A Scottish supermodel is to receive an honorary degree from the Open University as the institution celebrates 50 years of graduation ceremonies in Scotland.
Eunice Olumide, who will be recognised for her contribution to arts, culture and social justice in the UK, described the award as an “incredible honour".
More than 650 students will cross the stage during this year’s graduation ceremony in Glasgow, which will also feature a speech from Open University success-story Carol Hunter. The event will feature graduates from as far north as Shetland and as far south as Stranraer, with ages ranging from a low of 20 to a high of 84.
Half of the attendees at the 2024 graduation ceremony are the first in their family to study a higher education level, and nearly two-thirds received a grant towards their part-time fees.
A total of 25% have a declared disability, significantly higher than the average figures for UK university entrants.
In addition to graduates from Scotland, the ceremony will also recognise 66 students – ten percent of the total – from across Europe and the USA.
Established in 1969, the Open University offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the majority of which have no entry requirements, which are completed using a flexible, distance learning model.
Completion of an undergraduate degree typically takes six years for part-time students and costs around £7,000, although funding of up to 100 % is available based on household income and benefit status.
Today’s event comes 50 years after the Open University’s first Scottish graduation ceremony, which was held at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh in April 1974. The institution has maintained an office in Edinburgh since its foundation, and today has more than 200,000 alumni across Scotland.
Born in Edinburgh to Nigerian parents, Ms Olumide was scouted aged fifteen while shopping in Sauchiehall Street and has gone on to work with designers such as Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood.
She has also founded the Olumide Galleries, which is designed to create space for artists and audiences often excluded from mainstream art institutions, and curated exhibitions at the V&A and Tate Modern.
In 2019, she produced Next Generation Regeneration: Fashion and Revolution, a one-day event during London Fashion Week to highlight the contribution and mistreatment of the Windrush Generation. Most recently, she has produced and directed her first film, the much-praised documentary ‘Secret Lives: The Untold Story of British Hip Hop’, which will be shown during the upcoming Glasgow Film Festival.
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On receiving her degree, Ms Olumide said: “It’s an incredible honour to receive this recognition from The Open University, especially on such a significant occasion.
“The OU is dedicated to excellence, equity and inclusivity and for me that goes to the absolute core of all of my work throughout my life, particularly in the fields of social justice and indeed in terms of suitability. It is imperative that we continue to create safe spaces for people of all backgrounds, ethnicities and classes.”
“Like Eunice, many of our students break barriers to achieve their goals, and we are proud to be part of their journey.”
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