Graduation ceremonies at the University of Essex were broadcast live online for the first time this year to allow people around the world to watch on the web.
Thousands of students travelled to Colchester last week to receive their degrees at the University’s graduation ceremonies and the live online broadcast allowed family members and loved ones unable to be there on the day to share in the excitement.
The ceremonies on Wednesday July 21, Thursday July 22 and Friday July 23 were all streamed online live.
This year’s ceremonies were the biggest ever with more than 2,000 students from the Colchester, Loughton and Southend campuses coming to celebrate their achievements.
The ceremonies also honoured the first graduating class from Kaplan Open Learning, the online higher education college. Kaplan Open Learning is a partnership between the University and Kaplan, a leading provider of educational and career services.
Graduating students were joined by highly respected guests from the worlds of politics, entertainment, business and social reform.
Those receiving honorary degrees included former Essex student and Speaker of the House of Commons Rt Hon John Bercow MP and award-winning comedian and actor Griff Rhys Jones.
Other Essex graduates receiving honorary degrees for their exceptional contribution to their field were former Chairman of the Football Association Lord Triesman of Tottenham and former Chief Executive of BT Global Services Hanif Lalani OBE.
Dr Katherine Rake OBE, Chief Executive of the Family and Parenting Institute, also received an honorary degree in recognition of her work.
For the first time, the University awarded an honorary Master of Arts in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights, to recognise the vision and contribution of former long-serving Director of the Human Rights Centre and current professor in the School of Law, Kevin Boyle.
The Alumnus of the Year Award was presented to Deborah Baker, one of the leading figures in the human resources industry as Group Director for People at Sky. She graduated from Essex with a degree in History and Government.
Click here for the full schedule of the graduation ceremonies
Click here to see photos from Graduation 2010
Details of those receiving an Honorary Degrees or an Alumnus of the Year Award are listed below:
Ceremony 1 – Wednesday 21 July 10am
Honorary Graduand: Hanif Lalani OBE
Ceremony 2 – Wednesday 21 July 1pm
Honorary Graduand: Lord Triesman of Tottenham
Ceremony 3 – Wednesday 21 July 4pm
Alumnus of the Year: Deborah Baker
Ceremony 7 – Friday 23 July 10am
Honorary Graduand: Rt Hon John Bercow MP
Ceremony 8 – Friday 23 July 1pm
Honorary Graduand: Griff Rhys Jones
Ceremony 9 – Friday 23 July 4pm
Honorary Graduand: Dr Katherine Rake OBE
Honorary MA in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights: Professor Kevin Boyle
Ends
For more information, please contact the University of Essex Communications Office on 01206 873529 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk.