THE final graduation ceremonies of the academic year were held in the University of Bradford yesterday.

The university's atrium was packed throughout the day with graduates, their friends and families as three graduation ceremonies took place.

And there was an honorary doctorate awarded at each ceremony, held in the Great Hall.

In the morning Lord Paul Drayson, chief executive officer, of Drayson Technologies, was given a Doctorate of Engineering. Lord Drayson is also a non executive director of the Royal Navy Board and has developed businesses in food manufacturing, motorsport and life sciences.. He has also served as a defence minister and minister for science and innovation.

In the first of two afternoon ceremonies Dame Wendy Hall was named Doctor of Technology. Dame Wendy, executive director of the web science institute, is one of the first computer scientists to undertake serious research into multimedia and hypermedia.

In her talk to graduates she spoke of the importance of being bold and confident in the workplace, and stressed the importance of women getting involved in sciences.

She said: "I told the graduates to aim high and not take second best. I was particularly addressing the women in the audience, they can do it and succeed in science, they just need to be bold."

In the final ceremony of the summer Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers, was awarded a Doctorate of the University. Before the ceremony she said: "I will be telling the graduates how good the job market is. Most graduates from this university walk straight into a job, which is pretty unusual in this day and age.

"The graduates from the university's optometry and management departments are very much in demand."