Graduation

Graduation Convocation Ceremony Status: Endorsed by the 9th University Council Meeting in November 2006

Introduction

1. Graduation is the completion of all requirements of a programme of study verified by the Board of Examiners and approved by the Academic Board. (Refer B2 “Awards” in the Wheel of Academic Law). 
2. Convocation ceremony is an occasion where students participate in the conferral of awards. The occasion is also used to recognize outstanding staff and students. 

The frequency of convocation 

1. University wide convocations shall be held twice a year, or as decided by the University Council. The convocations will normally take place once in spring and once in autumn. 
2. The convocation schedule shall be developed by the Colleges/Institutes in consultation with the Registrar, Office of the Vice Chancellor. 

Dress

1. Academic staff and other university officials attending the convocation ceremony shall wear formal dress. In particular, Bhutanese shall wear hand woven traditional gho or kira Those in academic dress shall not use the kapney whilst others shall use their kapney. 
2. Graduating students attending the convocation ceremony shall wear the academic dress for the award they are receiving as approved by the Academic Board. (Refer G2 "Academic Dress" of the Wheel of Academic Law). 

Preparation for the ceremony

Arrangements shall be made by the participating Colleges/Institutes at least a month in advance of the ceremony as follows: 

1. include budget required for the convocation in the annual budget and confirm/ prepare expenditure plan for the ceremony 
2. determine a suitable date for the ceremony 
3. prepare a list of graduating students who are eligible to attend the ceremony 
4. invite graduating students to the ceremony through public announcements and prepare a list of confirmed participating students 
5. prepare guest list, invite and confirm their participation 
6. plan for accommodation and meals for participants 
7. publish convocation pamphlets 
8. arrange academic dress for students and academic staff 
9. arrange seating for guests and students 

On the eve of Convocation 

The participating Colleges/Institutes shall be responsible for the following on the eve of the convocation:

1. registration of participating students 
2. distribution of academic dress and convocation pamphlets 
3. rehearsal for the ceremony 

The Ceremony 

1. Graduating students in their academic dress and with their tassels on the right shall assemble in groups for each award to be conferred at the ceremony 
2. All guests shall be shown to their seats in the convocation hall. They shall be seated in the front rows of the hall. 
3. The Chancellor / Chief guest shall be received at the gate by University officials and faculty members of the Colleges/Institutes and escorted in chipdel procession to the ceremony. 
4. The graduating students shall receive the Chief guest at the entrance to the hall. 
5. The chipdel shall end with a marchang ceremony at the entrance to the hall 
6. After the marchang, the order of the procession to the hall shall be: 
• The Chancellor/Chief guest 
• University officials and the faculty members of the participating Colleges/Institutes 
• Graduating students 
7. The procession shall be accompanied by jaling and ku sung thugtyen. The Ku Sung Thugtyen shall comprise of a Jambayang statue, a lyeg bum and a jangchub choeten. The Jambayang statue represents ku which symbolizes the body, the lyeg bum symbolizes speech/knowledge and the jangchub choeten symbolizes the mind. The Ku, Sung, Thugtyen shall be placed on the choeshum arranged at one corner on the stage.
8. The Chancellor/Chief guest, Chairman of the University Council, Vice Chancellor, and Heads of participating Colleges/Institutes shall be seated on the stage. 

The ceremony inside the hall 

1. Invocation ceremony and offering of Zhugdel 
2. Posting of the National flag, the Royal University of Bhutan flag and the flags of the participating Colleges/Institutes 
3. Singing of the National Anthem 
4.  Welcome address by the Head of a participating College/Institute 
5. Conferring of honorary degrees/ medals 
6. Convocation address by the Chancellor/Chief guest 
7. Conferring of awards. This shall consist of the Petition, the Admission and the Presentation 
• The Petition 
• The Director of Academic Affairs / Head of the participating College/Institute on behalf of all the graduating students shall address the Chancellor/Vice Chancellor in these words:
• “Eminent Chancellor/Vice Chancellor, I present you the petition that the candidates to be named, having fulfilled all the requirements of the Academic Board, may be admitted to the degrees and diplomas to which they are entitled”.
• The Admission 
• The Chancellor/Vice Chancellor shall address the graduating students in these words:
• “By the virtue of the authority vested in me by the Royal Charter and the Statutes, and with the consent of the Council of this University, I consent to admit you to the degrees ………….. and diplomas ………. to which you are entitled and to invest you with all the powers, rights and privileges pertaining thereto”.
• The Presentation 
• The Dean of Academic Affairs or designate shall present the graduating students with these words: 
• “Eminent Chancellor/Vice Chancellor, on behalf of the Faculty/Department of………………………… I present you these candidates and request that you confer on them the degree of ………………… to which they are admitted. 
8. As the names of the graduating students are called they shall present themselves in front of the Chancellor/Chief guest and receive their awards. The graduates shall then flip tassel to the left and return to their seats. 

Degrees in Absentia 

In such cases, the Head of College/Institute says: 

“Eminent Chancellor/Chief guest, in the name of the Faculties, I submit to you to grant …………… to candidates whose names appear in the printed programme and who are not present today”. 

The Chancellor/Chief guest replies: “At the request of the Faculties, I authorize these degrees and diplomas to be granted” 

Singing of the University Song 

Benediction / Tashi Monlam 

1. After the benediction the procession moves out of the hall in reverse order of their entry. 

Post Award Ceremony 

1. Graduation photography session 
2. Cultural Programme 
3. Trashi Labey. 

Academic Dress 

Status: Endorsed by the 5th University Council Meeting in July 2005 

Introduction 

1. Academic dress of the University refers to the formal dress, on top of the national dress, worn at graduation convocation ceremonies of the University. It is an important part of university life where graduates celebrate their achievements. 
2. These regulations specify the various types of academic dress to be worn by students with different levels of awards. 
3. The regulations on academic dress should be read in conjunction with the regulation on graduation convocation ceremony (G1 of the Wheel of Academic Law). 

Formal Dress 

1. Academic staff, students and other University officials attending graduation convocations shall wear formal dress. In particular, Bhutanese shall wear hand woven traditional gho or kira Those in academic dress shall not use the kabney whilst others shall wear their kabney. 

Academic Dress 

1. The Registrar of the Royal University of Bhutan will be responsible for procurement and upkeep of academic dress. The Registrar will make available academic dresses to the member colleges/institutes for their graduation ceremonies. 
2. Academic dress of the University shall generally consist of a gown with a hood and a cap,as has been approved by the University Council. Nursing graduates of the Royal Institute of Health Sciences may wear their professional uniform. 
3. Graduating students attending the convocation ceremony shall wear the academic dress for the award they are receiving, as follows: 
• The academic dress for all graduates shall be made from polyester, except for the PhD level which shall be made of velvet. 
• Graduates for PhD awards shall wear red gowns, red caps and red hoods with yellow and orange borders. 
• Graduates for Masters awards shall wear navy blue gowns, navy blue caps and red hoods (navy blue inner lining) with yellow and orange borders. 
• Graduates for Bachelors awards shall wear navy blue gowns, navy blue caps and navy blue hoods with yellow and orange borders. 
• Diplomates shall wear navy blue gowns and white sashes. The sashes will have yellow and orange borders with the University logo on both sides. 
4. Members of the teaching and administrative staff who are graduates of another university shall be entitled to wear the academic dress prescribed by that university. Alternatively, they may wear the academic dress of the Royal University of Bhutan prescribed for the nearest equivalent qualification.