DEGREE CELEBRATIONS July 2020 Congratulations from the President and Vice-Chancellor
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The University of Manchester DEGREE CELEBRATIONS July 2020 Congratulations from the President and Vice-Chancellor Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020 – “Use your head, wherever you are in the world at this time, during but follow your heart.” these unprecedented circumstances. This is a time Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, of celebration and I hope you enjoy this special President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester occasion with family and friends. For those of you graduating this summer, These celebrations mark not the end of this is also the perfect opportunity to reflect your relationship with the University but the on your time here at Manchester, to think start of a new chapter. You are now part of about your successes and accomplishments, a worldwide network and it is my hope that and to look forward with excitement to the the links between you and the University next stage of your journey. will grow stronger as you become an active member of one of the world’s largest global Although you are not here on campus, as you alumni communities. mark your achievements this week, know the University shares with you a great sense of I wish you every success for the future. pride in the award you have worked so hard to attain. I encourage you to take charge of your future, find your voice and form your own opinions. Have confidence in the knowledge and experience you have gained during your time here and know you are ready to take on your next challenge and shape your own future. Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell DEGREE CELEBRATIONS JULY 2020 1 Throughout our history, Manchester has helped Leading shape the world through knowledge, wisdom and humanity. Our staff and alumni instil in the way our students and graduates a desire to improve people’s lives through research, teaching and social responsibility, investing in the future of others. 1948 2017 1851 Prof Alan Turing OBE FRS 1979 Naa Acquah John Owens Sir Arthur Lewis The famed wartime The first black woman Owens College is formed Britain’s first black professor codebreaker joins the to hold the position of with the fortune of on joining the University, University, where he would General Secretary of the Manchester industrialist Arthur Lewis wins the 1979 gain a reputation as the father Students’ Union, Naa John Owens. Nobel Prize for Economics. of modern computing. graduates in 2017. 1874 1945 1998 2016 Edward Ryley Langworthy Ellen Wilkinson Prof Brian Cox OBE FRS Jean D’Amour Mutoni Queen’s Young Leaders The Langworthy Chair, a Ellen Wilkinson is appointed as Graduating in physics, Brian Award recipient Jean, whose position held by five Nobel Britain's first female minister Cox starts a scientific career scholarship was supported by Prize winners, is created by for education. As a student that has seen him become a a donation to the University, the legacy of this donor to she won scholarships for every household name through his graduates with a master’s in the University. stage of her education. work to popularise science. Medical Microbiology. 1906 1908 2004 2006 Dame Christabel Sir Ernest Rutherford Prof Alan Gilbert AO Prof Danielle George MBE Pankhurst DBE OM FRS Alan Gilbert is appointed Danielle George is awarded Later famous for her role in This chemist and physics President and Vice-Chancellor her PhD. It would be followed the suffragette movement, pioneer, who would later in 2004, later establishing ten years later by an MBE for she graduates in law at a time ‘split’ the atom, becomes the Equity and Merit Scholarships her services to promote public when it was illegal for women University’s first Nobel Prize and the Manchester engagement in engineering. to practise the profession. winner in 1908. Access Programme . 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER DEGREE CELEBRATIONS JULY 2020 3 565 Turkey A global 956 Thailand 561 19,374 Switzerland China community 2,087 (mainland) Greece 1,639 125,609 508 1,494 Canada UK Cyprus Norway 1,595 Germany 1,165 Japan 726 Republic of Ireland 1,032 With more than 500,000 South Korea graduates worldwide, we’re proud to welcome you to the 1,609 largest alumni community of any France UK campus-based university. 1,169 Taiwan Half a million is not just a big 1,350 number. It’s a community with Spain 2,804 active groups all over the world. Hong Kong 5,063 SAR Whether you’re adventuring US 973 abroad or you’re returning Pakistan home – there’s an alumni group 909 wherever you go. Italy 3,757 716 Singapore These groups offer you a Mexico 3,359 814 diverse, highly skilled and India Indonesia welcoming network of friends and professional contacts. They also help you stay connected 1,000 Saudi Arabia 3,360 with the University. 1,641 Malaysia Nigeria Find your nearest alumni group 1,413 1,283 Australia or volunteer to start your own: United Arab your.manchester.ac.uk/global-networks Emirates 4 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER DEGREE CELEBRATIONS JULY 2020 5 Manchester has always been at the heart of change, looking forward and forging new paths – this is instilled in our students and graduates through Stellify. During your time at Manchester you’ll have embraced many different opportunities, broadened your horizons, examined and challenged real-world issues, led change, and given something to local and global communities. Each path was unique, but the cumulative impact and influence is far- reaching. We‘re proud that so many of you graduating have taken part in Stellify activities at Manchester, embraced our collective commitment to social responsibility and made a difference. IT’S TIME TO STELLIFY It’s time to Stellify Be the focus, be the vision Be the brightest in the universe Be the future, be driven There’s half a million alumni 190 countries across the globe 25 Nobel laureates This is our genetic code There’s stardust in your DNA You are a meteorite You are the pen tempting words You are the lens sensing light Be ten thousand degrees Be light years travel in time Be the star of the universe And shine, shine, shine Lemn Sissay, poet, author and Chancellor of The University of Manchester 6 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER DEGREE CELEBRATIONS JULY 2020 7 Manchester named top for graduate employability Highlights Manchester was named the University of the Year for Graduate Other highlights Employment by The Times and 2019–20 from the year Sunday Times Good University Responding to the pandemic Guide. Praise was given to our Despite the challenging extracurricular programmes like This was an unprecedented year circumstances, Stellify, which help to embed ethical challenges into degree Manchester students for the whole world. Indeed, iStock/101cats credit: Photo programmes and provide students the COVID-19 pandemic had and staff were still able with the skills they need to hit the a significant impact on the Law students volunteer to help to achieve many great ground running when they enter people affected by pandemic the workplace. graduating class of 2020. A group of 40 law students from the University have things. Here are just a However, our students rose to volunteered their services during their holidays to help few of the big stories the challenge. Here are a few people affected by the coronavirus. Since June, they’ve from the year. examples of their extraordinary been providing advice online in five areas of law particularly impacted: care, family, employment, consumers and housing. response to COVID -19. Manchester student volunteer sewing scrubs for NHS Army of student volunteers Olivia-Faye Dickinson – a University project wins helping our NHS heroes third-year Materials Science Spirit of Manchester Award More than 450 medical and social care students and Engineering with Textile Diversity Champions across Manchester stepped forward in less than a Technology MEng student – Manchester – a community week to support NHS workers. Called the Manchester returned to her summer job project based at the National Health Supporters, the student-led in Lichfield as a seamstress at University – won the Equalities initiative provided help including collecting groceries, alteration shop Tudor Sew to category of this year’s Spirit babysitting children, pet walking and working at GP voluntarily sew scrubs for local of Manchester Awards. The No sweat for students in 24-hour run challenge surgeries. The idea originated from Saif Khan, a NHS staff. project seeks to improve the Last November students from the University’s Run fourth-year medical student at Manchester. understanding of hate crime among schoolchildren and Wild Society raised money for a homelessness charity young people, and give them by running non-stop for 24 hours. The money raised the skills they need to tackle it went to the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity in in their community. support of the Bed Every Night Scheme. University to decarbonise its investment portfolio The University announced an end to investments in fossil fuel reserve and extraction companies by 2022, and the ‘decarbonisation’ of all Addressing food sustainability investments by 2038. Changes to the during the lockdown Socially Responsible Investment Policy PhD student Mathieu Augustin also include a commitment to reduce has been helping to reduce waste the carbon intensity of the overall by providing food to people in investment portfolio by 30% Manchester during lockdown. by 2022, and then to move While writing his final thesis on as quickly as possible to net geotechnical engineering, Mathieu zero by, at the latest, 2038. has been collecting surplus food from supermarkets and bakeries on behalf of OLIO, an app specialising in redistributing food among local communities. 8 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER DEGREE CELEBRATIONS JULY 2020 9 Outstanding Alumni Awards Our Outstanding Alumni Awards are presented to members of the University’s alumni community who have achieved distinction through their contribution in their fields or professions, through exemplary service to the University, or through outstanding service of a personal or humanitarian nature.