From the Vice-Chancellor - Alumni Newsletter April 2017

It’s your success that contributes to the success and prestige of Deakin, and as our reputation grows, so does the value of your degree.  That as alumni you matter to us is a truism, but with the internationalisation of higher education (both the growing number of international students and the large numbers of graduates who move overseas) – it’s important that we continue to connect with you wherever you live and work.

Deakin has international alumni chapters in the USA, UK and Europe, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Singapore and this year will hold events for our alumni in London, New York, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hanoi and Malaysia.  Earlier this month I had another opportunity to meet with alumni when I travelled to India with our Chancellor to join the Federal Minister for Education Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham at opening of the TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre in New Delhi.  Wherever you are in the world I encourage you to sustain your links with Deakin, or if there is no chapter where you are living, perhaps consider starting one following the advice on our website.  If you or a family member are thinking of further study, don’t forget that all Deakin alumni, their spouses and immediate family are eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on any postgraduate award course at Deakin.

We are proud of all our alumni and recognising excellence is important.  Deakin's Alumni Community Awards acknowledge and promote prominent Alumni around the world who have achieved outstanding success in their communities, professions or who have given outstanding service to Deakin.  Nominations for the 2017 Alumni Awards are now open and I encourage you to consider nominating a colleague you believe meets these criteria (nominations are confidential).  I had great pleasure at the 2016 Alumni Awards dinner conferring awards on our 2016 winners:

• Registered Architect, Architectural Historian.  Heritage Consultant and PhD Candidate Mr Allan Frederick Willingham (Lifetime Achievement Award)
• Magistrate at the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria Rosemary E Falla (Alumni of the Year)
• Co-founder and CEO of STREAT Ms Rebecca J. Scott (Alumni Community Services Award)
• Mr Anand Doshi, Click Digital Studios India Pty Ltd (Young Alumni of the Year)
• Mr Hideto Chijiwa, Architect, Sou Fujimoto Architects Tokyo (Young Alumni of the Year)

Jane den Hollander AO
President and Vice-Chancellor