief Executive Academic Bonnie Dewart says graduation is a very important moment for students. “It represents their means to a successful future, with a rounded education, a qualification and excellent employment prospects. “

She says graduation is also an important time to acknowledge and thank the community groups, businesses and organisations who support UCOL Wairarapa, its staff and students. “This is especially important this year, the tenth anniversary of our merger with the Wairarapa Community Polytechnic.
“At the time of the merger the aims included retaining access to tertiary education in the Wairarapa region by reducing operational and delivery costs, as well as preserving a sense of local iwi and community ownership, and a Wairarapa identity. The then Minister of Tertiary Education Steve Maharey described the merger as giving tertiary education in Wairarapa a new lease on life.

“I believe the merger has fulfilled those promises – and more. We have improved facilities and created new study opportunities – including our Bachelor of Nursing and Exercise and Sport Science certificate – using the technologies and delivery only available through a bigger tertiary provider.

“We have also given priority to maintaining and building up our community links – so apparent in the attendance at our graduation ceremonies of representatives of so many regional, community organisations.”

Chief Executive Paul McElroy says this year’s ceremony includes the announcement of a Wairarapa recipient of new UCOL Council Honours. “The Honours recognise some of the many people who have made a particularly outstanding contribution to UCOL and to the wider community,” he says. “They are another way to show we value the support we receive from our communities.”
At Thursday’s ceremony in the Masterton Town Hall graduates will be capped with new qualifications in Health Science, Nursing, Early Childhood Education & Care, Business Administration and Computing, Carpentry, Hairdressing, Cosmetology and Nail Technology, Beauty, Mental Health, Sport and Exercise, Automotive, Computer Graphics, Networking and Desktop Support.

Scholarships, supported by the Carterton District Council and the South Wairarapa District Council and other local organisations, will be presented at Thursday’s ceremony.

The guest speaker is New Zealand Police Association President Greg O’Connor, the longest serving President in the Association's history. Recently he was also re-appointed to lead the International Council of Police Representative Associations, the worldwide body of Police Associations. His 30 years of experience as a police officer included a period as Detective Sergeant in Masterton.

Thursday’s ceremony starts at 1.30pm. At the conclusion, at approximately 3pm, the graduates and UCOL staff members will form a procession back to the UCOL Wairarapa campus for light refreshments.

When: 1.30 pm Thursday 14 April
Where: Masterton Town Hall.

ends