Bradford College Honours Higher Education Students at Annual Graduation Ceremony

A remarkable 373 higher education students gathered at The Life Centre on Thursday (20^th November) to take part in the 2025 Bradford College graduation ceremony.

This is the first year that all Bradford College higher education students attended the same graduation, making it the largest ceremony ever held to date.

The annual event brought together special guests, family members, academic and support staff, employers, and dignitaries for an evening that marked the culmination of years of hard work and determination.

The ceremony welcomed elated higher education students, all donning caps and gowns, from across diverse subject areas. These included Social Care and Community Practice, the Margaret McMillan School of Education, Accountancy & Law, Science, Meditech, Allied Health & Computing, Engineering & Construction, and the Bradford School of Art.

Chris Webb, CEO & Principal of Bradford College, said:

“I am honoured to welcome you all here this evening and officially. I could not be prouder of the graduands gathered here. Today is a celebration of your commitment, your resilience, and the belief you rightfully placed in yourselves.

“Our aspiration is that all students should be able to succeed, regardless of their life and educational experiences prior to enrolling. We want all students to be resilient in the face of new challenges and be stretched to realise their potential – something that you have all truly exemplified.”

Degrees were then conferred in collaboration with Tim Openshaw, Greater Manchester, and Janice De Sousa, Leeds Trinity University, with Dr Jo Salter MBE invited as this year’s guest speaker. Dr Salter has worked extensively within the university sector and was a former Royal Air Force fast-jet pilot – the first woman in the UK to achieve this incredible status.

Attending the ceremony was Junayd Ahmed, a Fdsc Ophthalmic Dispensing student, who said:
“The highlight of my degree was developing skills to help patients improve their vision and confidence through precise lens fitting and personalised eyewear solutions.” Fellow graduate, Latoya Jarvis, studied a BA (Hons) Social Work degree. She said: “I am now in my dream job, in the city I was born and raised in, giving back and meeting the diverse needs of the people of Bradford.”

Bradford College Chair of Governors, John Williams, concluded the ceremony by addressing the graduates directly:

“Look around you — at your peers, your family, your lecturers — and take in this milestone. Today is not an ending, but a beginning; a launchpad into a future you’ve worked so hard to create […] In this room sit the next generation of leaders, teachers, innovators, builders, carers, and creators. Your skills and compassion will shape the world around you — and our world needs you now more than ever.”

Bradford College is one of the largest education and training providers in the region, delivering Higher National Qualifications (HNQs), Higher Level Apprenticeships, degrees and postgraduate courses. The College is passionate about making its campuses some of the best available for higher education students and continues to enhance facilities with transformational multi-million-pound funding, as seen in the state-of-the-art STEM building, Garden Mills.

Find out more about studying a higher education qualification at Bradford College. Apply directly with the College or via UCAS: www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/degrees