Your graduation guide
Ceremony Three: Thursday 21 November 2024 at 10.30am
School of Health and Social Care
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Welcome to the 2024 University of Gloucestershire Graduation Ceremonies
Welcome from the Chancellor
I am delighted to congratulate each and every one of you as you graduate today.
We recognise that this is a hugely important and special occasion for you, your families and your friends who join us today to share the celebration of your achievements, and as you embark on the next phase of your journey.
As a University, we are proud to support all of you. We hope that you have enjoyed your time with us, and would like to thank you for your contribution to University life.
We hope that as you start your next chapter, that your relationship with our University will continue, and we look forward to hearing where your next steps will take you.
So, on a day of celebration, we hope you will enjoy this very special occasion together. Well done, and congratulations to you all.
Lord Michael Bichard
Chancellor
Find out more about the Chancellor’s Charity initiative’
Welcome from the Vice-Chancellor
Today’s ceremony marks a defining moment for each of you, our students.
It is the moment at which each one of you receives public and formal recognition for everything you have achieved during your time at University of Gloucestershire. For most of you, it marks the end of your time with us, and is the stepping stone to the next stage in your lives and careers.
Today is a wonderful moment for us all to come together – students, families, staff and friends – to celebrate. We are celebrating the results of all the hard work that you have put into your studies, gaining knowledge, insight and understanding in your chosen subject. We are celebrating the capabilities you have developed, skills you can apply productively in your careers, and life-affirming experiences you have had. We are celebrating your growth in human terms – your richer understanding of yourself and of the world around you.
Each year these events are the highlight of the University’s calendar. They are the culmination of our mission and purpose to educate and to enable people like you to achieve their potential. The University is fortunate to have a wonderful staff of committed, professional people, and today they take enormous pride and pleasure in seeing you flourish and succeed.
It has been a privilege to be associated with your efforts and your triumphs. I hope you graduate feeling both proud of your achievements and confident of your future, and wish you every success in whatever you choose to do next.
Dame Clare Marchant
Vice-Chancellor
Running order
| Welcome | Dame Clare Marchant, Vice-Chancellor |
| Speech | Lord Michael Bichard, Chancellor |
| Award presentations | Graduands from the School of Health and Social Care, presented by Ellie Sonmezer, Associate Head of School |
| Musical item | Performing Arts student Rhianne Houston will sing Go the Distance from Hercules, supported by David Last, Academic Course Leader for Drama and Performing Arts |
| Award presentations | Graduands from our partner, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS), presented by Ellie Sonmezer, Associate Head of School of Health and Social Care |
| Special awards | Awarded to those whose achievement merit particular recognition, introduced by Ellie Sonmezer, Associate Head of School, and presented by Dame Clare Marchant, Vice Chancellor, and Dr Jo Kear, Director of Higher Education at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College |
| Honorary award | Natalie Beswetherick OBE, Honorary Doctorate of Science, introduced by introduced by Ellie Sonmezer, Associate Head of School of Health and Social Care |
| Honorary Award | Paul Roberts, Honorary Fellowship, introduced by introduced by Ellie Sonmezer, Associate Head of School of Health and Social Care |
| Student vote for thanks | Kit Boulting-Hodge, representing UoG Students’ Union |
| Closing remarks | Dame Clare Marchant, Vice-Chancellor |
On the day
The ceremony
Each ceremony lasts around an hour and a half, graduands will find allocated seating in ‘Block 1’ or ‘Block 2’ on the ground floor – check your ticket for details. Please don’t change your seat as it may disrupt the ceremony and mean your name isn’t called out.
Your guests can use any of the unallocated/unlabelled seating in the auditorium including seats in the balconies.
University staff will be on-hand to explain what happens and to make sure you go across the stage at the right time. If you are a prize winner, you will go over the stage for a second time and will have your photograph taken by our official photographer.
It gets busy after the ceremony, so it’s a good idea to arrange a meeting point so you can find your guests when the ceremony finishes.
Gowning
You can find the gowning area in the Betting Hall through the sales area tent, which is to the right of The Centaur building and signposted throughout.
Why caps and gowns?
Universities began life as we know them in the 12th and 13th centuries, with students already priests or monks, wearing clerical inspired dress. Mortarboards are thought to have originated in the 15th century, from their predecessor, the biretta, a hat worn by Catholic clerics and scholars.
Know your gowns
Photography
Ede and Ravenscroft provide official photography on a first come, first served basis, but if you have pre-ordered you won’t have to queue at the sales desk. Photography starts at the same time as gowning, usually finishing around an hour after the end of the last ceremony. It’s busiest just before and just after the ceremony. Your photographs will be sent to you by post approximately six weeks after the ceremony.
If you have any questions, contact the Customer Services Team at [email protected] or call 01223 861854.
Taking your photo
By entering graduation, you and your guests are consenting to recording media and its release, publication, broadcast or reproduction for informational and promotional purposes.
The university has a photographer on site all day during graduation and you and your guests may appear in large-group / distance photographs. No individual or small group photographs will be taken without your consent.
Honorary Awards
Natalie Beswetherick OBE
An alumnus of Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, one of our predecessor institutions, Natalie has a long history within Gloucestershire and the Southwest as a physiotherapist.
In 2021, Natalie took on the role of Chair of Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust, supporting over 80,000 people locally who suffer from arthritic conditions. She has also been involved with the rollout of the BSc and MSc Physiotherapy programmes at University of Gloucestershire.
Natalie is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Science in recognition of her significant national physiotherapy career and contributions to the NHS in Gloucestershire, as well as her considerable contribution and inspirational impact on our students and staff.
Paul Roberts
Paul has recently retired as Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, after five years in this role, from 2018 until 2023. During this time he led community, mental health, and learning disability services, and for the first two years was CEO of 2gether and Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trusts while the two planned to merge.
His achievements as Chief Executive include leading the organisation through the pandemic, and the highest vaccination rates in the country for people with serious mental health issues and people with learning disabilities.
Paul is receiving an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his significant career in the field of health and social care, and we would also like to honour the contribution and support he has given to the University as one of our key partners.
Share your day
#GlosGrads
Congratulations! This is a very special moment, take a picture or a video and it will last forever.
Share your special moment with your friends and family on social media by tagging us and using #GlosGrads
Stageclip
View and share your moment on stage with friends and family. Look out for an email a few days after your ceremony with your personalised link to download your Stageclip.
It’s easy to share your Stageclip on social media – use #GlosGrads to share it with us.
Your future
Don’t want to leave UoG?
You don’t have to.
As a returning UoG student you’ll receive a 15% alumni scholarship discount* off your postgraduate course fees and could benefit from a master’s loan from the government.
Whether you want to explore a new career path, or become an expert in your field, there’s a huge range of taught and research postgraduate degrees to choose from, as well as our popular PGCE teacher training courses.
Stay and study at a place you love and explore endless possibilities with postgraduate study at UoG. It’s easy to apply, just head over to the course page of your choice and apply direct.
Here are some of our courses:
- MSc Applied Ecology
- MA Creative and Critical Writing
- MSc Psychology
- PGCE Primary
- PGCE Secondary
*For 15% alumni scholarship discount terms, visit the fees and loans page.
“I enjoyed studying here for my BSc, the lecturers were helpful and the transition to the master’s easy. This is my opportunity to expand my knowledge and employment prospects.”
Alexander Leighton Jones, MSc Cyber Security
Can’t wait to start?
We’ve got courses starting in January 2025 too. Here are just a few:
- MBA Global
- MSc International Business
- MSc Data Science
- MSc Financial Technology
- MA Social Work
Discover all our postgraduate courses.
Find out more at our next postgraduate open event on Saturday 8 February:
Student Futures
Whether you’ve already planned what to do after graduation, or have no idea, the Student Futures team can help you develop the confidence, skills and experience you need for the working world.
As a graduate, you’ll have continued access to 1-2-1 career support from our Career Studio – helping you navigate your job search and discover your next role. Log in to the Student Futures portal to make an online or in-person appointment with a career coach, explore resources and ask questions.
The Student Futures team will also follow up with you after you graduate, to see how you are doing and offer any additional support you might be looking for. We are committed to ensuring you have the best possible chance to find the job you want when you Graduate, one way to let us know what you are doing is by completing the national Graduate Outcomes survey that will be circulated 15 months after you graduate. See below for more.
Starting your own business?
The traditional route to work isn’t for everybody. Whether you have an idea for a business or just want to build up your enterprise skills, you can get student-focused support for big ideas and small businesses through The Growth Hub based at Oxstalls Campus.
For graduates staying within the county, there is everything you need to launch your business available to you, for free, from the Gloucestershire Growth Hub network. This includes direct business support from a team of expert consultants, modern co-working spaces, and free training events.
If your next step takes you away from Gloucestershire, you can explore what your local Growth Hub offers as part of the national network.
Have your say
Graduate Outcomes is a national survey capturing the activities and perspectives of university graduates 15 months after they finish their studies.
Your response will be crucial in allowing current and future students to make informed choices about higher education and in helping us to evaluate and promote our courses.
The survey data also plays a very significant role in supporting student choice and informing public discussion on the value of higher education.
Stay in touch
Alumni
As an alumnus you are in good company – following in the footsteps of more than 75,000 former students who have studied with us over the year.
You can find out more about our graduates and where their journeys have taken them on our alumni pages, and as an alumnus you will also receive our regular newsletter, featuring news and events around the University. You can also visit our alumni portal for the latest news, events, graduate stories and more.
Follow us on social
Chancellor’s Charity initiative
In 2023 staff and students nominated Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) as the first benefactor of the University of Gloucestershire’s Chancellor’s Charity initiative.
GRASAC offers both practical and emotional support to anyone in Gloucestershire who has been affected by rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse at any point in their lives – regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality etc.
In 2022 GRASAC supported 800 clients and made almost 10,000 contacts either with clients or with other agencies on their behalf.
We offer one-to-one emotional support and advocacy for those who are pursuing the criminal justice system and a confidential environment for survivors/victims to talk through their thoughts, feelings, and be able to explore what has happened and begin their healing journey
We listen and understand, we believe, we are non-judgemental.
; ?> "Visit the homepage"){kind=logo}