Proud mum has best seat in the house for Graduation
Published On Tue 19 Jun 2018 by Grant Hill
There will be no shortage of proud mums at this week’s University of Dundee Graduation ceremonies but only one will be on stage when her son receives his degree.
Jackie Malcolm, a Senior Lecturer at the University’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, will be part of the traditional academic procession across City Square and onto the Caird Hall stage on Wednesday 20 June. Her son, Cameron, will graduate with a First Class honours degree in Product Design during the afternoon ceremony.
Jackie, who lectures in Graphic Design and who herself graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone, admits there is a danger of her pride and excitement bubbling over when Cameron crosses the stage.
“I don’t know if I’m allowed to stand up and cheer him on, but I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself!” she said. “I’m immensely proud of Cameron. What a moment it will be to see my son walk across the stage right in front of me.
“Cameron absolutely loved everything about the course. As his mum, I’d say the University has changed his life. He was going in a completely different direction to the one he intended and the impact Dundee has had on his future has been phenomenal. I’m chuffed to bits that Cameron chose Dundee. It’s been very humbling and the advantage was that I know first-hand how supportive the staff are here.”
Cameron (21) had dreamed of becoming a military pilot and was even offered a place flying with the navy during his course. He deferred his pilot training so that he could complete ‘Plan B’ – his degree – but discovered he loved it so much that he wanted to change his career path to follow Product Design.
His course allowed him the opportunity to study in New Zealand and Seattle and while at the latter his group project was chosen by Microsoft as a product development opportunity.
“It was initially a strange experience going to a university that my mum teaches at,” he admitted. “However I was determined to do Product Design at Duncan of Jordanstone, and my mum’s career there as a lecturer has continued to inspire me. Her passion for design and success with her own teaching has always motivated me throughout university.”
Jackie’s previous experience of starting her own business has also inspired him, and he and classmate Cameron Watt are in the process of launching their new creative technology company, ‘Cameron & Cameron’. Supported by the University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, the company will design interactive technology for organisations to enable customers to engage with the brand on an interactive level.
Completing the Malcolms’ University connections, is Cameron’s dad Kenneth who works as a photographer and videographer at Dundee. He will join his wife, son and other family members for a celebration after the graduation.
The University’s Graduation ceremonies take place from Wednesday 20 June to Friday 22 June in the Caird Hall, Dundee. Around 3000 students will receive their degrees and diplomas over the course of the week, one of the highlights of the academic calendar.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384768
Mobile: 07854 953277
Email: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk