Largest cohort graduate from CAT’s postgraduate programmes
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In July, we celebrated our largest-ever graduating class, with students from CAT’s Graduate School of the Environment joining us online and on-site at CAT for their graduation ceremony.
Two ceremonies took place on 15th July, celebrating over 140 graduates who received awards from across our range of MSc and MArch courses.
The day was a wonderful opportunity for graduates, families, staff and friends to commend the hard work of our recent graduates who have spent their studies at CAT developing the skills and knowledge to help address the climate and biodiversity emergency.
Be the changemakers we need
We were delighted to welcome Judy Ling Wong MBE, honorary president and founder of the Black Environment Network and visiting lecturer at CAT, as our guest speaker during both ceremonies.
Judy’s moving speech reminded us about the urgency we face, the change needed and the importance of changemakers who can help steer and influence organisations, businesses, local government and national government to create the sustainable future that we all need and want.
A time for celebration
This year, CAT is also celebrating its achievements from the past 50 years exploring environmental issues and solutions. CAT’s co-CEO Eileen Kinsman gave an inspiring address which celebrated not only the achievements of CAT’s graduates, past and present, but this milestone anniversary.
Changemakers in action
With graduates from all of our postgraduate courses in attendance, some have already moved into their next chapter and are working to create change, from consultancy roles in retrofit and renewable energy to conservation projects, with others building on existing careers or making plans for what they’ll do next.
Examples from across our range of courses include graduate Molly Todd, who is working for a sustainability platform for businesses that helps them to measure their current level of sustainability and develop a roadmap to increase their ambitions. Elliot Harker-Dempsey, a graduate of our Sustainability in Energy Provision and Demand Management programme, is now working for an engineering consultancy focusing on decarbonising projects in the built environment.
Graduates are also moving on to further research and PhDs, expanding on their CAT dissertations. For example, Rachel Calder now has a PhD studentship with the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR), exploring the impact of rising CO2 levels on mycorrhizal fungi.
Graduate achievements
Some of the graduates in attendance were also given prizes on the day, including those achieving high marks overall on their courses and those with outstanding dissertation submissions. These dissertations will also be submitted to the National Library of Wales archive.
Representatives from our validating partner universities, Professor Jason Kirby from Liverpool John Moores University and Professor Solomon Alexis from the University of East London, were also in attendance and paid tribute to the hard work and achievements of our graduates. They reminded us that not only was it a time to rejoice in their achievements but also to praise the support they have received during their studies from friends and families.
The day came to a close with a buffet and band at CAT, allowing the graduates to celebrate their achievements into the evening.
Keep in touch!
As Eileen Kinsman closed the ceremony she said:
“We talk about the CAT family, and during your studies you have become part of that family. You’re not leaving CAT when you receive your certificates today, rather, you’re joining an amazing network of people who are enthusiastic, committed, knowledgeable and totally driven to work together to build a better world.
“So please keep in touch with us with each other and with graduates from other years. Let us know what you’re doing, what interesting and important projects you’re working on, and how we can help.”
A big congratulations from us all at CAT to those graduating from the Graduate School of the Environment this year and best of luck in your future endeavours!
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT
ACT NOW FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
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