The end of an era

It's three years since Edge Hill was granted the power to award its own degrees. Last year's historic graduation ceremony was not just the first time students had received Edge Hill degrees from their own Vice-Chancellor, but also the first time a graduation ceremony had been held on the Ormskirk campus.

This year's ceremonies ar even more hotly anticipated as 2009 marks the last ever year that students will have to make to trip to the University of Lancaster to receive their degrees, ending a tradition dating back 30 years. A celebratory dinner is planned for September to thank Lancaster for all the help and support over the years, and to commemorate the ongoing special relationship between the two universities.

But as one chapter ends, another begins and this year we were proud to welcome the first of our Shropshire based students to Ormskirk to receive their degrees. Edge Hill's outreach study centre in Shrewsbury offers a number of qualifications in early years and primary education for students who want to stay close to home but also want the benefit of an Edge Hill teaching degree.

Once again, the impressive 800-seat theatre in the new Faculty of Health building will be the venue for two days of celebration in July when more than 920 graduates, including 36 from Shrewsbury, will don their mortarboards to accept their degrees from Vice Chancellor, Dr John Cater and Chancellor Prof Tanya Byron.