April 3, 1998

U of A holds Hong Kong convocation

Cecilia Lam receives an alumni citation in recog- nition of her volunteer efforts with the Hong Kong convocation.

The University of Alberta made history in its 90th anniversary year with its first international convocation ceremony in Hong Kong.

About 120 alumni walked across the stage in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, March 22, as more than 400 of their family members and friends looked on from the audience.

The idea of an international convocation was borne out of trying to keep the ties among Hong Kong's 1,100 alumni, the U of A's largest overseas branch. It aimed to build rapport with U of A alumni, to increase awareness about the university and its activities among alumni families and friends, and more importantly, to cultivate interest in the U of A as a place to work and study. Cecilia Lam, rehabilitation medicine '76, got the ball rolling for the idea last year.

But while the convocation was enthusiastically received, it was the target of criticism by out-going Students' Union president, Stephen Curran. He recently disputed the merits of the international convocation in an opinion piece in Gateway, March 26. In news release sent out to media, Curran says students are "furious at the administration for hosting its first off-campus convocation after pleading poverty and approving the maximum tuition increase." He goes on to say the event, with its estimated $80,000 price tag, "was unnecessary and is tantamount to a slap in the face for students."

Senior administrators defended the trip, however, at General Faculties Council, March 30. Peter Cahill, president of the Graduate Students' Association, asked President Rod Fraser to forgo international trips at a time when students are bearing the full brunt of maximum tuition increases. But Fraser said he remains committed to internationalization for five primary reasons: recruitment of outstanding students; cultivating academic exchange agreements with selective institutions; alumni development; meeting with key benefactors; and establishing joint ventures with institutions and governments.

The president said internationalization is a two-way street. Every U of A student should have, as part of their student experience, a significant international experience, typically at an overseas institution. They will work in a truly international world. And, the president pointed out, the increase in the number of international students by about 140 students over a two-year period has resulted in an increase of just under $1 million flowing into the university's core operating budget.

The president said the U of A's internationalization efforts are also very much in sync with the province's goals. "The premier has made it part of his strategy to facilitate the connection of Albertans in selling and doing business in Southeast Asia. When I'm out visiting alumni groups across Alberta, I am met uniformly with support for internationalization." Fraser urged GFC members to take a look at the current workplace. He said U of A graduates in mining, software engineering, oil and gas, paper and pulp, agriculture and pharmaceuticals -- almost to a person -- are involved to some extent with internationalization.

Dean of the Faculty of Science, Dr. Richard Peter, attended the convocation and said the pride and enthusiasm he found among alumni was overwhelming. "Their sons and daughters are destined for the U of A.They know the U of A is a top quality place and it served them well. The experiences here changed their lives." The dean spoke to a U of A alumnus who graduated two years ago and flew to Hong Kong from Ottawa to attend the ceremony with his family. A teen-aged brother and family friend both piped up "U of A" when asked where they were heading for university in a few years, says Peter.

With Hong Kong now the gateway to all of China, Peter said strong ties with alumni will help the U of A "stay on the map of recruiting students from both Hong Kong and the mainland. This is a very competitive market. Just a week after our ceremony, the University of New South Wales had their international convocation. They've been doing it for years."

Officiating at the convocation were University of Alberta Chancellor Louis D. Hyndman, Board of Governors Acting Chair Lloyd Malin, President and Vice-Chancellor Rod Fraser, and Acting Vice-President Research and External Affairs Roger Smith. In addition to Peter, Dean Patricia Clements, Faculty of Arts and Dean Michael Percy, Faculty of Business were also in Hong Kong.

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