Program is a dual master’s degree from Northeastern and Swinburne University in Australia
Graduates of the Northeastern University-Swinburne University of Technology Global Leadership Program were recognized by faculty, administrators, and alumni during the first annual Global Leadership Pinning Ceremony last month.
Envisioned and orchestrated by alumni of the program, the event provided an opportunity to honor and celebrate graduates who earned a dual master’s degree in two years from Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies (CPS) and Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia, as members of the Northeastern University alumni community. Students earned their Master of Science in Leadership from CPS and a choice of a Master of Commerce (International business), Master of Commerce (Marketing), Master of Professional Accounting or Master of Science (Biotechnology) from Swinburne University.
Adopting the pinning tradition of a CPS graduation ceremony, graduates were asked to pass their pin to the graduate standing next to them, in a symbolic gesture to show their connection and bond to one another.
Alumnus Rebecca Gumienny welcomed the class of 2012 to the Northeastern alumni community, a network of hundreds of thousands of graduates spread around the world. “Here at Swinburne you join a further 85,000 alumni worldwide,” she said.
Swinburne University Program Director Murray Rees opened the ceremony with an Australian cultural norm known as “Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement,” which pays respect to the traditional custodians of the land. Professor Ken Chern, executive director of the Swinburne Leadership Institute, shared the importance of envisioning “next steps” as graduates prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead in an ever-changing and dynamic global marketplace. Alumni also presented an award for Outstanding Program Contribution to Rees and an award for Outstanding Teaching Contribution to Rick Arrowood, academic specialist and full-time faculty member at CPS. The award recognized Arrowood for his contribution to the leadership program since 2010.
Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS) is committed to providing career-focused educational programs that are designed to accommodate the complex lives of motivated learners. Offered in a variety of innovative formats, CPS courses are taught by accomplished scholars and practitioners who have real-world experience. The result is an educational experience founded on proven scholarship, strengthened with practical application, and sustained by academic excellence.
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a comprehensive, global research university. The university offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and more than 165 graduate programs, ranging from professional master’s degrees to interdisciplinary PhD programs. Northeastern’s research enterprise is aligned with three national imperatives: health, security and sustainability. Northeastern students participate in co-op and other forms of experiential learning in 90 countries on all seven continents.