Your education is prized, Rector tells graduates at Commemoration Day ceremonies

2,000 graduands celebrate their success in the Royal Albert Hall- News

Wednesday 21 October 2009
By John-Paul Jones

Imperial graduates should face the future with confidence, despite the tougher job market that they are heading into, Rector Sir Roy Anderson will say at today’s Commemoration Day graduation ceremonies.

Addressing over 2,000 graduands and almost 5,500 guests over two ceremonies in the Royal Albert Hall, Sir Roy will say that confidence in the quality of Imperial’s education is high and that leading employers value the skills and knowledge the College’s graduates possess. His comments are backed up by the latest Sunday Times University Guide, published in September, which places Imperial graduates top of the league table of 2008 leavers in graduate level jobs and second for highest graduate salaries.

“Although times are certainly harder than we have seen for a while, demand for Imperial graduates remains strong,” Sir Roy tells today’s graduands. “Employers know that you will help them to address challenges and manage change. Your education here is highly prized both in the UK and abroad.”

As well as celebrating the success of graduating students, the day’s ceremonies will also see the award of the first Rector’s Medals for Teaching and Pastoral Care, which reward staff who have shown exceptional commitment to supporting and developing students.

Teaching Medals go to Dr Matthew Genge of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering, described by one student as “the David Attenborough of geology” for his engaging teaching style, Dr Silvestre Pinho of the Department of Aeronautics for his gift for communication, Professor Denis Wright of the Department of Life Sciences, recently appointed Dean of Students, for championing new educational methods such as e-learning, and Professor Richard Thompson of the Department of Physics, who is praised for actively seeking the opinions of students and implementing changes in response.

Recognised for their dedication to pastoral care are Professor David Lloyd Smith of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who was the College’s first Dean of Students and is praised for his devotion to tutoring, and Mr David Allman, leader of the College’s Student Counselling Service, who has also taken a key role in developing training for personal tutors. Thanking all the Medal winners, Professor Julia Buckingham, Pro Rector (Education), says:

“For me, Commemoration Day provides tangible evidence that Imperial is fulfilling its responsibilities to students and to the wider community. The people graduating today will be amongst those who will lead scientific developments and help to solve global problems. We must continue to promote and recognise high quality teaching and pastoral support, so that we prepare these future leaders for the challenges ahead.”

The ceremonies will also see influential members of the College community named Fellows and Associate of Imperial College. New Fellows are Professor Dame Julia Higgins, a renowned polymer scientist and campaigner for better representation of women in science, who has served Imperial as lecturer, professor and Principal of the Faculty of Engineering; Mr Tony Mitcheson, College Secretary and Clerk to the Court and Council from 1997 to 2007; and Professor Rees Rawlings, who spent his career as a lecturer and researcher in Imperial’s Department of Materials, before becoming Pro Rector for Educational Quality from 1999 to 2007. The College’s new Associate is Ms Linda Jones, a leading administrator in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Honorary degrees will be awarded to leading structural biologist Professor Dame Louise Johnson, and Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, mobile communications pioneer and founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which works for accountable government in Africa.

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