The first graduates from the Bachelor of Health Sciences will join over 200 students at the Ipswich Civic Hall today when The University of Queensland Ipswich campus celebrates its end-of-year graduation ceremonies.
The group of third-year Bachelor of Health Sciences students is the first cohort to graduate from the Health Sciences program, which commenced at the Ipswich campus in 2005.
The Bachelor of Health Sciences provides a broad overview of healthcare and is especially suited to students who intend to enrol in a postgraduate professional degree or who wish to enter the non-clinical health workforce, planning and delivering efficient quality healthcare.
Some graduates have already gained employment in the health industry, while others will return to study in 2009 to complete their Honours year in the program.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Alan Rix congratulated the students on their achievement and acknowledged their commitment to the Health Sciences program as its inaugural graduates.
“The Bachelor of Health Sciences graduates join with our other graduating students from the Ipswich campus who will receive a tertiary qualification from one of Australia’s leading universities,” Professor Rix said.
“The University of Queensland has a global reputation for its teaching quality and research and was recently ranked 43rd in the World University Rankings compiled by the Times Higher Education Supplement last month.”
Professor Rix said the Ipswich campus would hold two graduation ceremonies at the Ipswich Civic Hall on Monday, December 8 to cater for the large number of graduates. The first ceremony, commencing at 4pm, will celebrate the graduations for students from the Business, Economics and Law, and Health Sciences faculties, while the 6pm ceremony will celebrate graduation from the faculties of Arts, and Social and Behavioural Sciences.
Former Chancellor of Queensland University of Technology and 1995 Queenslander of the Year Dr Cherrell Hirst, AO will act as guest speaker for the 4pm ceremony, while UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International & Development) Professor Trevor Grigg will be guest speaker for the 6pm ceremony. Professor Grigg was instrumental in the vision, initial development and resultant foundation of the UQ Ipswich campus.
Media: UQ Ipswich Marketing Manager Loretta Porche (0418 772 819, l.porche@uq.edu.au)
