COURSE coordinator of the University of New England’s Nauruan education program has described the ceremony for the first graduating class as “the most emotional that I’ve ever witnessed”.
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Associate Professor Pep Serow travelled to the island nation for the event.
“There would have been about 300 locals who attended and the president [Baron Waqa] did come; he was really happy,” she said.
“You could see he was so exited about seeing education valued by the community.
“That ceremony was the most emotional that I’ve ever witnessed.”
The 14 graduates finished their course with associate degrees in teaching pacific focus, a program pioneered by UNE.
Associate Professor Serow said the first cohort of graduating students were continuing the work of Maria Gaiyabu, Nauru’s Secretary of Education as the nation aimed to enhance learning.
“Her insight into Pacific education guided the program,” she said.
She said pro vice-chancellor external relations Trevor Goldstone’s words inspired the graduates.
“One of the things he said in his speech the students absolutely loved was that ‘UNE has approximately 20,000 student but on this day none of them are as important as you are right now’,” she said.
“They’ve held on to that.
“They are now part of the UNE community and they will be for life.”