Convocation | The University of Western Australia

Convocation makes UWA special and unique. Because Convocation is an integral part of the University, it means that all graduates are regarded as equally important a part of the University, as the staff and students.

The term Convocation in the context of a university, it refers to those members of the university community who 'when gathered together in a formal meeting' are entitled to have input into aspects of the governance of the university such as voting for members of the governing body or reviewing major decisions, such as changes to statutes.

All graduates of The University of Western Australia are permanent members of the Convocation of UWA Graduates.

Through Convocation, graduates have a life-long relationship with the University of Western Australia. Convocation is one the four constituent bodies of the University (along with staff, the students and the Senate), as defined in the University of Western Australia Act of 1911.

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What is convocation?

The general definition of the term 'Convocation' is a "gathering together for a large formal assembly". When applied in the context of a university, it refers to those members of the university community who 'when gathered together in a formal meeting' are entitled to have input into aspects of the governance of the university such as voting for members of the governing body or reviewing major decisions, such as changes to statutes.

Why does Convocation make UWA different? Because Convocation is an integral part of the University, it means that all graduates are regarded as equally important a part of the University, as the staff and students. This means that UWA considers the support we supply to graduates are as important as the services we supply to students.

The University of Western Australia needs a strong and vibrant graduate community. Convocation works to:

Enhance the reputation of the University
Maintain a long-standing commitment to undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships, bursaries, and awards
Encourage good governance of the University through the election of members of Convocation to the University Senate and the Council of Convocation
Bring graduates together in a range of activities, including reunions
Invite influential speakers to address Ordinary Meetings of Convocation in March and September annually

When the UWA Act was drafted in 1911, it created the Guild to represent the interests of students, and created Convocation to represent the interests of graduates. However, while members of the Guild are only students, membership of Convocation (in accordance with its historical precedents) encompasses all the senior members of the University community who are entitled to form the electorate for the university. Today membership of Convocation comprises:

All graduates of the University
All recipients of Honorary Doctorates
All senior academic staff of the University
All members and past members of the UWA Senate
Nominated representatives of commercial, industrial, scientific, professional or educational associations
Graduates of other universities admitted to be members by Convocation
Persons who have rendered services or made gifts to the University