18 June 2004

Left to right, Ms HaiQiong Xia, Miss Nurima Alkatiri, Ms Nafisa Haleem and Mr Hua Yao

Nurima Alkatiri, the daughter of East Timor Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, was one of four international students recognised at a small ceremony today for completing their studies at Charles Darwin University.

The informal ceremony was held as the students will be unable to attend the University’s official graduation ceremony scheduled for October 2004.

Miss Nurima Alkatiri completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science.

“I am happy and relieved to have completed my studies,” said Miss Alkatiri who was a recipient of the University's East Timor Friendship Scholarship during her studies at Charles Darwin University.

Miss Alkatiri, 22, said she would undertake further study in the environmental science field in the future. She will soon be undertaking a one-year internship at the Australian National University working with the Arafura and Timor Sea Experts Forum - ATSEF - looking at sustainability issues.

East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri with daughter Nurima who graduated from Charles Darwin Unviersity

Also attending the afternoon function was Ms Nafisa Haleem from Bangladesh who completed a Master of Public Health. Ms Haleem said she was the first AusAid scholarship student from her country to study in the Northern Territory.

“I am pleased to have finished this study and, at some time in the future, look forward to undertaking a PhD around the theme of the effect of domestic violence on childhood development,” Ms Haleem said.

Also recognised was Ms HaiQiong Xia from China who, during her three years at Charles Darwin University, undertook an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas students program, and completed a postgraduate diploma in Information Technology and a Master of International Management.

Mr Hua Yao from China completed a Master of Professional Accounting.

The four students were recognised by Charles Darwin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Robert Wasson, and Pro-Vice Chancellor Teaching and Learning, Professor Charles Webb.