Graduation week is underway in Armidale, with the University of New England hosting its largest-ever series of ceremonies and delivering a major economic boost to the region.
The week-long program began today with ceremonies for the Schools of Science and Agriculture, the first of six events running through to 9 May.
More than 2,500 students will graduate across the week, with around 1,200 attending in person. With each graduand typically bringing up to three guests, several thousand visitors are expected to flow through Armidale, supporting local accommodation, hospitality and retail businesses.
The expanded format marks a significant shift from UNE’s traditional two-day graduation weekend, with ceremonies now spread across six days and dedicated to individual disciplines.
UNE Vice-Chancellor Chris Moran said the change was both practical and driven by student feedback.
“Traditionally, we saw uneven concentrations of graduates, which put immense pressure on local accommodation and dining during a single weekend,” Professor Moran said.
“By spreading the ceremonies across an entire week, we improve the experience for our graduates and give Armidale businesses the predictability they need to manage staffing and services.”
He said the move to an autumn schedule would also improve conditions for visitors, shifting ceremonies away from the summer heat.
“We are looking forward to this linkage to the community and local businesses. It’s celebrations such as these which increase the overall success of Armidale,” he said.
Ceremonies across the week will recognise graduates from all faculties, including Business and Law, Rural Medicine, Psychology, Health, Education, and Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
The graduating cohort includes 96 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, including 18 postgraduates and two doctoral candidates.
A number of high-profile guest speakers will headline the ceremonies, including former High Court justice Michael Kirby, healthcare leader Sarah Brown, humanitarian leader Abinesh Narain and regenerative agriculture advocate Lorraine Gordon.
The university will also confer four honorary doctorates and recognise outstanding alumni during the week.
Planning for the expanded program has been underway for more than 18 months, with the university working closely with Armidale Regional Council and local businesses to prepare for the influx of visitors.
Weather permitting, ceremonies will take place on the lawns of Booloominbah, with the public invited to attend. All ceremonies begin at 10.30am and will also be livestreamed online via UNE Facebook and UNE YouTube on the day of the event.
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