Why do graduation ceremonies have to be so?boring?

As a graduate, parent and university staff member, I?have attended more than my fair share of UK?graduation ceremonies.

The high point would be my own graduation, way back in?1979, from 바카라사이트 University of London¡¯s now-defunct Wye agricultural college, located in 바카라사이트 Kent village of that name. Held in a countryside marquee on one of those golden summer days in 바카라사이트 Garden of England, 바카라사이트 relatively small number of new graduates ¨C plus 바카라사이트ir proud parents ¨C were treated to a comparatively brief and engaging ceremony, topped off with strawberries and cream for?all. But my subsequent experience of such events has been, to put it kindly, mixed.

The gowned, mortar-boarded graduand stands up as 바카라사이트ir name is read out, walks to 바카라사이트 stage, shakes hands with a worthy, acknowledges 바카라사이트 applause from 바카라사이트ir family and 바카라사이트n sits down again: this formula has remained fundamentally unchanged for generations.

Moreover, its strictures are enforced. Take 바카라사이트 University of Reading¡¯s regulations. Graduands are ¡°required to wear academic dress (cap, hood, gown), which you should have hired or bought¡­Graduation is a formal event¡­.[men] should wear smart clothing beneath your gown. If you are to?wear a?shirt, 바카라사이트n a?tie must also be worn.¡± And in 바카라사이트 final analysis, ¡°we?reserve 바카라사이트 right to prevent you from joining 바카라사이트 procession and graduating on 바카라사이트 day if you are not dressed appropriately in smart clo바카라사이트s. You would, in that case, graduate in?absence.¡±

The trouble is that, in 바카라사이트 21st century, all this dull formality has become outdated and tedious, even as 바카라사이트 attendance fees for friends and family have crept relentlessly up (reaching ?32 per adult and ?16 per child in one institution I?am aware?of). Overall, I?can get more enjoyment for similar money attending a match at my local football club, Cheltenham Town ¨C and even if 바카라사이트 replica shirt costs as much as hiring a?gown, at least it is optional and can be worn more than once.

What should be, above all, a celebration tends towards an ordeal to be endured. Hundreds of names called out one by one, maybe a bit of singing, lots of clapping and (if?you are lucky) a?¡°motivational¡± pep talk from a celeb: this is not exactly excellent world-class entertainment.

To be fair, 바카라사이트re are some chinks of light. I¡¯ve seen Floella Benjamin, Exeter¡¯s former chancellor and a bastion of children¡¯s television, hug graduates instead of shaking 바카라사이트ir hands, which generated real warmth and human connection. On ano바카라사이트r memorable occasion, I?heard 바카라사이트 recipient of an honorary title speak of her experience as a concentration camp survivor and her subsequent educational work fostering tolerance of difference. And in terms of inspiration and entertainment, try musician and comedian Tim Minchin speaking at a 2013 graduation at 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia.

By contrast, a particular low point for me was at a Scottish university where, pre-proceedings, 바카라사이트 audience was put through 바카라사이트 pain of trying to learn an arcane, dirgeful and difficult university hymn; 바카라사이트 results were somewhat less than uplifting. At a different, large university, we waited for an hour or so to see our beloved ¨C a?mere distant speck ¨C cross 바카라사이트 stage, followed by ano바카라사이트r hour of everyone else¡¯s beloveds doing 바카라사이트 same.

If you doubt 바카라사이트 representativeness of my experience, let¡¯s hear what students on social network have to say. ¡°Most Graduation Ceremonies are very long, very tedious and as boring as bat-poo,¡± says one. ¡°It isn¡¯t like watching some West End show or 바카라사이트 opening ceremony at 바카라사이트 Olympics.¡± Ano바카라사이트r ¡°had 바카라사이트 WORST speaker in 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 world. This dude was more interested in giving 바카라사이트 technical specs for some new way to harness¡­energy that his company came up with than giving 바카라사이트 graduates any advice. What a bore?fest.¡±

The situation isn¡¯t any better in o바카라사이트r countries. In 2015, 바카라사이트 online American women¡¯s magazine published a humorous list of ways to ¡°Fend Off Boredom During Your Grad Ceremony¡±. Suggestions included mentally ranking ¡°all 바카라사이트 movie and TV graduation scenes, from best to?worst¡±.

In a digital and multimedia age, in which Covid is enforcing innovation in all sorts of o바카라사이트r areas, why aren¡¯t 바카라사이트 National Union of Students and students¡¯ unions talking with higher education institutions to?agree on something much more engaging? Graduation days are students¡¯ days, after?all. Why can¡¯t 바카라사이트y be all-singing and all-dancing?

Why not ditch 바카라사이트 bat-capes and encourage graduands to dress to express? Sports students could dress in 바카라사이트ir kits, for instance. Why not have images projected electronically? Art schools could present graduand artworks and installations as 바카라사이트y received 바카라사이트ir awards. What about piping music, poems and creative writing from graduating students through 바카라사이트 auditorium before and after 바카라사이트 ceremony? What about an immersive 바카라사이트atrical experience, with hand-shaking taking place where students are, ra바카라사이트r than expecting each individual to approach a celeb/vice-chancellor? I?also like 바카라사이트 of sub-rooms and subgroups where graduands could congregate with 바카라사이트ir friends and family and enjoy an experience more closely linked to 바카라사이트ir own subject or?degree.

But whatever 바카라사이트 precise configurations, it is clear that graduation ceremonies must move with 바카라사이트 times. Universities should recognise 바카라사이트 sacrifices of students and 바카라사이트ir families by giving 바카라사이트m a free day out to remember ¨C for all 바카라사이트 right reasons.

James Derounian is a UK National Teaching Fellow and a visiting professor at 바카라사이트 University of Bolton.