At eight ceremonies across four days, more than 2,500 students are graduating from Solent University in Southampton this week.
In a series of special ceremonies taking place in the heart of the city’s Cultural Quarter, graduating talent from a range of disciplines will wave farewell to university as they begin exciting journeys in their chosen fields.
Running until Friday (July 12), Solent will welcome graduates – as well as cadets who are passing out from Warsash Maritime School – to Southampton's 02 Guildhall to join their peers, family members, and friends to celebrate their academic successes.
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From fashion and illustration, law and business, to nursing and criminology, computer science and journalism – plus many more in between – there's a diverse community of graduate talent.
Solent’s 2024 graduation ceremonies are presided over by University Chancellor, Theo Paphitis, Chair of the Board of Governors, Phil Cotton – his final ceremony as outgoing chair following the appointment of Richard Smith – and Vice-Chancellor, Professor James Knowles.
Professor Knowles says: “We are proud to be coming together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our graduating students. Graduation is the highlight of the academic year, as students reflect on their time at university alongside their friends and family and look ahead to the opportunities that await them.
“Graduation is an opportunity to highlight the skills, experience and knowledge our students have gained during their time at Solent, and I look forward to watching them flourish in their chosen careers. We have a large, thriving alumni community at Solent, and I am proud to now welcome 2,500 more talented graduates to it.”
During Solent’s graduation ceremonies, individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to their field will be awarded honorary degrees.
The 2024 recipients are Peter Markey, chief marketing officer for Boots; Prakriti Malhotra, a leader and advocate for education and community action; Arvind Malhotra, Co-Founder and CEO of FutureSense Group; June Sarpong OBE, a broadcaster and inclusion leader; Agnes Agyepong, founder and CEO of Global Child and Maternal Health; Carol Massay, Strategic Customer Relationship Director for Access Construction; Paul Woodman, City Life Church leader and Solent alumnus and John Dodd, Director of Maritime Safety Services at Inmarsat.
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