A RECORD number of students will this week celebrate their graduation from University College Worcester.

More than 1,700 qualifications will be handed out to as many students during six separate ceremonies, taking place tomorrow, Thursday and Friday.

Processions will leave The Guildhall, in the High Street, at around 10.45am and 2.15pm on each day, as students make their way to Worcester Cathedral for the services.

The impressive sight will include academic staff in their robes and leading Worcester dignitaries, including the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Allah Ditta.

The latest achievements mean more than 10,000 students will have graduated from UCW since it was granted degree-awarding powers in 1997.

As well as the students' qualifications, this year will see four honorary MA degrees and a Fellowship awarded to individuals, who have made major contributions to the region.

Principal Professor David Green is looking forward to marking another year of academic achievement.

"Celebrating success comes very high on my list of priorities and these three days will see many young, and a significant number of older people, achieving exceptional results from their study," he said.

"One in three of our students are training to either become teachers or involved in education and one in seven are involved in training to become nurses and midwives.

"They, like all our students, deserve to enjoy their moment, with their friends and families and their tutors and colleagues."

UCW has nearly 8,000 students, around three-quarters of whom are female - reflecting its major strengths in teaching, nursing and midwifery.

More than half of its intake are mature students and the high proportion of part-time students also shows the number of professionals who are working, and studying for their degrees during their spare time.

The St John's college is hoping to achieve full-university status next year and is also planning to open a second campus in Castle Street, Worcester.

n Over the next three days, the Evening News will be publishing the names of every student on their graduation day. For news and pictures of some of UCW students' most remarkable achievements make sure you buy tomorrow's Evening News.