A ‘day to remember’ for university students

Pamela Butchart and Joyce Cullen to receive honorary degrees as around 1,000 people gather to celebrate in Dundee’s Caird Hall

The first of Dundee University’s winter graduation ceremonies will be held today.

Around 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students will descend on City Square to celebrate their achievements.

The ceremonies recognise students whose courses finish after the traditional summer graduation.

Alumna Pamela Butchart will receive an honorary degree at the first ceremony in the Caird Hall, which gets under way at 10am.

The award-winning children’s author won the Blue Peter Book Award in 2015 for Best Story.

At the afternoon ceremony, Joyce Cullen, who graduated with a law degree from the university in 1979, will be honoured for her contribution to law in Scotland.

Now widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost litigators, she served as a member of the general teaching council in Scotland for two terms from 1998 to 2006.

Professor Sir Pete Downes, principal and vice-chancellor of the university, said: “This will be a day to remember for graduands and their guests and I am sure seeing how our honorary graduates have excelled in their chosen fields will inspire them in their own careers.

“Graduation ceremonies are a personal highlight of the year for me. It is always a source of pride to welcome students and their families here to celebrate what is a major milestone in anyone’s life.”

The final ceremony will be held tomorrow morning.

A personal highlight of the year for me