More than 1200 to celebrate at Stirling summer graduations

More than 1200 University of Stirling graduands will have their achievements recognised at four Summer 2016 graduation ceremonies today and tomorrow.

The ceremonies held on campus at the University’s Gannochy National Tennis Centre, will confer degrees upon graduands from five academic faculties.

University Chancellor Dr James Naughtie will preside over the graduation ceremonies and Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, will highlight the positive impact that Stirling’s contribution has made to people’s lives across the globe.

More than 80 percent of those receiving an honours degree at this week’s ceremonies will graduate with either a first or 2:1 while 96 percent of Stirling graduates are in employment or further study six months after graduation.

The ceremonies are broadcast live via a graduation webcast.

Graduation coverage – packed with photos, social media and case studies - will also be available online.

Wednesday 29 June, 10am

Graduands from the Faulty of Health Sciences and Sport and Faculty of Natural Sciences will receive their awards at the opening ceremony.

This includes Jayne Galinsky who will leave the University with a Health Sciences PhD and joins Myeloma UK as a researcher and Andrew Hepburn who will collect a scroll bursting with qualifications fit for the digital age, having achieved a first class honours in Computing Science. Andrew will now take up a graduate software engineer role in the defence sector.

Professor and Chief Science Officer at CosmosID.Inc, Dr Rita Colwell, will receive an honorary doctorate for her outstanding contribution to marine biotechnology and influences in environmental microbiology. Dr Colwell is currently developing an international network to address emerging infectious diseases and safe drinking water issues in both developed and developing countries.

Wednesday 29 June, 2.30pm

The Wednesday afternoon ceremony recognises graduands from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport and Stirling Management School.

Among those graduating is Emily Jenkins who will gain a BA Hons Business Studies and Economics before she takes a place on GlaxoSmithKline’s Future Leaders programme. From Sport, Maurizio Valenti has completed an MSc in Sport Management and will stay to complete a PhD, having been won over by life at Stirling.

Alan Simpson OBE, Chair of University Court from 2007 to 2015, will receive the award of Doctor of the University for his contribution to the University and for services to higher education. During his tenure, he fostered strong relationships within the UK higher education sector and led the University of Stirling through a period of growth and investment.

Thursday 30 June, 10am

Graduands from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities will be recognised at the first of two ceremonies on Thursday including French and Law star student Julian Osei-Bonsu who used his time at University to study abroad in Vancouver and Paris.

Professor Zhengshuan Li will receive the award of Doctor of the University for the promotion of Scottish literature in China. A translator of poetry, Professor Zhengshuan Li is currently working on translating the poems of Robert Burns into contemporary Chinese and he will present the University with a copy of his book, marking the 220^th anniversary of Burns’ death. His work is crucial to the links between the University of Stirling, Hebei Normal University in China and the Chinese educational authorities.

Thursday 30 June, 2.30pm

The final ceremony of the summer graduation celebrations sees graduands from the Faculty of Social Sciences recognised.

Golf scholar Eilidh Briggs is among those who takes home a degree to be proud of having achieved a first class honours in Professional Education, Physical Education and Sports Studies. Eilidh represented the University and her country on golf courses around the world, balancing highly competitive performance sport with her studies.

Former local head teacher and Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Teacher of the Year, Elaine Wyllie, is to be recognised for her contribution to the community with the ‘Daily Mile’ initiative at St. Ninians Primary School, Stirling. The programme - which sees every pupil walk or run for up to one mile every day - has attracted national and international praise from healthcare experts for its innovative approach to tackling the growing issue of childhood obesity and is now the focus of a study by experts at the University of Stirling. It has received support from the Scottish Government and has been introduced into schools throughout the country as well as in other parts of the UK.

Visit the Graduation Homepage