Newly capped EIT graduates celebrate their success in Napier on 30-31 March, parading through city streets cheered on by family, friends and well-wishers who have supported them on their learning journeys.
The academic rite of passage is a colourful spectacle, with graduates resplendent in traditional batwing gowns, multi-hued satin-lined hoods, sashes, korowai and tasselled trenchers.
Graduation underscores several highlights for EIT:-
* For the first time, Māori made up half of last year’s student body and increased participation is mirrored in achievement figures. EIT awarded 298 more qualifications to Māori completing study programmes in 2016 than in the previous year – 180 more certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate qualifications in Hawke’s Bay and 118 more in Tairāwhiti.
* In total, there will be 3272 qualifications awarded across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti campuses for 2016 – up by 10 percent on the previous year.
* EIT’s growing number of postgraduate diplomas and master degree offerings will be reflected in the awarding of 41 more level 8 and 9 qualifications.
For the fourth successive year, EIT is staging graduation as a two-day event in Napier’s Municipal Theatre. Previously, the ceremony alternated between the twin cities. However the Hastings venue, the Hawke’s Bay Opera House, requires further earthquake strengthening and has not been available for the event.
To manage the growing number of graduates, capping will once again be held as three ceremonies, each one encompassing different academic disciplines.
Business, computing, primary industries, veterinary nursing, tourism and hospitality and viticulture and wine science are to be represented on the Thursday afternoon, visual arts and design (ideaschool), education, social sciences and Māori studies (Te Ūranga Waka) on Friday morning and health, sport science and nursing in the afternoon.
The official speakers will be Dr Russell Wills, a community and general paediatrician and medical director of quality improvement and patient safety for the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, and wine writer and senior wine judge Yvonne Lorkin.
Honoured valedictorians – Bachelor of Nursing graduate Sheila Argent, Bachelor of Viticulture and Bachelor of Wine Science graduate Anton Luiten and Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences graduate Sophia Raroa – are to represent their former classmates in delivering addresses to full houses in the theatre.
Local authority leaders and the Napier Pipe Band will join EIT Council members, senior executive and academic staff in leading the parade of graduands and graduates from Clive Square and Emerson Street to the Sound Shell on Marine Parade.
Not all of those who completed qualifications are able to attend graduation, with some mobilising to bring in the grape harvest and others managing work commitments in jobs secured locally, throughout New Zealand and overseas.