Welcoming the world

As Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, I congratulate you all on successfully achieving your academic award from this world-renowned higher education institution.

As we gather for today’s graduation, we do so in a world reshaped by recent events. Over the past year, University of London students have experienced conflict, natural disasters and political unrest in regions such as Ukraine, the Middle East and Pakistan. We are proud to have supported our students to continue their studies in such challenging times, which often involved making changes in response to unpredictable circumstances. All of you here today have shown great adaptability and determination over the course of your studies, and we commend you for your success. 

As the world’s oldest provider of distance and flexible learning, we were uniquely positioned to spearhead the widespread shift towards online education and assessment in recent years. And on these strong and proud foundations we are continually working to improve the student experience, and the offer we make for our students and the Recognised Teaching Centres with whom we work in countries around the world. 

It is fantastic to be able to welcome you and your loved ones to London once again. While the University’s presence can be felt globally, we are proud of our roots and place in London. Here in London, we are working to make our home of Senate House and its iconic Library more accessible and engaging for students, researchers and visitors. This has included a programme of public events, exhibitions of our Library’s collections, and improved study and social spaces for students across the federation. Please do come to visit us at Senate House while you’re in London to see these exciting changes for yourselves. 

We are continually improving the support available for students in the UK and internationally with initiatives such as our Care Leavers Guarantee, our improved Hardship Fund, and the University of London Scholars programme, now in its second year – all of which will help enable better attainment and more inclusive access to higher education, a core feature of our University since its inception. 

Today’s celebration is another step on that journey, and we are honoured that you are here to enjoy it with us. As graduates, you will all reap the benefits of a University of London education. Your degrees are prized by employers and institutions worldwide, and you join a vibrant global network of over 500,000 alumni. We hope you will keep in touch as you embark on your next steps.

Professor Wendy Thomson CBE
Vice-Chancellor, University of London