Hundreds of Dundee University students are celebrating the successful conclusion of their studies.
Today sees the start of three days of graduation ceremonies at Caird Hall, which will be packed with the families and friends of the graduands.
The city council has said audiences will still be able to gather outside before and after the ceremonies as usual, despite the ongoing renovations to City Square.
Honorary degrees are being presented today to Mary Schwartz, director of skin disease charity PC Project, and Deyan Sudjic, director of the Design Museum in London.
Tomorrow it will be the turn of Fife-born crime writer Val McDermid to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
This year’s ceremonies also mark the first time the university has created honorary fellowships in recognition of business people and philanthropists who have developed strong links with the institution.
Professor Pete Downes, university principal, said: “Our honorary fellows are all people who have made a significant contribution to Dundee’s success and given freely their time, experience and expertise.
“The university is more than an educational institution, it is part of the fabric of business and civic life in Scotland.
“We have very good links with the business and civic community and each of the people we are honouring this week has played a major role in building these relationships, helping foster a sense of enterprise across the university, engaging with our students, and supporting our fund-raising and other activities.”
The 10 honorary fellows include the university’s entrepreneur-in-residence Scott Brady, former vice-principal Malcolm Horner, the chairwoman of the company behind the V&A at Dundee project Lesley Knox, the chief executive of Enterprise North East Trust Gary McEwen and former university court chairman John Milligan.
Also being honoured are property developer Bruce Linton, businessmen John Beaton and Alan Honig and Baron and Baroness Leckie, who have been closely involved in the university’s campaign to raise money for a new morgue.
Today will also see the university visited by Aileen Campbell, minister for children and young people, who will meet graduates of the BA in childhood practice programme.See The Courier this week for full printed lists of graduands.