It feels slightly odd to be properly back at my desk – pretty much the whole of the Vice Chancellor’s Office team migrates to the Arts Centre for the duration of Graduation Week. Although it’s a tiring time, it’s also paradoxically highly energising. And it’s actually a treat to be able to concentrate on a single event, or series of events, for almost a whole week. That hardly ever happens!
Looking back, the main impression I have is of a sunny week (quite remarkable, when torrential rain was forecast, and indeed happened on the Monday), with lots of colleagues working together, and lots of guests enjoying themselves. So first of all, many, many thanks to everyone who worked so hard to deliver an outstanding Graduation Week.
Over the four days from Tuesday to Friday, and through eight graduation ceremonies, we welcomed more than 10,000 graduates, families, friends and supporters. Judging from the many positive messages and conversations I’m aware of, there was tremendous appreciation of the work that goes in behind the scenes to make these occasions such a success. There is a huge amount of effort behind the scenes – from the painstaking registration of students and checking of results, to organising parking, making the campus look beautiful, sorting out catering, taking part in the ceremonies or departmental events, pinning on hoods for perplexed graduands, or just giving visitors a friendly smile. Graduation is one of the highlights of the academic year, and an excellent example of the way we can all work together to make a complicated series of events run smoothly and enjoyably.
We also work hard to get the tone right – it’s a properly formal occasion, and needs to be that because it must be an appropriate culmination of students’ time here in Aberystwyth, and a mark of their success. At the same time, we want graduands to feel they can have a bit of a good time, and to feel involved in the ceremony, not too distanced from it by too much formality. The comments we’ve had do suggest we get this right. And I personally enjoy the rehearsals, trying to put graduands at their ease and encouraging them to enjoy the ceremonies (full marks this year for enthusiastic responses to Theatre, Film and Television Studies, and Geography and Earth Sciences graduates!).
This was a special year for us because, in addition to a highly distinguished group of Honorary Fellows, we also awarded Honorary Degrees for the first time – all the individuals we honoured are listed at the end of this blog post. The introduction of Honorary Bachelor Degrees in particular allows us to recognise contributions to our immediate community. It was particularly inspiring over the course of the week to meet a group of individuals who have contributed to Aber, Wales and the wider world in such a variety of different ways, but who all had words of great encouragement to say to our graduands. While everyone gave wise and entertaining acceptance speeches, two in particular stand out for me. We were so pleased Jeremy Bowen was able to attend this year, having missed out last year because of a crisis in Gaza, from where he sent a memorable video message saying ‘I’m so sorry I can’t be with you, but I got held up at work’. And Iolo Williams told graduands to pay no attention when advised to take their time in deciding what to do next – on the contrary, he reckoned the best course of action was to rush into everything, and have a fantastic time. Not a bad note for the last ceremony of Graduation Week!
Other firsts this year include being offered my first first-bump rather than handshake in one ceremony; an on-stage hug from a particularly delighted graduand; and hosting the annual Fellows’ Dinner on the Friday rather than the Wednesday, making it more convenient for more of our Fellows from previous years to come back and spend time with us. Like our graduates, they are also ambassadors for Aber, and this is a tremendous opportunity to update them on what is happening around the University. This year we also chose to hold the Friday evening reception at Fferm Penglais, allowing our visitors to see the exceptional quality of the accommodation there – another highlight in a week of highlights.
So, back to business this week, with the Royal Welsh Show, staff talks, and our usual crop of July circulars from HEFCW… Whatever you are doing this week, and whatever you hope to accomplish over the summer, I hope you will find time for a relaxing break to recharge the batteries, and I wish you a successful and productive time.
April McMahon, Vice-Chancellor
