Celebrating National Graduates Day 2020
Graduates talk about their journey through university and beyond
To celebrate National Graduates Day (July 30), the University of Bradford today salutes the achievements of its graduates and the skills, qualifications and experience gained from higher education.
This year is particularly poignant given the fortitude and resilience shown by many of our graduates throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Graduate Stephanie Travers’ story went around the world after she became the first black woman to share a F1 podium with teammate Lewis Hamilton - this came shortly after she took part in an International Women in Engineering Day forum organised by the University.
She studied Chemical Engineering at the University, graduating in 2016 and now works as a trackside fluid engineer for Petronas, rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the sport. The 25-year-old Zimbabwean beat more than 7,000 other applicants to land her dream job.
Awais Ahmed graduated from the University of Bradford with a BSc in Marketing in 2018 and is due to complete an MSc in Logistics, Data Analytics and Supply Chain Management in August. A former sabbatical officer for the Students’ Union, he works as a web designer and praised the university’s Careers and Employability Services for its ongoing support. He said: “The skills I have learned at university have been very beneficial. Our careers advice centre at the university allows support for five years after you graduate, helping you find a job, offering CV checks, making sure your applications are on point, so that’s one of the advantages students have at Bradford.”
Asked if he had any advice for prospective students he added: “Really get involved. Your degree will get you so far.”
Listen to more graduates’ stories here.
Kiram Hussain is a Civil and Structural Engineering graduate (2017), who now works for Colas in Leeds. She has been helping maintain vital transport networks during the pandemic. Classed as an essential worker, she has been working throughout lockdown and has even blogged about it.
Speaking about her graduation journey, she says: “When I first started working at Colas, I was based on site as a trainee setting out to be an engineer working on a range of projects doing land surveying, levelling and using different instruments. Now I am progressing and working under site agents, typically as a trainee sub-agent, managing my own small schemes. I work with project managers to pre-plan works for schemes. I’m involved with the programming of the works, controlling budgets, preparing material and machinery orders.”
The day is being promoted as part of a wider campaign by Universities UK under the hashtag #WeAreTogether
Additional information
Taking place on National Graduates Day, the #WeAreTogether – Unibuddy live event will give prospective domestic and international applicants/offer holders a chance to connect with current students and graduates, who will share positive and welcoming messages about their experience of studying at a UK university. You can find out more information about the event here: https://events-internal.unibuddy.co/wearetogether/wearetogether