Family affair as mother and daughter graduate together
Chloe Harkness with mum Janet Harkness
A mother and daughter have been celebrating after graduating from SRUC on the same day.
Chloe Harkness, 22, collected her first-class honours degree in Wildlife and Conservation Management just hours after her mum, Janet, 63, graduated with an HNC in Horticulture.
The North Berwick pair were among around 300 students who took part in SRUC’s HN and degree graduation ceremonies at the University of Glasgow’s Bute Hall.
Chloe originally enrolled in NC Horse Care at SRUC Oatridge, aiming for a career in the equine industry. But after discovering a deeper interest in the natural environment, she switched to NC Countryside Management, which led to a passion for wildlife conservation.
Chloe said: “I always loved the countryside but never thought it could be a career. Studying at SRUC helped me realise where I wanted to go and gave me the confidence to get there.”
Speaking of the logistics of the day, Chloe said: “My mum and I stayed in Glasgow the night before, but with friends and family arriving at different times, there was a lot of frantic communication before my mum’s ceremony in the morning! The day itself was a whirlwind, taking photos, saying hellos and goodbyes, and trying to find each other in the crowd. It was busy, but everything went smoothly, and it was so lovely to feel the support from friends, family, classmates and lecturers.”
Chloe gradually worked her way through her studies, eventually transferring to Edinburgh to complete her degree. Along the way, she took part in conservation trips to Kenya and Romania, acted as a student representative, and gained hands-on experience through fieldwork and practical sessions.
Now working as a Seasonal Ranger with the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Chloe hopes to move into a permanent ranger or ecology role.
Meanwhile, her mum Janet, inspired by Chloe’s learning journey, decided to return to education herself.
Janet said: “I’ve always enjoyed gardening, and with Chloe in her final year, I thought it would be nice to study alongside her. It was much tougher than I expected, especially the IT side, but Chloe helped me through. I’ve learned so much and would love to join a community garden now.”
In his address to graduates, SRUC Principal and Chief Executive Professor Wayne Powell said:
“The opportunity that each of you has as SRUC graduates is to make the very most of your place in a new, greener, more sustainable industrial revolution; one that harnesses as its main fuel the light you bring as dynamic, skilled, and innovative contributors in our shared natural economy.”
Students from SRUC’s campuses in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dumfries, Fife and West Lothian received qualifications ranging from PhDs and postgraduate diplomas to honours degrees, HNCs and National Certificates.
To find out more about studying at SRUC, visit www.sruc.ac.uk/study
Posted by SRUC on 28/08/2025
