20 December 2016
When the more than 500 UniSA students mark their success at graduations today, there will be a couple of new friends in attendance to help them celebrate.
The two new characters are set to be a fixture at UniSA graduations but make their first appearance this year as part of the University’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Parchie, the graduation parchment, and the yet to be named Koala have one thing on their minds and that is to ensure graduation day is special, not only for the graduates themselves but for the families who have supported the graduates’ success.
The December 20 ceremonies at the Adelaide Convention Centre at 10.30 am and 3 pm will see students from arts, education and social sciences, business and law, engineering IT and the environment and health sciences, mark the successful end of their studies and the beginning of the next phase of their careers.
Many of the group will be international students attending their last official function in Australia before returning home.
UniSA Director of Student and Academic Services, Allan Tabor, says the ritual of graduations is so important for students.
“The graduation ceremony is the culmination of three, four and often more year’s dedication to learning and growth and it is a day of great celebration and pride,” Tabor says.
“We always do our utmost to make it a truly memorable day for students and with the new mascots in attendance we are bringing an even greater sense of celebration and a real Australian flavour to the event.
“Graduations are special but they are also about relief, enjoyment and satisfaction and I know our Koala and Parchie are excited to be a part of the celebrations.”
UniSA’s December graduations will also include a special award for Professor Suzanne Franzway - Emeritus Professor of the University of South Australia - acknowledging her career contribution and international reputation for leadership in research into gender studies and labour movements.
As well as her research, she also developed and taught undergraduate courses, including the Sociology of the Family and Gender and Sex and Culture, supervised postgraduate students, and led the research concentration, Research Centre for Gender Studies.
Her most influential theoretical work includes the theories of greedy institutions, sexual politics, and most recently the politics of ignorance.
She has led successful multidisciplinary research teams, winning three ARC Discovery grants and industry grants, as well as grants from the European parliament, UNESCO and the Rockefeller foundation’s Bellagio Centre in Italy.
Prof Franzway will be honoured at the morning ceremony.
Media contact: Michèle Nardelli 0418823673
