Graduation 2014

Published On Mon 16 Jun 2014 by Roddy Isles

Thousands of successful students will feel the tap of the Dundee bonnet this week as the University of Dundee hosts its graduation ceremonies in the Caird Hall.

Six graduation ceremonies will take place over the course of the week, a time of great celebration for students and their families. Just under 3000 students will graduate with degrees, postgraduate diplomas and diplomas.

Students in their robes will fill City Square before and after each ceremony, with many later making their way to the Garden Parties held in the heart of the University campus.

The traditional Dundee bonnet - spun, woven, dyed and embroidered for the University by the Dundee Bonnetmakers Craft - is used by the Chancellor, Lord Patel of Dunkeld, symbolically to confer degrees on graduates.

“We are always delighted to welcome so many of our students and their families here for graduation, which is a milestone occasion for all involved,” said Professor Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University.

“The campus and the city will be buzzing with activity in one of our busiest weeks of the year. This is a time when we celebrate our students’ achievements and I hope everyone attending Graduation or coming on to the campus for any of our events has a wonderful time.”

The graduation ceremonies begin on Wednesday and run for the rest of the week, with morning and afternoon ceremonies each day. The morning ceremonies begin at 10am, and the afternoon ceremonies at 2.30pm. Graduation garden parties take place each day at the Campus Green, Balfour Place, from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Over the course of the week the University is also presenting honorary degrees to leading thinkers and high achievers, local and international. Those receiving the honorary Doctor of Laws are:

  • Professor David Sigsworth, Chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency
  • Professor Ronald Laskey, internationally renowned cell biologist and cancer researcher
  • Chris van der Kuyl, Chairman of 4J Studios and digital entrepreneur
  • Professor Sir David Baulcombe, a leading plant scientist and geneticist
  • Danny Wallace, comedian, writer and broadcaster
  • Professor Bill Herbert, poet and Dundee’s first Makar
  • Leymah Gbowee, winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for her work in leading a women’s peace movement in Liberia
  • Professor Chris Marshall, a world-leading expert on cell signalling and the mechanisms that lead to cancer
  • Dr Mei Lin Young, co-founder and Provost of the International Medical University in Malaysia

NOTES TO EDITORS

The ceremonies taking place this week are:

Wednesday 18th June

10 am – School of Business; School of Law; Graduate School of Natural Resources, Law, Policy and Management (Honorary degree presented to David Sigsworth)

2.30pm – College of Life Sciences; School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics (Honorary degree presented to Ronald Laskey)

Thursday 19th June

10am – School of the Environment; School of Education, Social Work and Community Education; School of Computing (Honorary degrees presented to Chris van der Kuyl and David Baulcombe)

2.30pm – Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design; School of Psychology (Honorary degree presented to Danny Wallace)

Friday 20th June

10am – School of Humanities; School of Nursing and Midwifery (Honorary degrees presented to Bill Herbert and Leymah Gbowee)

2.30pm – School of Dentistry; School of Medicine (Honorary degrees presented to Mei Lin Young and Chris Marshall. Professor Marshall’s degree is to be collected by Karen Vousden, Director of the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research)

 

Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk