Following the University’s difficult decision to postpone this year’s graduation ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CONNECTED shares with you the latest news about the Class of 2020 Virtual Celebrations that will be taking place instead.
The University of Reading has reluctantly decided that holding our traditional graduation ceremonies in 2020 will not be possible, due to the necessary restrictions in place to protect everyone’s health. Our students deserve an event that will enable them to celebrate their achievements properly, surrounded by their family and friends.
Therefore, all students expecting to graduate this July or December will be invited to attend a ceremony in July 2021. But we don’t want our finalists to miss out this year either, which is why we will also be running a series of virtual celebration events starting on 27 July for three weeks, to give our finalists the opportunity to reflect on everything they have achieved.
Sharing positive messages
To enable students, academics and supporters to celebrate our finalists’ achievements, Reading is utilising a social learning platform, Flipgrid, which aims to engage and empower voices by recording and sharing short videos.
Each School at the University will have their own Flipgrid page where students, academics, support staff, family, friends and supporters can leave video messages of thanks, congratulations and positive encouragement. The webpage will also feature video messages from the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Heads of School.
Our alumni have also been fantastic at stepping up to support our finalists during Reading’s first ever virtual celebrations. Video messages feature notes of support from Laura Tobin, who presents the daily weather forecast on ITV’s Good Morning Britain; Cath Bishop, Olympic medal winner, speaker and author; Coralie Bickford-Smith, award-winning book cover designer; Joanna Abeyie, Founder of Blue Moon which helps organisations diversify their workforce and leadership; and Justin Fletcher, children’s TV presenter who appears as the award-winning comedian Mr Tumble.
Your support means so much during a time filled with unknowns; completing your university studies can feel exciting but also daunting to many, not least during a pandemic.
All our alumni videos of congratulations will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook accounts, and you can watch Laura Tobin’s message of congratulations here:
.@Lauratobin1 left @UniRdg_Met with her BSc Meteorology in 2003, was the @UniRdg_Alumni Alumnus of the Year in 2016, and has a special message to the #UoRClassof2020 as they leave us and go out into the world. Thanks Laura, and congratulations to our graduates ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qzAjhylnu5
— Uni of Reading (@UniofReading) July 28, 2020
We would like to congratulate all University of Reading finalists on completing their studies, and we look forward to welcoming you into our community to continue your journey with us.
Discover what two of our alumni have achieved since they graduated from Reading.
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