11th September 2017
Students from University Centre South Devon (UCSD) celebrated the completion of their degrees this week, as they graduated in front of more than 800 guests at the Riviera International Centre, Torquay.
This year’s ceremony was the largest UCSD has seen. The day was a fantastic celebration as proud friends and families attended to witness their loved ones pass from graduand to graduate.
The 2017 cohort included the first set of graduates from the FdA History with English, the FdSc Civil and Coastal Engineering and the BA (Hons) Leadership and Management degree.
The higher education provision at UCSD is validated by Plymouth University, with the two organisations working in close partnership and enjoying a very strong relationship. Students received their degrees from Professor Julian Chaudhuri, Deputy Vice-Chancellor- Education and Student Experience at Plymouth University, as well as South Devon College Principal, Stephen Criddle, and Chair of the Governing Body, Dr Karen Stockham.
FdSc Psychology with Sociology student Sarah Pugh, from Paignton, was delighted to receive the Academic Partnerships Prize, awarded annually to one student at UCSD by Plymouth University; it recognises outstanding achievement and contribution. Alongside her dedicated study time, Sarah is the first to volunteer for projects and initiatives within the college to improve the course and University Centre offer, such as the volunteering forum. She is also a busy Mother of five. BSc (Hons) Applied Animal Science student Elizabeth Gee, from Plymouth, was presented with the UCSD Employability Prize for demonstrating outstanding commitment in the development of their employability, outside of her course requirements. Despite a demanding programme and career in health care, she has been fervent in her pursuit of skills development and employability enhancement. Elizabeth is a keen athlete and during her degree has found time to train and run several races raising money for charities such as, ‘Help for Heroes’ and ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’.
L-R Sarah Pugh and Elizabeth Gee
Higher Education Manager and Academic Registrar, Alastair Wilson said, “It was an incredible honour to welcome our students to this year’s Graduation Ceremony. Everyone at the College would like to offer their congratulations to our graduates, and we look forward to seeing what the Class of 2017 will go on to achieve and the positive impact they will have on the local community.”
Chair of Governors, Dr Karen Stockham said, “The success of our higher education students is a huge tribute to their endeavours and the quality and dedicated support of South Devon College staff. I am delighted for them and wish them the very best in their future success”.
UCSD was recently awarded the highest rating of ‘Gold’ under the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), a system for recognising excellent teaching and learning in higher education. The continued growth of the university-level provision is testament to UCSD’s status as a leading provider of higher education study in the South West. UCSD is continuously developing and improving new and existing courses and pathways to jobs at all levels with even more possibilities for the future as it hopes to secure foundation degree awarding powers.
If you too would like to achieve a degree whilst studying locally, you can find out more at our University Centre Information Evening on Tuesday 10th October 2017, 4pm-7pm, at UCSD, Long Road, Paignton, TQ4 7EJ. Alternatively, visit our website sdcdev or you can email [email protected] or call 08000 21 31 81.
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