Published at 09:47, Friday, 16 July 2010

Cumbria University’s graduates have been told they can look forward to the future with hope despite fears about record levels of graduate unemployment.

• Video: The class of 2010 graduate

Jill Sawczuk, from Carlisle, centre, and other students from the BA Hons in Social Sciences celebrate

Vice-chancellor Professor Graham Upton told the county’s new crop of graduates during a ceremony yesterday that the University of Cumbria was bucking the trend when it came to clinching a job.

As national graduate unemployment jumps to 25 per cent, Mr Upton said: “Graduate employment has reached record lows but the University of Cumbria continues to buck the trend.

“We are one of only 18 universities which managed to improve its rate of graduate employment. It is a tremendous achievement.”

A total of 140 gowned students yesterday took part in the first graduation ceremony of five taking place at Carlisle Cathedral this week.

More than 500 students will celebrate with their proud families by the end of the week – the last ceremony takes place today – at the end of a troubled year for the University of Cumbria.

Mr Upton told the congregation that the cash-strapped institution, which has a £30 million deficit as it approaches its third birthday, had now turned a corner.

He said: “The university has faced a very difficult financial situation but the good news is that we’ve laid the foundations for a viable and sustainable university. We’ve right-sized which will take it forward for the future.

“It has made some difficult decisions but safeguarded and maintained the student experience.

“It is a long-term project and at the end of what has been a challenging and fast-moving year we are confident we’ve turned a corner and face the challenge and opportunities with great optimism.”

Yesterday morning most students were being awarded degrees and foundation degrees, validated by Lancaster University, in a range of areas including primary education, teaching and learning, youth and community work, physical education, social sciences, business and information technology and applied psychology.

Eleven were being awarded similar honours in early childhood studies and health and social care and wore the distinctive green academic hoods which symbolise that their honours are given by the University of Cumbria.

After their degrees were conferred and the ceremony was closed, the graduates were applauded out of the cathedral by the invited dignitaries, including Allerdale deputy mayor Stuart Moffat and academics, including Lancaster University pro-chancellor and former Carlisle Renaissance chief Bryan Gray.

The first of five honorary fellowship degrees being given out this week was presented to rural champion and government adviser Andrew Humphries, who has specialised in rural education since the 1960s including 25 years at Newton Rigg.

Others to be awarded are going to Lord Smith of Finsbury, the chairman of the Environment Agency and the Advertising Standards Authority; Tom Bloxham, chairman of the urban regeneration company Urban Splash, and today will be the turn of Cumbrian mountaineers Sir Chris Bonington and Doug Scott.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk