Bangor University’s Winter Graduation Ceremony
Over a hundred and twenty postgraduate degrees were awarded to Bangor University students at its first winter graduation ceremony recently.
During the ceremony Professor John G Hughes, Vice-Chancellor congratulated all graduates and thanked all parents, families and friends of the graduates for their support during their years of study.
Ian Roberts, 46, from Y Felinheli not only graduated with a MBA in Management with Distinction, but was also awarded a prize for the final year postgraduate student with the best performance in business, management or marketing.
With a successful career in the Hospitality, IT and Banking industries in the UK and abroad behind him, facing redundancy, Ian decided to return home to study for an MBA. A few months after Ian began his studies, he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.
Ian said: “Having a terminal illness doesn't define me; I'm looking forward to my treatment ending so that I can get back to work and make a difference. I'm enormously grateful for the support of my family and friends who cherish me, and I'm already thinking about what to study next. The Bangor MBA has helped me develop my critical thinking and will give me more credibility in the job market. I'm looking forward to bringing my new skills to bear on real-world business problems.”
Alex Spichale, 47, from Llandudno Junction, was awarded an MBA in Environmental Management with Distinction and was also awarded the Magnox Prize of £200 for best overall student on the course.
Alex spent over 17 years as a structural engineer, working for a consulting engineer on projects such as Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay and Pontio, Bangor University’s new Arts and Innovation Centre. During the last recession the company closed their regional office in Llandudno, so to be able to compete in an ever changing workplace, Alex decided to gain a degree.
Alex said:
“Bangor University has an excellent reputation especially relating to the academic performance of its Environment and Business schools. The MBA in Environmental Management mixes the best attributes of both of these two schools and provides a well-balanced learning experience, which is ideally suited to modern industry. Since completing the MBA, I have received some really interesting offers from local companies, so we’ll just have to wait and see...”
Emma Sara Hughes, 22, from Bangor graduated with a MRes Management with Accounting degree.
Emma said: “Even though I enjoyed completing my postgraduate degree it was challenging, so it is a great feeling now that I have finished. I have just started studying my PhD at Bangor Business School, so that will keep me busy for another three years! But after that I hope to stay in academia and pursue a career in research and lecturing.”
Former Upton-By-Chester High School student, Sara Fisher, 27, from Chester, received a PhD in Management. Sara’s higher education journey began at Bangor eight years ago when she began a BSc Product Design degree.
Extremely proud of her achievements, Sara recalls:
“When I decided that I wanted to do a master’s degree, I looked at different options but felt that my time at Bangor wasn’t quite over yet. I really enjoyed the marketing and entrepreneurship lectures we had done in product design and I found a Business and Marketing MA in the Business School that looked really great. When I got offered a scholarship to do a PhD with some of my favourite lecturers it really was a no brainer to continue with my studies.
“The weekend before my viva I was lucky enough to be offered a lecturing position in the University of Law’s new business school, DeBroc, in Portsmouth which is opening in 2016. It was more than I could’ve hoped for as my first job as I’m now designing and developing foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate business courses as well as teaching. My hope for the future is that I continue developing my academic career.”
Former Sale Grammar School student Tom Brady, 24, from Sale, Cheshire was awarded an MA Business and Marketing with distinction from the Bangor Business School. Tom said:
“I am extremely proud of what I have achieved and am excited to share my achievements with my friends and family at graduation. However, it will be emotional leaving Bangor, which has been my home for the last four years.
“I am actively pursuing a career which will allow me to apply and utilise my skills and knowledge gained whilst at University. Specifically, I would like to fulfil a marketing role, as I am particularly interested in the area of strategic marketing and management.”
Publication date: 17 December 2015