AIH_Connect The Australian Institute of Higher Education Newsletter
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The countdown was finally over with the clock striking 10 in the morning at the Australian Institute of Higher Education in Sydney, Australia. This was to be AIH’s first graduation ceremony, needless to mention an extremely emotional moment for all of those involved right from the inception of the esteemed Institute.
1 AIH graduates
Visiting Profes- 1 sor from the University of Johannesburg comes to AIH Higher Education in Dean’s Column
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Library Invitation
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Around the 3 World and Back Home Menagerie
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Recognitions 6 and Announcements
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Australian Institute of Higher Education- Graduation Ceremony 2013
issue: AIH Graduation Ceremony 2013
S c h o o l
As starry eyed students started trickling in, they were escorted to the robing room. Donned in the much coveted black gown and hat with the tassels hanging to the right (yes the strict instructions came from the Executive Dean that the tassels go to the left only after the students have received their testamurs and are graduates!) students walked with bated breath to the graduation ceremony hall. And then there were the shutterbugs (family and friends of students) making sure they capture every moment of the memorable day even before the ceremony had officially kicked off. Soon it was time for everyone to settle down as the academics walked in with élan matching pace to Handel’s Music for Royal Fireworks Executive Dean of AIH Higher Education, Professor Joo-Gim Heaney with her characteristic charming smile and graceful demeanor greeted all present and shared her words of wisdom with the graduating students.
This was then followed by an inspiring speech by the Distinguished Speaker Professor Roberts-Lombard, from the University of Johannesburg. Professor Roberts-Lombard, who had flown in from South Africa to be a Visiting Professor at AIH for a period of two weeks, touched hearts with his moving words that focused on inclusive practices and a more tolerant society, thus encouraging international students to dream big and make a mark for themselves in this ‘global village’. But as Professor Heaney put it, this day would not have been possible without a dream, without a vision, without courage. It was back in 2009 that Mr. Jim Yang, CEO of AIH Higher Education, had the courage to dream, and had the vision to expand from VET courses at the Australian Institute of Commerce and Language to higher education. His immense contributions to the education sector in Australia have made him a name to reckon with. Teary eyed Mr. Yang shared his thoughts and his story. It was an emotional moment for all present. Finally the moment which everyone had been waiting for had arrived; it was time to confer the students their degrees…’the graduation moment’. Tassels were proudly shifted to the left after they received their testamurs!
But it was not over yet, as there was lunch to follow, which in turn was followed by a photo session in front of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Posing and preening with those bulky graduation gowns on a hot sunny day is not easy, but who cared! It was the students’ day and they loved every bit of the attention from the crowd. (cont. p. 2)
Visiting Professor from the University of Johannesburg comes to AIH Higher Education in March 2013 AIH Higher Education was honoured to host Professor Mornay RobertsLombard from the Department of Marketing, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Professor RobertsLombard was a fount of inspiration and knowledge to AIH Higher Education’s
Consumer & Channel Relations Lecture: Professor Lombard, University of Johannesburg, and AIH students
Tears of joy, pride in every heart and a sense of achievement, the AIH Graduation Ceremony had it all.
academic staff, students, and also to those external to AIH Higher Education who attended Professor RobertsLombard’s seminars. But first of all – why visit AIH Higher Education?
(cont.p.3)