Queensland celebrates a century of home-grown university graduates this month, 100 years after The University of Queensland (UQ) graduated its first five students.
Just over 4000 students will graduate this month, with about 3300 expected to attend graduation ceremonies – a far cry from the two women and three men awarded UQ degrees in 1913.
UQ’s 2013 graduation ceremonies run from July 15 to 19 at its St Lucia and Ipswich campuses. A timetable of ceremonies is available here.
UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Joanne Wright said the 2013 graduations in July and December marked a major milestone for the University and for Queensland.
“UQ now has more than 200,000 graduates – including more than 10,000 PhD graduates – making a collective impact in more than 150 countries.
“The July 2013 graduating group will become part of this worldwide network of alumni that Queensland University celebrates as one of its greatest assets,” she said.
According to Harrison Bryan’s The University of Queensland 1910-1960: An Essay Towards a History book, all five of the original 1913 graduates began their degrees at other universities.
“The students who graduated in 1913 began their degrees elsewhere, but they found a place in history by completing them in Queensland 100 years ago,” Professor Wright said.
“This was the start of more than 100 years of world-class graduates from Queensland.”
The five 1913 graduates were: Philippa Kate Barkell (later listed as Mrs G H French of Roma), Jessie Elizabeth Dakin, William Gates, Robert Campbell Hamilton and Austin Thomas Desmond. All received Bachelor of Arts degrees.
There had been one earlier graduation ceremony at UQ, for graduates who had completed their degrees elsewhere and who were awarded in-kind after moving to the area, which was a common practice at that time.
Contemporary figures who have graduated from UQ include former Premier Peter Beattie; Queensland’s only female Premier, Anna Bligh; Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush; author and journalist George Negus; and Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce. Queensland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh will be awarded a PhD in Agribusiness Management at this month’s graduations.
Professor Wright said the University had played a key role in the development and progression of Brisbane and Queensland, and had made a massive contribution to research and innovation, contributing to the global knowledge pool.
“This has included development of cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil; leading an international consortium of partners on a hypersonic test flight; and creating the largest photovoltaic solar array in the Southern Hemisphere,” she said.
“The University of Queensland was a 50th jubilee gift to the people of Queensland from the Queensland Government.
“A century on, the State can be proud that UQ is among the 100 top universities in key world rankings, keeping company with the world’s best,” Professor Wright said.
Timeline:
10 December 1859 – Queensland is officially proclaimed a colony separate from New South Wales.
April 16, 1910 – The University of Queensland is founded
1911 – Teaching begins – with 83 students (including 23 women) and three foundation faculties – Arts, Science and Engineering.
1913 – The University graduates its first five students.
1948 – The University moves from George St in the city to St Lucia.
2013 – UQ celebrates the collective impact of more than 200,000 graduates in more than 150 countries, including 10,000 PhD students.
More on UQ’s history is available here
Media: Janelle Kirkland, UQ Communications, j.kirkland@uq.edu.au or 07 3346 0561.
