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Over 3,500 finalists celebrated the end of their studies at this year’s University of Sussex Summer Graduation ceremonies at the Brighton Centre (Monday 17 July to Friday 21 July). Finalists attended from over 126 countries and 11,893 guests joined to celebrate.

This was the first Summer Graduation attended by Professor Sasha Roseneil, the University of Sussex Vice-Chancellor, after starting her role in August 2022. The University’s Chancellor, who is the actor Sanjeev Bhaskar, offered the finalists words of wisdom in a closing speech. He also celebrated with them on stage in his inimitable style which included joining them in dancing, hugging and even doing press-ups.

Addressing the congregation during her opening ceremony speech, Professor Roseneil acknowledged the unprecedented challenges that this cohort of students have faced, which included studying through Covid lockdowns and industrial action, while encouraging them to celebrate their achievements and hard work during their time at Sussex.

Professor Sasha Roseneil told finalists:

“During your time here at Sussex you and your fellow students have faced a number of unprecedented challenges. I have been doing all that I can to influence the national situation, as I believe that resolution has to be found through dialogue and compromise.

“In the meantime – right here, right now, we are gathered together, Class of 2023, with friends and loved ones, to celebrate all that was good about your university days. This time at Sussex in which you worked hard, learnt a huge amount, and experienced enormous personal growth and change, having, I hope, a considerable amount of fun along the way.”

The University also awarded six honorary degrees throughout the week, including Baroness Valerie Amos, the first Black woman to lead a university; Dr Gail Lewis, a leading Black feminist academic, activist and psychotherapist; award-winning interdisciplinary artist, Dr Katrina Palmer; Paul Barber OBE deputy chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion; and engineer Richard Atkins, who advanced race car engines and Lord Peter Hain, former apartheid activist and Cabinet Minister.

In his speech to graduating students on Monday, Lord Hain, a University of Sussex alumna, shared his story of how he was arrested and falsely charged over a bank theft during his final year of his doctorate in 1975. As a high-profile anti-apartheid activist at the time, he was put on an identification parade, despite knowing nothing about the theft. Lord Hain was prosecuted and after a two-week trial, finally acquitted. Later that year, it was confirmed that the theft was committed by an apartheid secret agent, and that Lord Hain had been framed. Five years later, Lord Hain was finally able to write up his thesis and was awarded a Master of Philosophy from the University of Sussex.