Hundreds of students will don their gowns and celebrate their successes at the University of Stirling’s second Winter Graduation ceremony.
More than 800 graduands will step onto the stage at the Stirling campus on Friday 22 November, following in the footsteps of 125 graduates at the University’s Highland graduation event earlier this month.
Degrees will be conferred to graduands from the Schools of Applied Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Education, and Nursing, Midwifery & Health at a 10am ceremony.
Then, in the afternoon, from 2.30pm, it is the turn of students from Management, Natural Sciences and Sport. Both events will be followed by receptions in the University’s Pathfoot Building.
Honorary degrees will be awarded to Dame Elish Angiolini, Scotland’s first female Lord Advocate, and to Dr Taeko Seki, head of the University’s Japanese Alumni Association.
The Right Honourable Dame Elish Angiolini will receive the award of Doctor of the University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the criminal justice system in Scotland and for her commitment to assisting vulnerable victims of crime.
Dame Elish has more than 28 years’ extensive experience of public, administrative, criminal and civil law, and has appeared as a Law Officer in some of the most significant legal issues in Scotland in recent years. She is the first Lord Advocate to have served two different Governments and in 2011 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the administration of justice.
Dr Taeko Seki will receive the award of Doctor of the University in recognition of her outstanding services to the University of Stirling and to fostering links between Scotland and Japan. Dr Seki has long been a tireless and enthusiastic ambassador for the University. She established the Taeko Seki Overseas Scholarship programme, designed to assist Japanese students studying at Stirling.
Taeko Seki continues to champion Japanese–Scottish links and heads the University's 250-strong Japanese Alumni Association and the Japan Scotland Association. Her work has been recognised by the Scottish Government, leading to her being acknowledged as the first female GlobalScot, a network of influential business heads.
Overseeing the ceremonies will be University Chancellor Dr James Naughtie and Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McCormac.
Professor McCormac said: "I am delighted that the University is awarding honorary degrees to Dame Elish and Dr Seki. They are women who have excelled in their fields and are an inspiration to all young women. Dame Elish made history by becoming Scotland’s first female Lord Advocate and the first person to serve two different governments in that role.
"Dr Seki has worked tirelessly to promote links between Scotland and Japan and has supported and encouraged hundreds of Japanese students who come to study at Stirling. I hope our honorary graduates – and those students graduating on 22 November – have a wonderful day. They should be very proud of their achievements.”
Photo galleries from the Stirling Winter Graduation will be available to view online with further coverage on social media.