Skip to main content
Honorary doctorates summer 2024 – Bath Spa University
 News 

Six honorary degrees are being awarded by Bath Spa University this summer

Friday, 19 July, 2024

A world-renowned theatre director, an esteemed journalist and an international higher education advocate are among the recipients of Honorary Doctorates being awarded by Bath Spa University next week.  

The prestigious awards are being presented on Monday 22, Tuesday 23, and Wednesday 24 July as part of our summer graduation ceremonies.  

The recipients will be awarded their degrees alongside over 1,750 students donning their cap and gown and receiving their certificates at The Forum in Bath City Centre. 

Deborah Warner CBE - Honorary Doctorate of Arts 

Being presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts is the internationally respected director of theatre and opera, Deborah Warner CBE. 

Woman sitting in front of a blue textured background

Deborah's accolades include Olivier, Evening Standard and South Bank Award winning productions, working for Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Opera House, Teatro Real Madrid, Opera di Roma, Dutch National Opera, and many more. Amongst her international acclaim, Deborah has recently brought her passion and renowned skills to the city of Bath, spending three seasons as Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bath’s Ustinov Studio.  

Mark Langley, Head of Bath School of Music and Performing Arts at Bath Spa University said:

“Deborah is just one of the best directors in the UK, working across opera, theatre and a wider range of other live performance events. Her directorship of the Ustinov Studio has not only brought works to Bath of a type and quality we would normally not see, but it also strengthens Bath’s position as one of the main producers of theatre in the country." 

Dr Kostyantyn Kyrychenko - Honorary Doctorate of Education

The recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Education is from Bath Spa University’s international partner Sumy State University in Ukraine. Dr Kostyantyn Kyrychenko is Head of International Office, and a passionate advocate for internationalising the higher education and research sector in Ukraine. 

man smiling, wearing a suit and collared shirt.

With a law lyceum, three Master’s degrees in foreign languages, Organisation Management and Public Administration, a PhD in Economics, and 18 years of experience in university international relations management around the world, Dr Kyrychenko brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role and to our flourishing long-standing partnership with Sumy State University. 

John Crace - Honorary Doctorate of Letters

Accepting the Honorary Doctorate of Letters is esteemed journalist, and parliamentary sketch columnist, John Crace.  

close up of man smiling, wearing a collared shirt, in front of a plain white background.

Having started writing in his 30s, John quickly made progress with his weekly Guardian columns, bringing him a huge following and leading to him becoming the paper’s political sketch writer. His satirical sketches prove a page turner for many, and several of his published collections have become bestsellers.  

Also receiving honorary awards during the celebratory summer ceremonies are:

Kate Hofman - Honorary Doctorate of Science 

Kate Hofman is set to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Science in acknowledgement of her work as founder of award-winning business GrowUp Farms, the UK's first vertical farm.  

a woman leans on a plain wall, smiling, wearing wearing glasses and a blouse with a leaf pattern.

Kate is an entrepreneur and sustainability champion. GrowUp is a certified B Corporation, using 100% renewable energy to produce their salads, which are distributed through major UK retailers.

Sajjad Hussain - Honorary Doctorate of Education

Sajjad Hussain will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education. He is the founder of Future Education World, an academic centre of Bath Spa University operating in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.  

Man sits at a desk wearing a suit and a striped tie. His elbows are on the table and hands together.

Raja Sajjad Hussain is a luminary in education. He is committed to social enterprise and education, with a career spanning over five decades that has significantly contributed to the educational infrastructure in the Middle East.  

Dr Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal - Honorary Fellowship

Dr Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal will take to the stage to receive an Honorary Fellowship.   

Man wearing glasses and suit in front of a plain white background.

Dr. J.C. Kuniyal is Head of the Centre for Environmental Assessment & Climate Change Centre (CEA&CC) in the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment. He is a research project partner to our School of Sciences, and his excellent collaboration also extends across continents to the USA and South Africa as well as across the UK.  

A huge congratulations to our Honorary Doctors to be, and to all our students getting ready to graduate next week.  

Find out more about our upcoming graduation ceremonies.

Edit section | Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk