ConGRADulations to all our students and honorary doctorate recipients!
From 8-11 November 2016, around 3,000 BU students from 110countries crossed the stage at their graduation ceremonies held at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC).
Faculty of Media & Communication graduate, Philip Small, wore the tailor-made suit he won in the prize draw after sharing his feedback on his student experiences in the 2015-16 National Student Survey, while the only group of UK students who got through to the semi-finals of a global Google marketing challenge were reunited at their ceremony.
Faculty of Management graduate, Danielle Foster, walked across the stage to collect her masters' degree having overcome adversity and undergone spinal fusion surgery while completing her course, commenting: “I was 5 foot 4 inches when I completed my undergraduate degree and I’m 5 foot 8 inches standing here today, so I’ve grown four inches! I have walked across taller and straighter this time."
A number of honorary awards were also given to individuals who have excelled in their field and enriched their communities, including:
Chris Arnold, award-winning advertising and marketing leader - Faculty of Media & Communication
Jennifer Coombs, former High Sheriff of Dorset - Faculty of Media & Communication
Sir Tim Smit KBE, creator of the Eden Project - Faculty of Management
Charles Hunter-Pease OBE, a prominent volunteer and board member of RNLI - Faculty of Management
David Hines, former BU board member - Faculty of Science & Technology
Sheen Byrom, prominent Midwife - Faculty of Health & Social Science.
Sir Tim Smit said: “Of all the places I’d like to be today, I think here is amongst the best. Outside this wonderful building with these wonderful people are beautiful waves and sunshine with beautiful young people about to set out on their path to make their new career and actually they have every reason to feel excited about it and I always feel uplifted when I’m amongst young people.”
“There’s nothing more optimistic than seeing young people with a lot of optimism and hope going into the world and they are going to change it, so that’s good.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney said: “A big congratulations to all of our graduating students. I’m so proud of all of their achievements and it’s a fantastic day, both of celebration, and to reflect on their time at BU.”
The ceremonies were watched online by over 4000 people from 63 different countries across the world, including China, India, Malaysia, Oman and Thailand. Our unique graduation SnapChat filter was viewed over 40,000 times and used by 434 people throughout graduation week, and #BUgraduation was used 1,106 times in Instagram.
For more pictures of 2016's Graduation ceremonies, visit our dedicated Pinterest board or watch round-up videos from each day of the 2016 Graduation Ceremonies:
