What’s happening here?

Anouk: ‘We’re preparing for the IBMS (international business & management studies) graduation ceremony; these are their graduation hats.’

Manon: ‘What are they called again?’

Anouk: ‘I don’t know either. We’re currently making sure the tassels are properly attached.’

Why do they come in two colours, blue and black?

Manon: ‘The blue ones are for the students, and the black ones for the faculty.’

But the teachers aren’t the ones graduating, are they?

Anouk: ‘I think it’s intended as a sign of thanks or something. We’ve also got the graduation robes here. Every person who is graduating had to sign up with their name and size, and we’re supposed to give them all to the right people when they arrive. This is also the place where they’re going to assemble.’

Does this graduation ceremony make you think about the end of your own studies a little bit?

Manon: ‘That’s three years from now!’

Anouk: ‘But it does make you think ‘oh, I want that too.’ It would be nice to know you’ve managed to complete your studies. Our first-year graduation ceremony is in two weeks though.’

Does that have hats and robes too?

Anouk: ‘No, but we are expected to dress up a bit.’

Text: Jos van Nierop

PS These graduation hats bear many different kinds of names, such as ‘mortar board’ and ‘academic cap’, but the term ‘graduation hat’ is also used.