Victoria graduands celebrate their success
Nearly 1250 students, including 84 who are graduating with a PhD, will mark the successful completion of their studies
at Victoria University of Wellington during graduation ceremonies and a parade in Wellington this week.
A total of 1350 qualifications will be awarded to 1248 students over three graduation ceremonies. The number of PhDs
being awarded is the highest ever for Victoria University. The students are graduating from the faculties of
Commerce;Architecture and Design; Education; Engineering; Humanities and Social Sciences; Law; Science; Toihuarewa and
Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music (NZSM).
Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford says graduation is a time to celebrate many years of hard
work, dedication and achievement.
“My message to graduands is not to underestimate the significance of their accomplishment or the depth of pride that
their family, friends and teachers—both past and present—feel in their success.
“During their time at Victoria, our school leavers have matured into confident and knowledgeable young adults, while our
adult learners have broadened their horizons and proved to themselves that they are capable of achievements their early
circumstances did not allow.
“I know that this week’s cohort of Victoria graduates will go on to make a valuable contribution to New Zealand and the
world and I wish them every success in their future endeavours.”
During this week’s graduation ceremonies, Victoria will award an honorary Doctor of Literature to Dr Noel Barnard, a
world authority in the field of early Chinese history and archaeology. After completing undergraduate studies in History
and Geography at Victoria University, Dr Barnard moved to Sydney and went on to have a highly successful academic career
at the Australian National University for more than 50 years.
At the same ceremony Professor John Psathas from NZSM will be awarded a Higher Doctorate in the degree of Doctor of
Music for the immense body of work he has contributed to his field.
Below are details of the parade and graduation ceremonies. Please note details of the altered parade route.
Parade—3pm, Thursday 11 December
The traditional street parade of staff and graduands will depart from the Law School in the Government Buildings
Historic Reserve on Thursday at 3pm, and will take around 40 minutes to parade along Lambton Quay, Willeston, Victoria
and Harris Streets to finish in Civic Square, where they will be welcomed by Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
If the graduation parade is cancelled due to wet weather, notification will be given on
Newstalk ZB from 11am on the morning of the parade, on the Victoria University website: www.victoria.ac.nz and on the
Victoria University Facebook page www.facebook.com/victoriauniversityofwellington.
Ceremony 1: 4.30pm, Wednesday 10 December
Victoria Business School and Toihuarewa
Ceremony 2: 10.30am, Thursday 11 December
Faculties of Architecture and Design, Engineering, Law and Science
Ceremony 3: 4.30pm, Thursday 11 December
Faculties of Education and Humanities and Social Sciences, NZSM
At Ceremony 3, an Honorary Doctorate will be presented to Dr Barnard and a Higher Doctorate will be presented to
Professor Psathas.
ends