As the jacaranda trees gradually lose their purple leaves at the dawn of Autumn in April, the City of Tshwane will roll-out a red carpet for thousands of graduates from its colleges and universities.
The 2017 graduation season will kick off on 30 March 2017 when the Gordon`s Institute of Business Science confers a myriad of Business Administration qualifications to its graduates at the University of Pretoria. The graduation season will finally close with the last of the graduation ceremonies at the Tshwane University of Technology on 20 October 2017.
What started as a practice to recognise the academic achievement of students in the 12th century in Europe, has now become one of the most recognizable traditions of most modern institutions, including South African colleges and universities. At that time, Latin was the language of scholarship.
At the time “universitas” was a guild of Masters with a licence to teach. The words “degree” and “graduate” has their origins from the latin word “gradus”, meaning “step”. The first “step” was to acquire a Bachelors degree, and then move to the masters step that gave the graduates a licence to teach or practice. A gown and a hood has become recognizable as an academic dress worn by graduates at the graduation ceremonies.
Whilst the Tshwane North and South Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges are most likely to host one single graduation ceremony hosted normally in June or July. Both the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane University of Technology normally hosts a series of graduation ceremonies throughout the academic year, with the Autumn, Spring and Summer graduation ceremonies.
Worldwide graduation ceremonies are a memorable occasion for graduates (and their families) who receives their degrees and certificates after the successful completion of their studies. With its over 100 years of existence behind it`s illustrious history as a prestigious academic institution, in 2016 the University of Pretoria passed the milestone of 250,000 graduates since its inception at the turn of the 20th century.
Over the last 77 years (since 1935), Dippenaar and Reinecke has distinguished itself as a leading supplier of academic (and judicial) attire in South Africa. The outlet provides graduate support to most institutions in the City of Tshwane and nationwide. For more information visit www.d-r.co.za
To contribute to the celebrations of the 2017 graduation season and academic year, Student Times in partnership with The Manhattan Hotel in Pretoria, will offer affordable graduation packages for graduates and families. The packages are inclusive of accommodation, catering and a free shuttle service for graduates and their families.
