Held in St Mary’s Church on the Luton campus, graduates from the Faculties of Education, English & Sport, Creative Arts, Technologies & Science, Health & Social Sciences and the Business School will come together to mark the end of their studies.

Professor Rebecca Bunting, Vice Chancellor, will also join in the celebrations with a speech encouraging new graduates to ‘live a good life’.

She said: “To live a good life means that you are committed to the creation of a fair and equal society and are willing to challenge inequality, discrimination and exclusion. You can make a difference and bring about change for the better through the way you live your lives.”

Alongside graduating students, the University is also presenting a number of Honorary awards to some notable local figures. These include Mostaque Koyes MBE – founder of Community Interest Luton – who will receive an Honorary Master of Business Administration in recognition of outstanding contribution to charitable causes and community cohesion in Luton.

Also receiving Honorary awards are Maths Circle CEO Bruno Reddy OBE, and Ray Halford, Workforce Development Manager at Central Bedfordshire Council.

The ceremonies will also welcome special Guests of Honour to deliver inspiring speeches to this year’s graduates. These will include Flora Hamilton (CEO of Chartered Association of Small Businesses) and Steve Botterill (Director of Resourceful People Group).

The University’s Chancellor – author and broadcaster Sarfraz Manzoor – will join the graduation procession on Thursday 23 January, where he will join the Vice Chancellor on stage to present degrees to graduating students from the Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies & Science.

Throughout the week, a number of prizes will also be awarded to students who have excelled in their subjects. Awards include the Stephanie O’Kane Memorial Prize, set up in memory of a former student and awarded annually to a Midwifery student who has demonstrated innovative practice that could benefit women and families.