An Outdoor Alternative to Graduation during the COVID Pandemic
In July 2021, while there still were strict laws limiting social gatherings as we emerged from the COVID ‘lockdown’ period, QMU held an outdoor alternative to graduation. The event, which took place in the grounds of the campus, marked the graduation achievements of those who completed their degrees in 2020 and 2021. Despite the restrictions and the challenges of putting on a large-scale event during the pandemic, staff were determined that graduating students should not miss out on the chance to celebrate and mark their achievements. QMU was the first university in Scotland to deliver an outdoor graduation event during the pandemic, with several other universities then following our lead.
Due to restrictions on the number of people who could attend organised events during the pandemic, the graduation celebrations were split up into nine individual events which ran over three consecutive days. Picnic tables were sourced from all over the UK to provide the necessary outdoor seating, and various other restrictions were applied to the serving of food and drink.
Fortunately, the sun split the skies for the full three days of celebrations, and everyone had a wonderful time relaxing in University Square and across the campus gardens. It was a very happy event to remember for everyone who had been through the very difficult experience of studying or teaching during lockdown.
