Local Section Navigation

• Welcome to ECU
  • About ECU
  • Purpose, vision, values
  • Edith Dircksey Cowan
• Vice-Chancellor
  • Vice-Chancellor's news
  • Vice-Chancellor's speeches
  • Distinguished orator
  • Graduation speeches
  • Guest speakers
• Executive team
• University Council
• Reports and Plans
  • Annual reports
• Our students
• Our campuses
  • Joondalup Campus
  • Mount Lawley Campus
  • South West Campus
  • Campus maps
• Campus facilities
  • Accommodation
  • Childcare
  • Computer labs and wireless internet
  • Counselling service
  • Food, cafés and taverns
  • Hairdresser
  • Health and counselling
  • Library
  • Lockers and Bike compounds
  • Optometrist
  • Printing services
  • Sport and fitness
  • Student Central
  • Student Guild, clubs and associations
  • The ECU Shop
• Security on campus
• Getting to ECU
  • Getting to Joondalup Campus
  • Getting to Mount Lawley Campus
  • Getting to the South West Campus
  • Tertiary SmartRider
• Faculties and schools
• Service centres
• Indigenous matters
  • Indigenous support at ECU
  • Reconciliation Action Plan
  • Statements
• ECU Art Collection
• Environment
• Contact ECU

Vice-Chancellor's address to graduates at Emirates headquarters in Dubai

Professor Kerry O.Cox
Vice-Chancellor

Tuesday, 10 April 2007

This is an edited version of key points made by the Vice-Chancellor at the Graduation Celebration in Dubai, 10 April 2007

1. Congratulations to the graduates for setting goals, for applying themselves, for overcoming (undoubtedly) obstacles and for succeeding.

2. It is an honour for Edith Cowan University to be in partnership with a world-class company such as Emirates Group to provide education and training programs and to undertake research.

I acknowledge, on behalf of all my ECU colleagues and in particular Professor Narayanan Srinivasan, the excellent, and dedicated support that we receive from Emirates Group. I particularly acknowledge His Highness Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Mr Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice-Chairman, Emirates Airline Group, Mr Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, Dr Abdulla Al-Hashimi, Divisional Senior Vice-President of Emirates Group Security (who has been a great leader in articulating a vision concerning improvements that can be made to security and then operationalising the many good ideas, leading to excellent education and training programs). It is of special significance that this partnership of an Australian University and an international partner was recognised in November 2006 by the Business Higher-Education Roundtable ( B-HERT ) in Australia for an Award for Teaching Excellence between an Australian University and an international partners.

3. In today's Gulf News (10 April) there was an important article on the Knowledge Economy and the importance of individuals and groups being educated and trained to learn and apply knowledge, and to be innovative. To the graduates I cannot emphasise too much the importance of continuing to learn and continue to apply knowledge and continuing to seek new ways of doing things. Learning is from the womb to the tomb.

4. To the graduates - it is the case that no person is an island - and therefore on your day of triumph, it would be very appropriate for you to fulsomely acknowledge those who have supported you (family members, friends, neighbours, staff at your work).

5. Again, for the graduates - advice. As you continue to learn and apply your knowledge, do not be afraid to be mentored by those who are in a position to do so and also be prepared to give generously of your knowledge and experience to mentor others - that will make the world a better place.

6. Finally, no matter how well you are doing things at present, remember the ditty: "good, better, best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best". I wish you on-going success.