07.02.2007
Nearly 800 students from the University of Brighton will descend upon the city's spectacular Dome on Friday 9 February to receive their awards.
The new graduates will collect awards, which range from diplomas to doctorates, from the university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julian Crampton and the new Chairman of the Board of Governors, Sir John Mogg, who will be attending the graduation ceremony as chairman for the first time.
Professor Crampton said: "Award ceremonies are very special days for the university. I am struck by the wealth of talent and the sense of community which exists at the university."
"Universities are about people and it is the students and staff of the university that make these ceremonies possible. For staff, this is a high point of the academic year - for graduates, it is a significant milestone. I would like to offer all the students my warmest congratulations."
Honorary graduates set to attend include Professor Roger Wilson, acclaimed for his substantial contribution to the strategic development of art and design in higher education within the United Kingdom. As a professor of fine art he has taught at many major UK institutions along with appointments at Oklahoma, Texas State and Chicago and his vast portfolio includes public appointments nationwide.
Also to be welcomed as an honorary graduate is Tony
Lane, who served for nine years on the university's Board of Governors
between 1997 and 2006 and played a pivotal role in the review of governance
during the period 1999-2001.
Before joining the Board, Tony Lane had a distinguished career in the
civil service.
Unstoppable force: Bridget Henderson
It's been quite a year for 42-year-old mum of three and nursing graduate Bridget Henderson. Along with juggling her family life with training for her nursing diploma at the University of Brighton, Bridget also managed to find the time to train to run a marathon and join the Territorial Army.
"Though it was nerve racking at first the Territorial Army turned
out to be great fun! The Territorial Army and nursing really complimented
each other and will benefit both my civilian and military career ahead."
But deciding to swap school runs for intensive care units and army ration packs wasn't something Bridget, who trained in nursing many years back in South Africa, took lightly.
"It was a rather calculated decision to re-train as a nurse. I recently divorced and wanted to re-train to provide for my family. I have to admit after bringing up three children it was difficult to get back into the work force. But I haven't looked back since!"
Even now, with the course finished, there doesn't appear to be any let up for Bridget.
"I must be a glutton for punishment! I've just applied to join the university's burns training unit as I'd love to go into the burns department eventually and I'm just about to start an online degree in nursing management as well!"
An eventful year: Faye Brown
Being a full-time employee as the university's Alumni manager and mum-to-be has certainly earnt 29-year-old Faye Brown a place at this February's winter graduation.
As if juggling full-time work and morning sickness with her studies for
an MA in International Events wasn't enough, Faye was also experiencing
being a university student for the first time.
"I think being accepted as a 'post-experience' student rather than someone who had completed a first degree made me work a lot harder to prove that I was capable of study at that level.
"It's great that the university considers applicants from all backgrounds as otherwise I would never have got the opportunity to do something like this."
And all that hard work has certainly paid off. An abstract from Faye’s dissertation has been submitted for the European conference on higher education marketing taking place in Budapest this April. Though whether she'll attend all depends on one thing.
"Although it would be a brilliant opportunity to present my work, I'll be seven and a half months pregnant by then, so it may not be my top priority!"
But all that studying certainly hasn't lessened Faye's desire for a fresh new challenge, in fact quite the opposite.
"It was a real challenge and you need to be really disciplined to fit it all in. As long as you keep in the back of your mind that it's only for a limited time it's achievable and worth it in the long run."
"I'd love to do another course. I'm just trying to think of a suitable PhD proposal!"
An international love affair: Kai-Wei Hung and Hsiu-Ju Tsai
For international students Kai-Wei Hung and Hsiu-Ju Tsai, a couple from Taiwan, coming to England to study for an MA in Hospitality Management truly was a love affair. But it wasn't just Hsiu-Ju that Kai-Wei fell for. It appears the university has a special place in his heart too.
"My education has taken me to Western Australia and the United States but Sussex is very special to me. It is a beautiful place and I loved being by the sea and close to London" said Kai-Wei.
"The university had an excellent teaching quality and it is the perfect training for me to realise my ambition to be a manager in a hotel."
"Now that I'm back in Taiwan there are so many things I miss about Sussex, from food to the architecture and even the weather! In fact, I loved England so much I'm planning on coming back to study further."
In a relationship for over six years, studying and being together certainly has its merits says Kai-Wei:
"There were definitely advantages to learning together. We were able to support each other with lessons and our general livelihood. Looking back now it's definitely improved our sensibility and our relationship."
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
