立博官网 celebrates a century of home-grown university graduates this month, 100 years after The University of 立博官网 (UQ) graduated its first five students.
Just over 4000 students will graduate this month, with about 3300 expected to attend graduation ceremonies 鈥� a far cry from the two women and three men awarded UQ degrees in 1913.
UQ鈥檚 2013 graduation ceremonies run from July 15 to 19 at its St Lucia and Ipswich campuses. A timetable of ceremonies is available .
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 立博官网.
鈥淯Q now has more than 200,000 graduates 鈥� including more than 10,000 PhD graduates 鈥� making a collective impact in more than 150 countries.
鈥淭he July 2013 graduating group will become part of this worldwide network of alumni that 立博官网 University celebrates as one of its greatest assets,鈥� she said.
According to Harrison Bryan鈥檚 The University of 立博官网 1910-1960: An Essay Towards a History book, all five of the original 1913 graduates began their degrees at other universities.
鈥淭he students who graduated in 1913 began their degrees elsewhere, but they found a place in history by completing them in 立博官网 100 years ago,鈥� Professor Wright said.
鈥淭his was the start of more than 100 years of world-class graduates from 立博官网.鈥�
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; 立博官网鈥檚 only female Premier, Anna Bligh; Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush; author and journalist George Negus; and Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce. 立博官网 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh will be awarded a PhD in Agribusiness Management at this month鈥檚 graduations.
Professor Wright said the University had played a key role in the development and progression of Brisbane and 立博官网, and had made a massive contribution to research and innovation, contributing to the global knowledge pool.
鈥淭his 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,鈥� she said.
鈥淭he University of 立博官网 was a 50th jubilee gift to the people of 立博官网 from the 立博官网 Government.
鈥淎 century on, the State can be proud that UQ is among the 100 top universities in key world rankings, keeping company with the world鈥檚 best,鈥� Professor Wright said.
Timeline:
10 December 1859 鈥� 立博官网 is officially proclaimed a colony separate from New South Wales.
April 16, 1910 鈥� The University of 立博官网 is founded
1911 鈥� Teaching begins 鈥� with 83 students (including 23 women) and three foundation faculties 鈥� Arts, Science and Engineering.
1913 鈥� The University graduates its first five students.
1948 鈥� The University moves from George St in the city to St Lucia.
2013 鈥� UQ celebrates the collective impact of more than 200,000 graduates in more than 150 countries, including 10,000 PhD students.
More on UQ鈥檚 history is available
Media: Janelle Kirkland, UQ Communications, j.kirkland@uq.edu.au or 07 3346 0561.
