Another UNE Graduation is upon us – the days when we formally confer the status of graduate on our students, we celebrate their achievement with them and their families, and the recognise the contribution of all those in the University who have been part of their journeys.

We have graduated tens of thousands of students since our founding in the mid-1950s. Their achievements build on their formative educational experiences with us – and stand testament to the contribution that UNE makes our communities.

Prompted by the pomp and ceremony of this ancient ceremony, I suggest all of us in the UNE community can share of moment of pride. Through our individual contributions to this institution, we each play a role in bettering the lives of others and, I would like to think, the world in general.

Apart from the symbolism of the event, this is a particularly important occasion for the online students attending to receive their testamur. It may be their only physical contact with the University, and their first face-to-face meeting with their lecturers and fellow students.

Armidale is an important place to our students no matter where they study, and visiting Armidale for graduation on the lawns of Booloominbah is a highlight.

The current Summer Graduation is expected to bring more than 800 graduands (and graduates who are returning to celebrate the ceremonies they missed during COVID lockdowns). When this Graduation is done, we will have welcomed 2400 graduates to our campus through 2022, along with their guests.

That translates to about 8500 visitors drawn to our region just for UNE graduations – a substantial economic stimulus on top of the business-as-usual traffic that UNE draws to the region.

The current graduation wraps up a big year for UNE colleagues. Thank you for your commitment through the ups and downs of university life, and I look forward to working with you in 2023.

Thursday 8 December

3.00pm ceremony – Occasional Address Speaker: Professor Jeremy Bruhl

Friday 9 December

10.30am ceremony – Occasional Address Speaker: Emeritus Professor Caroline Gross

3.00pm ceremony – Occasional Address Speaker: Dr. Rachel Horton

Saturday 10 December

10.30am ceremony – Occasional Address Speaker: Professor Rhonda Wilson

3.00pm ceremony – Occasional Address Speaker: Emeritus Professor Annabelle Duncan