NEWSROOM

Students’ innovative capabilities recognised with University of Auckland Distinguished Graduate Awards

22 October 2020

The full rich experience of University cannot be found inside four lecture walls. University is a time of life in which theory can be put to practice through participating in co-curricular activities to learn skills in leadership, community development and a wide range of other important attributes. The University of Auckland offers an array of opportunities for personal and professional development and in 2020 this can now be formally recognised on students transcripts, thanks to the redevelopment of the University’s co-curricular recognition programme. With 80 hours of experience formally clocked, an interview and a professional development workshop attended, participants in the programme can receive a University of Auckland Distinguished Graduate Award which is recognised on academic transcripts. Recipients also receive a certificate signed by the Vice-Chancellor. 

Participants can have a wide range of co-curricular activities recognised, categorised within four paths – Community Engagement, Leadership, Global Citizens and Innovation.  Staff at the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) have contributed to Campus Life’s co-curricular programme through administering a range of opportunities in which students can be formally recognised. These include the Velocity organising committee, Unleash Space workshops and programmes such as Velocity, VentureLab and Summer Lab. 

Despite students being in lockdown for most of the academic year, 150 students completed enough co-curricular activities in 2020 to receive formal awards. Their achievements were recognised in a co-curricular recognition ceremony. CIE alumna and recent Bachelor of Commerce graduate Wynona Dekker was the event’s guest speaker. She offered encouragement and congratulations to the students in attendance for being motivated to fully explore all the opportunities University has to offer. Wynona showed evidence of the rewards of co-curricular participation by sharing that her co-curricular involvement enabled her to negotiate her way into a more advanced job than she was initially offered on graduation based on the strength of her experience. She also advised students to find balance and take care of their mental and physical health.

Campus Life Associate Director Anne-Marie Parsons says that the awards ceremony was a wonderful way to come together with students to celebrate their achievements. “We are truly amazed and humbled at the number of students who have continued to extend their skills and leadership experience through co-curricular and extracurricular activities. It has been particularly hard this year due to Covid, however as usual our students have found creative and innovative ways to keep doing the things they love. When our students look back on their time at University, we know that the experiences they had in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, the skills they developed and the people they met along the way, will be the highlight of their university journey. We are proud that we can offer this experience to students and we are proud of the contribution our students are making to society and the communities which they serve, as well as their future workplaces.” In future years the programme will be scaled up to allow thousands of University of Auckland students to be formally recognised for their co-curricular activities. 

Final year accounting student Yashika Khetan says she was thrilled to receive a Distinguished Graduate Award. “I want to commend the initiative of the University of Auckland to recognise co-curricular involvement in the official academic transcript as it gives a comprehensive reflection of one’s experiences and achievements. Immersing myself in experiences like Summer Lab, VentureLab volunteering, being a Class Representative and being part of the Information Systems and Business Analytics Student Society Executive team has given me lifelong lessons, memories and friendships. It has helped me in my personal as well as professional growth while allowing me to contribute positively to the broader community. To anyone reading this, grab every opportunity you can. You will unlock the potential you never knew you had”.