A week of Robert Gordon University (RGU) graduations came to a close yesterday.
Hundreds of students, family members and university staff descended on His Majesty’s Theatre to see their loved ones graduate in art, architecture, computing, engineers and digital media.
Renowned Scottish artist Joyce Cairns, who lives in Footdee, was awarded an honorary doctor of education at yesterday morning’s ceremony.
A former student and lecturer at Gray’s School of Art herself, she thanked those who had made her journey with the university “unforgettable.”
She said: “Throughout my career, my strength and my love has been in teaching, whilst my free time was devoted to my practice as an artist, which is crucial in having credibility with future generations.
“The students and emerging artists I dealt with then and continue to deal with now have and will always be a number one priority.
“At the recent graduation dinner given by Dundee University in the V&A, a senior member of staff thanked me, as when I spoke to her as a student when I was a visiting lecturer in Painting at Duncan Jordonstone College of Art in the late eighties, my advice had apparently changed her life.
“They had no female lecturers then, and for the first time she was inspired to believe that this could be possible for her.”
After graduating from Gray’s School of Art, Ms Cairns went on to become one of the nation’s leading painters, and became the first female president of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture.
In her speech she said: ” Your degrees are the fruits of serious hard work, some of you received it in harsh environments, perhaps during ill health or financial hardship.
It’s the last day! Today we see students from Gray’s School of Art, the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, and the Schools of Engineering and Computing Science and Digital Media pick up their degrees.
Con-grad-ulations! ? https://t.co/rYIbtP1yJR pic.twitter.com/al1PDA5vap— RobertGordonUni (@RobertGordonUni) July 12, 2019
“You would had to undergo a lot of work and be scrutinised by your peers in an open studio – this takes courage.
“In your first few years it might be easy to get discouraged.
“I encourage you to look for studios, enter exhibitions, meet with fellow artists – and don’t be put off by failure.”
In the afternoon, oil and gas stalwart Ray Riddoch, was awarded an honorary doctor of technology.
Mr Riddoch is the managing director of CNOOC International and has 35 years of experience in the industry.
He shared his memories of his own time at RGU with the crowd.
He said: “My brother went to RGU and spoke of dances and parties and girlfriends, and I thought I’d have a go of that.
“Then in my first year I failed six out of seven of my subjects.
“I explained to my lecturer – who asked why he should let me stay – that I would live a monk’s life, pass my exams and become more studious.
“Later that day I was in the former department store Norco House, buying a 24-pack of Tennents.
“As I left a man held open the door for me – and that man turned out to be my lecturer.
“But nevertheless RGU still managed to turn me into an engineer capable to work, and now 40% of my graduates come from RGU.
“Graduations, you have a lot of steps ahead of you, some of them may seem illogical or not safe.
“Grasp every option that you see.”
