University graduations to be held online again

The University of Sunderland has announced that this year’s graduation celebrations will be held online again due to Government coronavirus guidelines.

Sunderland University say they have taken ‘the difficult – but necessary – decision’ to hold this year’s graduation onlinefor a second time following coronavirus restrictions.

The online ceremony follows last year’s graduation which was also held virtually.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson delayed step four of the road map to easing lockdown by four weeks earlier in June following a surge in cases of the Delta coronavirus variant.

Mr Johnson has dismissed the possibility of ending coronavirus restrictions early by saying it is “sensible” to stick with the planned “terminus” date of July 19, after talks with his new Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

Many other universities across the region including Northumbria University, Newcastle University and Durham University are still going ahead with in-person graduations which have been postponed until later this year and early next year.

The university say they are ‘focusing’ their planning on the possibility of holding in-person graduation events, which was due to take place at the Stadium of Light, in the autumn or winter along with those graduates from 2020 who also just graduated virtually.

A spokesperson for the Universityof Sunderland said :" We are inviting our graduating students to join us as we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Class of 2021 all next week. Similar to last year, we will be hosting the celebrations online until government guidelines permit us to hold in-person ceremonies again ."

The online celebrations take place next week.