Lanarkshire sisters celebrate Open University degrees at same ceremony

Graduate sisters Kayleigh and Nicole Sharkey from Wishaw have celebrated their Open University (OU) successes at the same degree ceremony.

Both received Honours degrees – Kayleigh a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, and Nicole a Bachelor of Science in Adult Nursing.

On Friday the pair joined hundreds of other gowned graduates at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to mark their achievements.

Said Kayleigh: “I'm proud of us both having completed our degrees. Nicole is my best friend as well as my sister so attending the same degree ceremony definitely makes it even more of a memorable occasion.”  

Career progression

Studying and gaining my degree has allowed me to further my career in the same department. It has opened up lots of opportunities I wouldn’t have had before."

Nicole Sharkey, 
OU graduate in Adult Nursing (Honours)

Both sisters work at NHS Lanarkshire.

Nicole is now a staff nurse working for Clydesdale’s district nursing team – the Integrated Community Support Team – which supports mainly housebound patients.

The 30-year-old was able to upskill while employed by the health board in her full-time clinical support worker role. The Scottish Government funded some of her modules.

Nicole says: “Studying and gaining my degree has allowed me to further my career in the same department I was in previously. 

“It has opened up lots of opportunities I wouldn’t have had before.

“It feels great to be working as a staff nurse. I enjoy helping and caring for people, and seeing people become well again whatever that should be. 

“I also feel very fortunate to be in a position to help people stay at home for end-of-life care.”

University qualification

I had never studied at this level and I wanted to get a qualification and prove to myself that I could do it."

Kayleigh Sharkey, 
OU graduate in Business Management (Honours)

Kayleigh (36) is an operational admin manager for trauma and orthopaedics – a post she was successfully promoted to during her degree studies, having previously been a directorate secretary. 

Her studies were free, thanks to the Part-Time Fee Grant and top up funding from the OU.

She says: “I chose the OU as I was looking to gain a qualification with a bit of flexibility round about working full time. 

“I had never studied at this level and I wanted to get a qualification and prove to myself that I could do it.

“I studied mostly in the evenings. I found my lunch break useful for catching up on tutorials as well. 

“The module content was flexible so easy to fit round other plans.”

Her advice to anyone about to start an OU course? “Take one module at a time and ask for support if you need it,” she says.

Graduates at Glasgow ceremony

Kayleigh and Nicole's determination and success highlight how The Open University’s flexible and supported learning model empowers people to reach their goals."

Martin Boyle, 
OU in Scotland Director

Martin Boyle, Director of The Open University in Scotland, said: “Congratulations to Kayleigh and Nicole on their remarkable achievements. 

“Their determination and success highlight how The Open University’s flexible and supported learning model empowers people to reach their goals — whether that’s gaining a first degree or advancing a career. 

“We’re delighted to celebrate their accomplishments.”

Kayleigh and Nicole were among 660 Open University graduates who crossed the Glasgow stage during two ceremonies held on Friday.

The University also awarded honorary degrees to Scottish music icons Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, for their outstanding contribution to arts, culture and society, as well as foreign affairs academic Dr Fiona Hill, in recognition for her exceptional contribution to foreign policy, democratic scrutiny and the importance of equality of opportunity.

Photo by Kathryn Tuckerman

29 October 2025