April NUI Galway to Hold Virtual Conferring Ceremony for Over 300 Graduates

Medical Students will Graduate with Ceremony on Facebook Live

NUI Galway have announced details of two virtual conferring ceremonies which will be broadcast live to 310 graduates and their families.  Due to restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the University will for the first time in its 175 year history not hold physical conferring ceremonies, and will instead mark the occasion online.

On Monday, 6 April, at 10am the University will confer 190 future doctors with an Honours Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor of Obstetrics (MB, BCh, BAO) degree. The University took the decision to bring the final year medical examinations and graduation forward to ensure that the Medical graduates would be available to enter the healthcare workforce.

On Wednesday, 8 April, at 12pm the University will hold the Research Conferring ceremony with over 110 students graduating. Nearly 90 students will be recognised by NUI Galway when they are conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). A number of students will also be conferred with Masters and Doctor of Medicine degrees.

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “These are extraordinary times and our graduates are extraordinary people. While we are deeply disappointed that we cannot share this special day with our graduates in person, we are looking forward to marking the occasion and sharing good wishes online. We imagine together this day and, we hope, better days to come.

“During the 175 year history of NUI Galway, our staff and students have shaped many world events and we are filled with pride by those who are bravely battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland and internationally. This community joins those who were involved in previous challenging times, by committing to the public good and the values we hold dear. Our students and staff are on the front lines, testing and treating victims of this devastating illness, and their selflessness and commitment is an inspiration to us all. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our students with them and their families in a virtual, but no less special way. We also plan to hold a more informal but nonetheless meaningful events in the autumn, circumstances permitting, to mark the success of these graduates who will be graduating remotely this week. These are important days in the life of our university and our students and we look forward to marking them together in better times.”

The online ceremony will mark the achievements of students from across Ireland and Europe as well as Malaysia, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Brunei, Singapore, USA, China, South Korea, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Brazil, Ecuador and Vietnam. It is hoped this global community can come together in shared pride at the achievements of NUI Galway’s Class of 2020.

Both conferring ceremonies will be streamed live at www.facebook.com/nuigalway

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