Vice-Chancellor's message

Last week I had the pleasure of attending one of my favourite events each year at our University – the Children’s University graduations in Bonython Hall. Many of you will have seen the many excited faces of young children on campus, dressed in their graduation robes and accompanied by their proud families.

For those of you not familiar with it, Children’s University is a remarkable program operated by the University that aims to support all children, but particularly those in the most vulnerable communities, to see their future as bright, promising and exciting.

It focuses on providing learning experiences through a passport system. When children have completed their passports, they are eligible to attend a graduation – complete with cap and gown.

To me, this represents all a university should stand for – equity and access, and the pursuit of knowledge to better the world, and to change the lives of people for the better. The value of such a program – where children get to see and experience something that might otherwise be considered out of their reach – is very clear. And it is one that reminds us all of our academic purpose.

Children’s University turns 10 this year and it is something of which the whole University community should be very proud. It started here as part of our University with just 44 students and since then, more than 47,000 students have graduated from around Australia, New Zealand and Mauritius.

The graduation ceremonies continue next week and I encourage you all to offer a word of congratulations to our youngest alumni if you see them on campus. Finally, I also wish to thank all my colleagues who make this program a reality and who attend ceremonies to present the 'graduates' with their certificates. 

Professor Peter Høj AC
Vice-Chancellor and President