News Archive

In the last edition of Uniview I wrote that one of Convocation’s major roles is to support and assist students and graduates of the University of Western Australia. Ways in which Convocation provides this support and assistance include, for example:

• the award of a significant number of undergraduate prizes and scholarships for both academic and sporting achievement
• awards for postgraduate travel
• and holding 50th anniversary graduate reunions

It is also likely that, from 2013, we will hold 25th anniversary reunions. And we are also discussing with other University stakeholders the possibility of a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the first Colombo Plan scholars in Australia.

Another major role of Convocation is to work with and support the University (in addition to representing graduate interests and opinion, we also promote the ideals and purpose of the University). We do this in a number of ways, including the election of four graduates to the University Senate – which represents a significant percentage of the Senate membership – and the provision of an opportunity, twice a year at each of Convocation’s Ordinary Meetings, in which principal officers of the University (including the Vice-Chancellor) can report on University matters and issues and seek the views of graduates on those issues. In September, the Vice-Chancellor was also the guest speaker at Convocation’s Second Ordinary Meeting.

Convocation will also be able to support the University more effectively through the introduction of electronic voting, not only for Convocation-elected Senators but also for the positions of Warden, Deputy Warden and members of the Council of Convocation. Electronic voting will substantially reduce the costs of conducting Convocation-related elections (costs borne in part by the University) and – through its introduction, roll-out and attendant publicity – increase significantly the number of graduates participating in the elections. With the involvement of election experts around the world (a number of which are UWA graduates and former UWA academics) and the potential involvement of the Australian Electoral Commission, this is ground-breaking stuff for Convocation and the University.

Convocation is also developing a communications strategy, as well as new logo and brand guidelines, together with a new website which will, amongst other things, enable us to ‘poll’ our members and seek their views on issues and matters of concern to graduates and the University. This will then enable Convocation to more effectively communicate those views to the University – and, thus, to more effectively support the University.

The University and its graduates are, then, forever linked. As a former Vice-Chancellor of the University has said, ‘Universities and their graduates will play a vital role in contributing to a civil society. The range of skills and accomplishments represented by our graduates exemplifies the breadth of the University itself, where we are fortunate to have leaders in every field of human endeavour.’

Convocation’s centenary gift to the University is, as the major sponsor, the creation of a Shaun Tan sundial, ‘Hours to Sunset’, in Venetian glass mosaic tiles on the west-facing wall of the University Club. Shaun Tan, of course, is the first University graduate to win an Oscar, Hollywood’s highest accolade, and has been invited to officially launch the mosaic. The launch will take place at sundown on 9 February 2013 as part of the University’s Alumni Weekend centenary celebrations.

Our gift celebrates the achievement of a worldrenowned graduate. It is a gift that, through the support of Convocation, the University and Universityrelated groups, can be enjoyed by past graduates, current students and future graduates. It also celebrates an environment – created by the University and its graduates – that fosters creativity, endeavour, innovation and achievement.

If you would like to talk to me about these or any other Convocation-related matters, and how Convocation can assist you as a UWA graduate, please contact me through the Convocation office on (+61 8 6488 1336) or by email .

Best wishes

David Hodgkinson

Warden of Convocation

Published in Uniview Vol. 31 No. 3 Spring 2012