9 July 2001

Sir James Black, Chancellor of the University of Dundee will dub over 2,000 students with the blue Dundee bonnet in four graduation ceremonies in the Caird Hall on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 July.

The ceremonies each begin with a gowned procession across the City Square from the City Chambers to the Caird Hall and are followed by scenes of family congratulations before afternoon garden parties on campus.

Details of the ceremonies are as follows:
Thursday 12 July
10.00 photo opportunity of honorary graduate Sydney Scroggie in the robing room, City Chambers, City Square.

10.30 Caird Hall
School of Nursing conferment of degrees upon graduates and honorary graduate Sydney Scroggie.

Sydney Scroggie
Sydney Scroggie, hillwalker and poet, is a local legend. His extraordinary ability to overcome adversity and hillclimb extensively in the Scottish Highlands in spite of having lost a leg and the sight of both eyes has been an inspiration to many. A Dundonian, he served as a lieutenant during the Second World War and it was while campaigning in Italy that he stood on a mine and was badly injured. He then went to college in Oxford where, he says, "however belatedly I learned the arts both of reading and thinking". In his spare time he has written extensively - prose and poetry as well as letters to newspapers and is one of Scotland's most colourful senior "characters". Sydney Scroggie will be presented by Head of the department of history Professor Chris Whatley who says: "It is appropriate that Syd Scroggie should be honoured at this graduation ceremony. The young graduates here have learned a great deal about what medical science can do to ease suffering and cure the sick and injured. But there were limits to what could be done for Syd Scroggie. The rest he has done himself."

Thursday 12 July
1.45pm photo opportunity in the robing room, City Chambers, City Square. The UK's three most cited scientists in the 1990s Dr Salvador Moncada (who will be presented for an honorary degree) plus the University of Dundee's Professor Sir David Lane (second most cited) and Professor Sir Philip Cohen (third most cited).

Former Principal of the University of Dundee Dr Ian Graham-Bryce who is to receive an honorary degree will also be available.

2.15pm Schools of Medicine & Dentistry and the Faculty of Science & Engineering conferment of degrees and conferment of honorary degrees upon Dr Salvador Moncada and Dr Ian Graham-Bryce.

Professor Salvador Moncada
Director of University College London's Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research was named the superstar of British science in the 1990s by the US-based Institute for Scientific Information which specialises in citation analysis. They found that his work was cited by other scientists in published papers more than any other UK scientist in the 1990s. Second most cited was David Lane and third was Philip Cohen. Professor Moncada has published more than 700 papers on inflammation and cardiovascular research. He will be presented by Professor Sir Philip Cohen.

Dr Ian Graham-Bryce
Fourth Principal of the University of Dundee (1994--2000), Dr Ian Graham-Bryce returns to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. During his principalship, the University went through an unprecedented period of growth. Student numbers rose from 8,000 to 12,000 with an additional 4,500 local people enrolled for continuing education. Financial turnover grew by 70% from £65million to £110 million and research income increased by 85% from £16million to over £30 million.

Deputy Principal Professor Peter Howie who will present Dr Graham-Bryce said: "Although team effort achieved success, Ian Graham-Bryce provided the leadership and guidance to make it all possible. His management style was to be a good listener, to understand the concerns of all in the institution and to make measured decisions. As an individual he was admired, respected and held in affection."

Friday 13 July
10.00 photo opportunity of Sir Robert Wilson in the robing room, City Chambers, City Square.

10.30 Faculties of Law & Accountancy and Duncan of Jordanstone College conferment of degrees and conferment of an honorary degree upon Sir Robert Wilson.

Sir Robert Wilson
Sir Robert Wilson the chairman of Rio Tinto Plc is being recognised for the role he has played in influencing and developing mining company policy to take account of global environmental and human rights issues. He will be presented by Professor Thomas Walde director of the Centre for Energy Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee who says: "At the same time as he has helped build Rio Tinto into a world class mining company, Sir Robert has shown great vision in recognising the importance of the broader social and environmental responsibilities of the mining industry. He was among the first in the industry to openly acknowledge that in future companies would not only be judged by how much they produced but also by the manner in which they operated."

1.45pm photo opportunity Mrs Xu Ya-Fen in the robing room, City Chambers, City Square.

2.15pm Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences conferment of degrees and honorary degree upon Mrs Xu Ya-fen

Mrs Xu Ya-fen
Mrs Xu Ya-fen started working life as a secretary in an electrical machinery company and is now one of the most influential women in Chinese education today. She was recently nominated as the only candidate from Zhejiang Province for selection as one of the Ten Outstanding Women in China. Vice Principal of the University of Dundee Professor David Swinfen: "She has almost single handedly over the past decade established an educational structure which is the first of its kind in China, encompassing the full range of educational institutions from kindergarten through to university."

These institutions include the Wanli International Kindergarten, School, Post Secondary College, the Wanli Vocational Technology School and the University of Zhejiang Wanli with which the University of Dundee has a special relationship. Mrs Xu Ya-fen has achieved this without the need to draw on government finance, having accumulated the 10 million-yen start up capital through her first major enterprise - the Wanli Driver Training School.

For the first time this year a special on-location graduation will also take place in London on Tuesday (10th) for students attending the New Designers show. The special ceremony in the Estorick art gallery in Islington will ensure that students and their families will not miss the most important day of their University careers and the New Designers event, which launches their futures. Sir James Black will dub 37 students in London before flying up to Dundee on Thursday to complete the task, dubbing another 2,000 heads.ENDS

Media/ photographers are welcome to attend the graduation ceremonies, the photo opportunities in the robing room and to take pictures from the balcony area above the stage. Please do not take pictures in the downstairs stage area.