Kia ora Graduate Research Students,
Throughout our various and rather labile Alert Level impositions, graduate research students have persevered. The Graduate Research School (GRS) acknowledges your tenacity. Hundreds of students have commenced their research this year, many hundreds have completed their research, and thousands continue to progress. I acknowledge the mahi (work) of the many AUT staff involved in such productivity, including supervisors, office staff, and the GRS team who continue to proactively support staff and students through the research odyssey.
If you have plans to travel internationally for data collection, unfortunately these cannot be approved at present. Given issues with international travel in general around entry and exit quarantines, travel restrictions, and general safety, you may not travel internationally for any graduate research purposes until further notice. This means you cannot access any international travel funding that was prior approved, until further notice. You may of course travel as a private citizen, but you must be aware of the possibility of issues with your visa, and costs associated with any compulsory quarantines. We understand this may unfortunately impact on your study progress, so please do communicate with your supervisor regarding alternative plans. We note that this restriction also currently applies to all staff at AUT.
Understandably, the graduation ceremony has been postponed until March next year, although you can still formally graduate and be bestowed with your qualification (if complete) in November. We’ll miss the opportunity for kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) festivity, but we do have our Postgraduate Mix & Mingle and AUT Doctoral Scholarship Award Ceremony taking place on 12 November. The ceremony will start at 4pm and there will be time after presentations for attending postgraduate students and AUT staff to network and socialise over light refreshments. It is important if you are intending to come you register please, for catering purposes. We’d love to see you.
Ngā mihi nui,
Nigel Harris
Acting Dean, Graduate Research School
