Hundreds of high-flying students from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS) donned their graduation gowns to collect their degrees at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) today.
As the second day of Winter Graduations got underway, family and friends gathered at The Venue@DMU to see Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Collop congratulate their loved ones for all their hard work.
Students from the School of Allied Health Sciences, School Applied Social Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, and the Leicester School of Pharmacy took centre stage to celebrate their achievements as they prepare for the next stage of their careers.
International student Jezebel Aloysius, who graduated with an MSc in Advanced Biomedical Science, has already secured a job with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Support Worker.
“Studying at DMU has provided me with the hands-on experience that I need for my chosen career,” said Jezebel. “I’m really going to miss the lab in Hawthorn, I’m a bit obsessed with it to be honest! It has all the latest technology and equipment and the technicians are so helpful.”
23-year-old Jezebel, who joined DMU in 2015 to do an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science, is originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Even though I am an international student I feel like Leicester is home for me now,” she said. “I feel like I found myself during my time here – I moved here when I was 18 and it was a whole new experience.”
Course mates Aylia Kaygusuz (22) and Smriti Kharel (22), who both gained a BSc in Forensic Science, praised DMU for equipping them with the attention-to-detail that’s needed for a career in forensics.
“The lecturers are so supportive and have taught us how to be very accurate in our work, which is obviously crucial in our field,” said Smriti.
Aylia, who is now planning to do a PhD at DMU, said she couldn’t imagine studying anywhere else.
“My lecturers encouraged me to consider doing a PhD after I gave a 10-minute presentation on my dissertation in my final year,” she explained. “To be honest I wouldn’t have wanted to do a PhD if it wasn’t at DMU.”
Having worked at DMU for 13 years, Kirk Wakefield swapped his staff pass for a graduate gown to collect his Master’s in Youth Work, Health and Community Development today.
Dad-of-three Kirk (36), who works as a Placement Officer in HLS, said: “I had no previous academic experience so I decided to dip my toe and do a module to begin with. I had no idea how I would get on but actually, it’s been brilliant.
“It’s been great meeting students from all over the country and meeting international students too –that in itself has been an experience, we’ve learnt so much from each other, sharing best practice.”
Kirk paid special tribute to his programme leader and lecturers, and said the support he has received has been second to none.
“I would not have been able to do this without the support of the university,” he said. “Balancing a full-time job, three young children and a Master’s is not easy but thanks to distance learning, block teaching and brilliant lecturers, I’ve done it.
“I feel like gaining my degree has really broadened my horizons – not just professionally, but in every aspect of my life.”
Posted on Wednesday 22 January 2020