Graduation 2024 in full swing
By: Communications
Graduation 2024 is under way with around 5,000 students expected to return to campus this week to celebrate their achievements with peers, friends and family.
Between Monday 15 and Friday 19 July, there will be 13 ceremonies held in the Sportspark, celebrating the graduating students from over 20 different schools of study. Students will be collecting their degrees from the sports hall, which has been transformed into a ceremony hall, before sharing in the celebrations with friends and family in the festival area, where there will be a live band, food and drink stalls, official photo opportunities and plenty more.
Vice-Chancellor Prof David Maguire said: “These will be the first graduation ceremonies that I will have the pleasure of attending at UEA and I can’t wait. We can look back on students’ achievements, and anticipate their next major successes.
“The university experience is hugely rewarding for students, but it also poses many challenges, whether it’s living independently for the first time, moving to a new country, or balancing independent study with work or family commitments.
“For the thousands of UEA students graduating with us next week, this degree is deserved recognition for you in tackling and overcoming those challenges. Congratulations and well done to you all.”
New Chancellor’s inauguration ceremony
During the first graduation ceremony on Monday, Chancellor Dame Jenny Abramsky was inaugurated as UEA’s eighth Chancellor. Dame Jenny graduated from UEA in 1968 with a BA in English and has had a distinguished career at the BBC and in public life.
She said: “It’s a great honour to be sworn in as Chancellor at UEA, and I couldn’t think of a better occasion to receive such an honour than graduation, the biggest celebration in the university calendar.
“I can remember my graduation in 1968, the sense of pride and accomplishment I felt at completing my studies, and the excitement of the possibilities I’d opened up in my career. I’m really looking forward to meeting and speaking to some of our wonderful students next week, as they celebrate with their friends and families, and relive some of those feelings I had.”
Honorary graduates
UEA will also be awarding honorary degrees to five individuals for outstanding accomplishments in their field or for exceptional contributions to the community.
Paola Dionisotti (Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law) is an actress who has been active on stage and British television since 1975, noted for her Shakespearean theatre roles, in addition to her role as Lady Waynwood in Game of Thrones.
She will be joined by Prof Tom Shakespeare FBA CBE (Honorary Doctorate in Science), an esteemed sociologist, bioethicist and disability researcher who previously lectured within UEA’s Norwich Medical School.
Completing the line-up of honorary graduates for 2024 are biodiversity professor Baroness Kathy Willis (Honorary Doctorate in Science), trailblazing Alzheimer’s scientist Prof Karen Duff (Honorary Doctorate in Science), and founder of investment company Juniper Place, Paul Harvey (Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law).
If you are looking to start university in September 2024 and still thinking about your options, consider joining a UK Top 25 university this September through Clearing.
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