Cardiff Metropolitan University celebrates graduation success

Cardiff Metropolitan University celebrated student success at its November graduation ceremonies this week, honouring the achievements of nearly 1,000 primarily Masters students.

Two ceremonies held at Cardiff City Hall saw students from Cardiff Schools of Art & Design, Management, Sport & Health Sciences and Technologies receive their degrees from the University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cara Aitchison.

They were witnessed by proud families and friends as well as staff, academics and dignitaries including the Chair of the Board of Governors, Professor Ilora Baroness Finlay of Llandaff.

Students from Cardiff Met’s partner universities from various locations around the world were also welcomed to our capital city, highlighting Cardiff Met’s standing as a global university and centre of research.

The morning ceremony included the conferring of an Honorary Fellowship to Welsh-born BAFTA award-winning make-up artist Siân Grigg in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the film industry.

A former student of Cardiff Art School (now Cardiff School of Art & Design), Ms Grigg has worked with A-list stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Hudson and Tobey Maguire, on both blockbuster and critically acclaimed feature films such as Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), Inception (2010) and Django Unchained (2012).

Ms Grigg said:

“It is a great honour to be chosen to be an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff Metropolitan University. I hope I can help to inspire some of the current students who are at the start of their careers.

“I have been fortunate to have found a career that I enjoy and that fulfils me creatively. To be recognised in this way for my work is more than I could ever have imagined and I am deeply grateful.” 

President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Met, Professor Cara Aitchison, said:

“Today marks the culmination of years of hard work for our Cardiff Metropolitan University students. I would like to congratulate them on their achievements and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours as ambassadors for the University.

“Our Honorary Fellowship goes to an alumnus of Cardiff Met who has made an outstanding impact within her field and whose commitment resonates closely with the University’s own values and behaviours.

“Siân is a true role model for our graduating students who can learn from her example as they embark on the next phase of their lives as graduates of Cardiff Metropolitan University.”