Graduate stories 2023
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The London campus autumn graduations were held at Southwark Cathedral on 8 and 9 November, which featured our first ever Honorary Award presentation.
Enthusiastic applause from family, friends, colleagues, and fellow students echoed around the historic Southwark Cathedral as, over three ceremonies held across two days, more than 500 UoSiL students graduated in front of a total 1000-strong audience.
Pro Chancellor, James Ramsbotham, who confirmed the awards on 8 November, said it was a “day of celebration” and how students graduating can go out and “make a real difference in the world”.
On 9 November, an Honorary Doctorate of Arts was presented to acclaimed playwright, Lee Hall - writer of many world-famous works, including Billy Elliot. With Lee's award recognising this success and his contribution to theatre and culture, particularly in north-east England.
See below for graduate stories, more about Lee Hall's honorary award and a selection of photos!
Daniela Cobzac - BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance graduate
“An incredibly enriching experience" in an “engaging learning environment” is how Daniela describes her time studying at the university,
At the ceremony on 8 November, Daniela delivered the vote of thanks where she praised academic colleagues for sharing their “knowledge, wisdom and passion” and how grateful she was for the opportunities afforded to her at the university, especially the positive impact of mentoring in her career.
Daniela congratulated fellow graduates and said how she had her classmates had "laughed together, studied together, celebrated our victories, and comforted each other in times of challenges.”
Ibiyemi Olubowale - MSc Project Management graduate
Looking back his studying experience at the university, Ibiyemi explained how truly educational it was and how it taught him the value of critical analysis.
For Ibiyemi, completing his dissertation on Agile Project Management and productivity, was the highlight - as it focused on a subject area of personal interest, opened up the multiple dimensions of project management, and thoughts on future career options.
Ibiyemi is gaining further experience in business administration as a student relations officer, with aspirations of reaching management level in the future.
Delia Fernandez - BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care graduate
For Delia, graduation was a particular achievement given the personal difficulties she has faced during her studies - with the support of university colleagues proving critical.
Suffering from a life-long musculoskeletal condition, Delia explained how she remembers having to write assignments with severely swollen hands.
Delia praised university staff for being so “friendly, supportive and human” - with particular acknowledgment for personal academic tutors, Gabriela Preutesei and Roberta Faraone, who Delia says “played a fundamental role in my academic journey".
Lee Hall - award of an Honorary Doctorate of Arts
In a proud first for the University of Sunderland in London, an honorary award was conferred as part of the graduation ceremony.
The Honorary Doctorate of Arts award was made to acclaimed playwright Lee Hall - recognising his contribution to arts and culture.
Lee is most famous for writing Billy Elliot: The Musical, the story of a working-class boy from industrial north-east England who aspires to be a ballet dancer - premiering in 2005 and going onto global acclaim.
His other works include writing the script for the play Shakespeare in Love, the screenplay for the Elton John biographical film, Rocketman.
Lee said “The honorary award is a recognition of what I’ve done in my career, but also a recognition of the work, community, and aspiration of north-east culture. The award is both individual and collective.”