Springfield celebrates its first graduation ceremony in Ipswich

Springfield student Othman Khouri becomes Springfield's first Masters student to have also graduated from their undergraduate degree at the campus.

More than 120 students donned ceremonial regalia to celebrate the conferring of their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the Ipswich Civic Centre on Saturday, 7 May, marking another first for the USQ Springfield campus.

USQ Springfield campus Director Doug Fraser said this was the first time the campus had held the graduation in Ipswich as the ceremony had outgrown the Springfield Auditorium.

'With 123 students graduating, including 25 postgraduate graduands and a doctoral graduand it was time to find a larger venue and holding the event at the Ipswich Civic Centre allowed us to further signify the association between the University and the City of Ipswich,' Mr Fraser said.

'There was a great feel to the day, with hundreds of proud parents, partners and children coming along to witness the celebration of their loved ones achievement.

'The students took part in a Graduation March from the bottom of the Ipswich City Mall to the Civic Centre with a Town Crier and a bagpiper leading the procession.'

Mr Fraser said this year the campus also celebrated the first graduation of a Masters student who had also graduated from their undergraduate degree at USQ Springfield the previous year.

'Othman Khouri graduated with a Bachelor of Business in 2010 and a Masters of Project Management in this year’s ceremony, a wonderful achievement and he travelled from the United Arab Emirates just to take part in the graduation ceremony.'

Mr Khouri said he felt it was important to come back to Australia to take part in the graduation ceremony.

'I have studied at USQ for the past five years and it was wonderful to come back and celebrate that achievement and catch up with old friends,' Mr Khouri said.

'The best thing about studying at USQ has definitely been the amount of support I received from the lecturers which really helped me improve as I worked through the degree.

'I’m now deciding whether to complete further study or begin working in one of the jobs I have been offered in the UAE.'

Mr Fraser congratulated graduands on the completion of their programs and conferring their degrees.

'We wish all graduates great success in their future endeavours,' he said.

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096