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Students from City’s six schools graduate over four days of ceremonies

By Katie Hoggan (Communications Officer (Corporate)), Published

To my fellow graduates, we have shared countless nights staying up late working on projects, essays, and exams. Together, we have faced and overcome numerous challenges. As we stand on the brink of a new chapter, let’s carry forward the resilience, dedication, and unity that have defined our journey here.

A man in a cap and gown
Khalid Abuegalia spoke at the graduation ceremony last week

These were the words of student speaker Khalid Abuegalia. Addressing his fellow students, the BEng Civil Engineering graduate spoke of the bold decision his parents made to send their three sons abroad to study at City, University of London. “Dating back to 2013, the University's bond with us runs deep,” he added.

Khalid was one of over 2,700 students from across each of the six schools at City, University of London celebrating their hard work at summer graduation ceremonies at the Barbican Centre last week.

From Monday 15 July to Thursday 18 July, students donned their graduation caps and reflected on their time at City.

In your hands is more than a piece of paper. It is evidence of the skills necessary to help some of the most vulnerable individuals in the country.

– Nouh El-Quaz, LLB (Hons) Law
A man in a cap and gown
Nouh El-Quaz, a high achieving LLB (Hons) Law student who obtained top grades that are rarely seen on his programme

Student speaker Nouh El-Quaz, a high-achieving LLB (Hons) Law student, obtained top grades rarely seen on his programme. Having been awarded a full scholarship to study an LLM at UCL, he spoke to his fellow students about his time at City and gave advice to law graduates looking to take the next step in their careers.

“The professional industry, whether legal or otherwise, is incredibly competitive […] Do not use the competitiveness as an excuse to count yourself out. You may not feel that you fit the mould of the profession you want to enter. That is your greatest strength. You can provide a different and extremely valuable perspective to any career.”

Nouh also encouraged his peers to help others through pro-bono work and described his law degree as evidence of the skills needed to help some of the UK’s most vulnerable people. “Lend them your ear and make that positive impact,” he said.

I decided, after a successful career and two small people, that I was going to start again.

– Dayna Brackley, MSc Food Policy
A woman wearing a graduation cap smiles outside
Dayna Brackley spoke to her fellow graduates about her unique higher education journey

One student speaker who was further along in her career than many of her fellow graduates was Dayna Brackley. The mother-of-two shared that it was her second time as a university graduate, with the first being 20 years ago.

“I decided, after a successful career and two small people, that I was going to start again. I wanted to do something that had meaning for me,” said Dayna, MSc Food Policy. “Twenty years on, I took the leap. And that’s when life got really interesting.”

“I am graduating here today with my MSc in Food Policy, and that’s now also my job. I work on children’s health and food policy, advocating for the right for all children to have access to healthy, nutritious food. I also work with four City alumni. I tell you this as I think it’s good to know that your degrees from here are well respected, and you leave here with a bundle of opportunity,” she said.

In the stalls below me, there is a diverse group of young people.

– Miles Johnson, BSc Sociology with Quantitative Methods
A person smiles behind a podium wearing a graduation cap and gown
Student speaker Miles Johnson said many of his fellow graduates have achieved something that their parents and grandparents would have seen as unachievable.

Sociology graduate Miles Johnson spoke about diversity within academia, acknowledging the importance of seeing people of different ethnicities represented across the university.

“Years ago, many people who look like us would not even be in this room. Many of us were told we would not succeed because of where our families originate from or how we looked.

“But in just two generations, someone who looks like me is standing on stage, having obtained a first-class degree in an area of study where there aren’t many mixed race and Black men.

“In the stalls below me, there is a diverse group of young people. For many, they have achieved something that our parents and our grandparents would have seen as unachievable. Now that is something to be proud of.”

Honorary Degrees

Three exceptional people were conferred honorary degrees.

Alan Smith, who holds the office of First Church Estates Commissioner with the Church Commissioners for England, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science for his contribution to the City, the environment and social inclusion.

Lord Victor Adebowale CBE was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for his outstanding contributions to the NHS, social services, and enterprise.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Birmingham, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship for his work in higher education which was described as having a deep impact on industry and practice.

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