The University College Isle of Man (UCM) will honour its graduates of 2016 at the Villa Marina on Fri 21 October from 7pm. The reach of the degree courses offered by UCM increases each year and this year 75 graduates from 10 disciplines will celebrate their achievements with friends and family at this formal annual event.
UCM is an Associate College of the University of Chester and Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Chris Haslam from the University will present the awards it has conferred.
The quality of on-Island higher education provision is impressive with the percentage of top grades being higher than the UK average; for example, in 2016 an outstanding 55% of the BSC Hons Computer Science graduates achieved first class distinctions compared to the UK average of 20% (Higher Education Statistics Agency).
Jo Pretty, Principal of the UCM, said: “Our graduates here today are highly developed, enabled and skilled and leave us fully equipped to support the workforce required for our economy and our community. It’s essential we prepare our students with the skills they need to be contributors to the Island’s growing and diversifying economy and we have the confidence in our students to go on to do great things in their lives and for the community of the Isle of Man.”
Mr Bob Dowty, Deputy Chair, UCM Governors, said: “Friday will be a special celebration and one that is an honour to be part of; it is the day that we recognise the achievements of our graduates leaving the University College Isle of Man (UCM). UCM offers Manx students the opportunity to study at the highest level without leaving the Island, so home-grown talent has an opportunity to invest that learning straight back into the Isle of Man, enjoying a whole Island as their campus. This has been enhanced by the recent signing of a partnership between UCM and the International Centre for Technology at the Nunnery.”
Mrs Jane Howland, Corporate Sustainability & Sponsorship Manager at the Isle of Man Bank, which sponsors the event and award the Student of the Year Prize, said: “Education has been an important focus area of our Community Investment sponsorship on the Island and our Isle of Man Bank partnership with the Higher Education Awards at UCM supports recognition of students for their well-earned success.”
- Ends -
