11 June 2001

The University of Dundee is to break with tradition and stage a London graduation ceremony this year to help a group of students who have annually missed out on the dubbing ceremony due to a calendar clash.

In recent years a growing number of design students have been forced to choose between attending a London event crucial to springboarding their new careers or taking part in the formal ceremony which marks the culmination of their study years. Graduands and their families have been disappointed. But this year it seems a solution has been found. On a recent trip to London, University Principal Sir Alan Langlands took the opportunity to explore the option of staging a small ceremony in the vicinity of the New Designers show at Islington.

As a result 40 design students will now graduate in July in a modern art gallery housing some of the most famous and valuable works of modern art in the UK. The Estorick - a handsome Georgian villa set in a walled garden in Canonbury Square - is only 20 minutes walk from the New Designers venue and close to the base of University Chancellor Sir James Black who will attend the ceremony.

"Design students and their parents have warmly welcomed the idea of a London ceremony. The regular clash of dates has been a source of frustration for some years. New Designers is the biggest event in the UK for all design disciplines with many students finding jobs with design firms on the strength of their exhibits. We are now looking into methods of helping with transport and accommodation packages," said deputy principal Bill Barr, a former dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College.

The ceremony will take place on Tuesday 10 July. In addition to the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Principal and Dean will be in attendance as well as invited guests.

The Caird Hall graduations will go ahead as planned on the Thursday and Friday (12 and 13) of that week./ends