SERC Graduation 2026

Graduation is one of the college’s showpiece events that celebrates the successes of higher education students, SERC staff and the wider college community. The headline sponsors for the event were Ards and North Down Borough Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

More than 1200 guests gathered to honour and celebrate the achievements of graduates completing Degrees, Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas, Higher National Certificates, Higher Level Apprenticeships and a range of professional qualifications at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Certificates were presented by Paul Finnegan OBE, member of the SERC governing body.

Guest speaker Cate Conway, BBC broadcaster and past student at the former East Down Institute (now SERC Downpatrick Campus), shared the story of her career in an entertaining and inspiring speech which encouraged graduates to overcome future challenges one step at a time, and to embrace all opportunities.

The college also presented Excellence Awards to students who have performed particularly highly, or who have overcome challenges to achieve their qualifications. Thanks go to those businesses and organisations who supported individual awards: Action Renewables, CMI, Energystore, SIAS and The Open University.

The vote of thanks was given by Ellie Doherty, who graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Business Management (validated by Liverpool John Moores University).