New chancellor to address Singapore graduates

Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, the Honourable Robert Hill. Photo courtesy Department of Defence.
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Thursday, 24 March 2011

More than 150 students from 12 countries will graduate from the University of Adelaide in Singapore this Saturday 26 March, presided over by the University's new chancellor, the Honourable Robert Hill.

Mr Hill, formerly a long-standing Australian cabinet minister and United Nations representative for Australia, will also give the graduation address at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Convention Centre.

It will be the first graduation address delivered by Mr Hill since becoming Chancellor in July 2010.

"The message I will be imparting to our new graduates is to embrace the opportunities to tackle some of society's most significant challenges in our history, including issues around climate change, the environment, international relations, technology and health," he said.

The 2011 Singapore ceremony will include five PhD students and 16 prize winners from the University's programs offered in Singapore at the Ngee Ann-Adelaide Education Centre.

This year also marks the introduction of two new programs offered in Singapore by the University of Adelaide: a Master of Clinical Science and a Bachelor of Commerce.

"The Masters program, to begin in June, is the University's first research degree taught in Singapore, and the commerce degree, which will start in May, is our first full-time intensive undergraduate program offered in Singapore," according to the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide, Professor James McWha.

The latter will involve articulation agreements with the five polytechnics in Singapore.

This weekend's macebearer is Singapore financial adviser Ronald Ruly, who has completed a Master of Applied Finance at the University of Adelaide, gaining three high distinctions and five distinctions.

The University of Adelaide has been offering education programs in Singapore in conjunction with its partner Ngee Ann Kongsi for the past 13 years. Established in 1874, the University of Adelaide is Australia's third oldest university and carries a five-star rating for prestige.

"Our relationship with Singapore is a special one," Professor McWha said.

"Not only do we enjoy a very close partnership with Ngee Ann Kongsi, but our Singapore alumni are the most active outside of Australia and include some of Asia's most prestigious citizens, including former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan, Supreme Court Judge Justice Lee Seiu Kin and Singapore's first female Permanent Secretary, Ms Lim Soo Hoon".

Apart from the graduation ceremony on Saturday, a Singapore Alumni Reunion Dinner will be held at Raffles Hotel this Friday night.

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