The University of Strathclyde’s classes of 2020 and 2021 are returning to the University to celebrate their graduations.
Students who gained their qualifications over the past two years have been invited back to Strathclyde, after their graduation ceremonies were cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A series of events will be taking place at the University’s Barony Hall from 18 March – 1 April, in which graduates will have the chance to be formally robed and then capped before a full audience of family, friends, supporters and academic staff.
Around 4,000 students in total are due to attend the 22 celebration ceremonies.
Two ceremonies will be held each day over the two-week period, at 11am and 3pm.
Strathclyde Principal, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, said: “I have enormous pleasure in welcoming back our former students who were unable to celebrate their excellent achievements in the way they would have hoped for at the time of their graduation.
“We were determined that they would not miss out on the ceremony which their predecessors enjoyed and we are delighted that so many of our graduates will be able to join us again.
“They are an alumni group unlike any other and particular credit goes to them for the exceptional dedication and resilience they showed during the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic.”
Eva Rattray, who gained a degree in Management and Marketing in 2021, will be returning to Strathclyde for a ceremony on 1 April. While she was a student, Eva worked as an intern at the University’s Alumni & Development department and is now a Communications Administrator with NAF! School, a Glasgow trainee education centre.
Eva said: “I’m really looking forward to coming back and it will be lovely to be able to bring everything full circle. It’s what we’ve all been working towards and we knew Strathclyde didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
“One of my university flatmates will be there. We lived together for four years, including through the time of the pandemic, and it’ll be fantastic to see her going up to get her degree.
“Being a student during the pandemic was very odd. We ended up with completely different expectations and it looked like a ceremony just wasn’t going to happen. It was something I’d been looking forward to, and so I had a family graduation event in the garden, but it was a pity not being there with other people and their families.
“I was a caller for Alumni & Development’s Telethon fundraising event and stayed in touch with Emma, the campaign manager. Then for most or all of my third and fourth years, I was working with Alumni & Development, which was a huge and formative part of my university experience. “It was great to speak to people around the world and to think they had done the same things as I did at Strathclyde.”