WelTec graduation ceremony celebrates success

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WelTec graduation ceremony celebrates success

Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) held its annual graduation ceremony on Thursday 5 February. Graduates from diploma, degree and certificate programmes filled the Michael Fowler Centre in the first ceremony to combine all three qualifications. It was also a first for the inaugural graduation procession and a first for two honorary awards presented

The first honorary degree, a Bachelor of Creative Technologies (BCT) was awarded to Tim Walker in recognition of his significant contribution to the Wellington Region and the wider New Zealand Arts community. Mr Walker, currently the Creative Consultant for Auckland Museum is better known in the Wellington Region for his work as the Director of TheNewDowse and the Petone Settlers Museum in Lower Hutt. Developing an ambitious and visionary organisation, he revitalised the museum experience and spear-headed the redevelopment of TheNewDowse into a national and internationally recognised museum.

Under Mr Walker’s direction, TheNewDowse developed innovative projects across a range of media and sectors including hip hop, manufacturing, mental health and decorative arts and design. Highlights include the Shapeshifter exhibition (as part of the International Festival of the Arts) and the ‘Becoming King Kong’ exhibition which attracted over 35,000 visitors.

“TheNewDowse was originally perceived as a craft museum. Now it’s about being creative, innovation and new ways of thinking. Like WelTec, the change was brought about by a feeling of both having to and wanting to change. There was an interesting synergy with what was happening at TheNewDowse and what was happening at WelTec. We had a lot in common insofar as our transformative value in the economy”, explains Mr Walker.

“I am honoured to receive this award tonight. When WelTec introduced the Bachelor of Creative Technologies degree last year, I had a strong yearning to be 18 years old again, the cross disciplinary nature of the programme appealed to me greatly.

“WelTec is playing a leadership role in the tertiary sector, working with industry with a real intent to add value. Last year I watched the teams work on a project with Meridian Energy, each of the teams were from different disciplines – I watched them fuse into one and saw how the sum was greater than the parts. They knew what questions to ask, knew how to challenge and knew how to work with industry – it was humbling to watch. The project based nature of the programme teaches people the skills to move between silos. If you apply that scenario to the wider economy then there is huge potential. The sector and the economy need these type of graduates.”

ENDS

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