Celebrating academic achievement at Teesside University

Thousands of Teesside University graduates crossed the stage to celebrate academic achievement at this year’s graduation ceremonies.

They were joined by a renowned television architect and a leading figure in the UK chemical industry, as Honorary degrees were bestowed on George Clarke, who received a Doctor of Arts, and former Teesside University governor Paul Booth CBE, who received a Doctor of Engineering

Ceremonies were held over five days to honour graduates from our School of Arts & Creative Industries, School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, School of Health & Life Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law and Teesside University International Business School.

Among those celebrating was proud dad and Teesside University academic Mark Freary, whose son Luke followed in his footsteps to graduate with a design degree.

Luke Freary graduated from the BA (Hons) Graphic Design and Illustration, almost four decades after his dad Mark also graduated with a design degree.

“I’ve always been interested in design and wanted to do a creative degree,” said Luke, 21, from Middlesbrough.

“I started my degree at another university and was studying during the pandemic. I never really got to know any of the other students, and I wasn’t really enjoying the course. I eventually decided that I wanted to continue my degree somewhere else.

“I asked if I could transfer to Teesside University for my final year. As soon as I came to Teesside and started on the degree, I realised I had done the right thing and fitted in with the rest of the student group really well.

“I knew about Teesside University through my dad, and I had been to the campus in the past, but it was great to experience it as a student.”

Mark said: “As an academic, I look forward to our graduation ceremonies each year, and this year has been extra special for me, to be able to see my son graduate - 36 years after I graduated from Teesside myself.”

Mark graduated with a degree in industrial design and started work with what was then Teesside Polytechnic, initially working as a design consultant before moving into teaching.

Meanwhile, a family tradition in the engineering industry continues as Teesside University graduate Danya Al-Hindawi follows in her father's footsteps.

BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering graduate Danya was joined at her academic awards ceremony by her family, including her father Ibrahim, who is also a Teesside University graduate, and her brother Anas, who has just completed his first year of the BEng (Hons) Instrumentation & Control Engineering.

Danya said: “I really enjoyed the degree. I was always brought up with the belief that engineering is an inclusive field for everyone.

“It’s the end of a chapter, but the beginning of a new world for me,” added Danya, who plans to continue her studies at the PhD level, focusing on the engineering field, with the goal of pursuing a career in renewable energy resources.

Ibrahim, who graduated from the BEng (Hons) Instrumentation & Control Engineering in 1996, is now President at mCloud MENA, a software company that utilizes data and AI to revolutionize global energy asset management.

Ibrahim said: “I was delighted to witness Danya's graduation. I also enjoyed visiting the campus again, seeing its transformation, and reconnecting with engineering faculty members I studied alongside during my own degree.”

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