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Sunday, 28 March 2004

Hong Kong has taken centre stage in an historic event for the University of Adelaide.

The University has today held its first official Graduation Ceremony in Hong Kong at the Grand Hyatt hotel.

"This is the first time in 130 years that the University of Adelaide has held a graduation ceremony in Hong Kong, and it represents a new era both for the University and for offshore education in this region," says Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha.

In Hong Kong, the University of Adelaide offers Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs through the Hopkins Training & Education Group, which has offices at Hong Kong and Kowloon.

Adelaide's MBA program was the first ever established in Australia, in 1963.

In the last 12 months, almost 100 students have graduated with an MBA from the University of Adelaide through its Hong Kong program. Most of the students attending the historic Hong Kong ceremony were MBA graduates, with others receiving graduate certificates in Nursing Science and one with a Computer Science degree.

Professor McWha says the University of Adelaide has been experiencing an increase in interest from students in Hong Kong and China, and this graduation ceremony marks the University's commitment to students in this region.

"We are thrilled to be able to add Hong Kong to our program of offshore graduations, as it provides students from this area an opportunity to celebrate with family, friends and colleagues.

"It also allows us to reinforce the many benefits that come from a global education, not least of which is vitally important in today's world - tolerance and friendship through knowledge and understanding."