Fortnight of celebrations begin at UWE Bristol's Graduation ceremonies

Nearly 6,000 UWE Bristol students will celebrate their academic achievements at the University’s Graduation ceremonies over the next two weeks (21-31 July).

Undergraduate and postgraduate students from across UWE Bristol’s three colleges will bring around 20,000 guests with them to the city to cheer them on as they cross the stage at the Bristol Beacon.

UWE Bristol has also announced a number of individuals who will be receiving Honorary Degrees during the summer Graduation ceremonies. The recipients are being recognised for their outstanding achievements in the field. They include:

Angellica Bell, broadcaster and presenter - Honorary Doctor of Arts in recognition of her contribution and commitment to broadcasting in radio and television, and for championing representation and diversity in the media.

Mel Rodrigues, Chief Executive Officer, Creative Access - Honorary Doctor of Arts in recognition of her long-held passion to drive equity, diversity and inclusion forward in creative and tangible ways in the Screen Industries. 

Captain Hermione Jayne Irwin Munns, commercial pilot - Honorary Doctor of Engineering in recognition of her contribution to gender equality work and her role as a researcher, gender champion and role model across the aviation industry.

Subitha Baghirathan, health equity activist and researcher - Honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of her continued work, activism, applied research and contribution to the public health and wellbeing of visibly minority ethnic (VME) communities, reducing inequalities in health and ensuring equitable access to health, promoting services across Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).

Michael Carter, former Director of People & Organisational Development at Avon & Somerset Police - Honorary Master of Education in recognition of his service as long-standing Head of Learning at Avon and Somerset Police and his key role in designing and adopting the new Police Education Qualification Framework (PCQF). 

Julia Gray, Principal and CEO of City of Bristol College - Honorary Doctor of Education in recognition of her contribution to the further education of young people and adults of Bristol and the West of England region and the wider societal impact. 

Tanisha Hicks-Beresford, Head of Citizenship, English teacher and EDI Lead for Cathedral Schools Trust - Honorary Master of Education in recognition of her wide-ranging, collaborative and impactful contributions to inclusive, anti-racist education, scholarship and practice for the benefit of children and young people, and the teaching profession. 

Peter Fane, Executive Chairman at The Nurture Landscapes Group - Honorary Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of his commitment to supporting, recognising and nurturing enterprise skills and an entrepreneurial mindset in both UWE students and alumni and his outstanding entrepreneurial career and dedication to sustainability policies and practices.

Daryn Carter MBE, Director of Programming and Partnerships at Bristol Pride - Honorary Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of his service to the LGBTQ+ community in Bristol. 

UWE Bristol Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Steve West said: “We’re so proud of our graduating students for all they’ve achieved while studying at UWE Bristol. This is a time for celebrating those achievements with those closest to them and we wish them the best of luck for their next chapter.

“It’s wonderful to also be able to award individuals close to our University community with Honorary Degrees. These are people who have made a significant impact on the lives of others both in Bristol and beyond and those who act as a source of inspiration for our students.”