Deakin hosts graduations in Geelong

AN 80-YEAR-OLD architecture PhD and a cohort of newly minted West Australian business leaders were among nearly 2,000 students to graduate last week from Deakin University.

Graduates from each of Deakin’s four faculties – Business and Law; Health; Science, Engineering and Built Environment; and Arts and Education – headed to the university’s Waterfront campus in five separate ceremonies from October 3-5.

The graduates included recently-retired St
Joseph’s College Geelong principal Paul Tobias,
who received an honorary doctorate for his contribution to promoting equality, tolerance and diversity in boys’ education.

School of Architecture and Built Environment Professor Ken Taylor received his PhD just weeks out from his 80th birthday. Professor Taylor is an honorary professor with the Australian National University. A dozen school business managers from public schools in Western Australia made the 3,000-kilometre trip to Geelong for Thursday’s ceremony, becoming the first interstate cohort to complete Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Education Business Leadership (EBL) course.

Deakin vice-chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander congratulated the graduating class on the culmination of their years of hard work.

“Graduation ceremonies at Deakin are not only a recognition of the sacrifice and dedication of our students, but a celebration of the power of learning to change lives,” she said.

“Our graduates come from a diverse range of backgrounds, but they have joined together through their shared aim of unlocking their potential and becoming empowered to make a difference in whatever fields they choose to pursue.

“Learning is a lifelong experience, and I have no doubt our graduates are prepared to take the knowledge and experience they have gained in their time at Deakin and continue to grow and effect change in the connected and ever-evolving communities they serve.”