Thousands of successful students will feel the tap of the Dundee bonnet this week as Dundee University hosts its graduation ceremonies in the Caird Hall.
Six graduation ceremonies will take place over the course of the week, beginning on Wednesday. It will be a time of celebration for students and their families as just under 3,000 students prepare to graduate with degrees, postgraduate diplomas and diplomas.
Students in their robes will fill City Square before and after each ceremony, with many later making their way to the garden parties held in the heart of the university campus.
The traditional Dundee bonnet spun, woven, dyed and embroidered for the university by the Dundee Bonnetmakers’ Craft is used by the Chancellor, Lord Patel of Dunkeld, symbolically to confer degrees on graduates.
“We are always delighted to welcome so many of our students and their families here for graduation, which is a milestone occasion for all involved,” said Professor Pete Downes, principal and vice-chancellor of the university.
“The campus and the city will be buzzing with activity in one of our busiest weeks of the year.
“This is a time when we celebrate our students’ achievements and I hope everyone attending graduation or coming on to the campus for any of our events has a wonderful time.”
The graduation ceremonies begin on Wednesday and run for the rest of the week, with morning and afternoon ceremonies each day. The morning ceremonies begin at 10am and the afternoon ceremonies at 2.30pm. Graduation garden parties take place each day at the Campus Green, Balfour Place, from 4pm to 7pm.
Over the course of the week the university is also presenting honorary degrees to leading thinkers and high achievers, both local and international. Those receiving the honorary Doctor of Laws are:
* Professor David Sigsworth, chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency;
* Professor Ronald Laskey, internationally-renowned cell biologist and cancer researcher;
* Chris van der Kuyl, chairman of 4J Studios and digital entrepreneur;
* Professor Sir David Baulcombe, a leading plant scientist and geneticist;
* Danny Wallace, comedian, writer and broadcaster;
* Professor Bill Herbert, poet and Dundee’s first Makar;
* Leymah Gbowee, winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for her work in leading a women’s peace movement in Liberia;
* Professor Chris Marshall, a world-leading expert on cell signalling and the mechanisms that lead to cancer;
* Dr Mei Lin Young, co-founder and provost of the International Medical University in Malaysia.