Talented students from across the globe celebrate graduation

18th July 2016

4,953 students from over 100 countries will be graduating from the University of Sheffield this week Honorary graduates include former Secretary of State for Education and Employment and Home Secretary, Sheffield graduate Lord David Blunkett Celebrations will particularly celebrate the importance of the University's international community of students and scholars The University of Sheffield will host graduation ceremonies this week (18 July-22 July 2016) in which almost 5,000 students from over 100 countries will receive undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Keith Burnett congratulated young people from across the UK and around the world, acknowledging both the hard work which led to their degrees and the huge contribution they have made to the University and the city of Sheffield. -Graduations are very important times of celebration for students and their families, and will be remembered as a great day in people's lives, said Sir Keith. -It is the summation not just of what they have done at university but their hard work and encouragement over many years, and we are right to acknowledge that as a wonderfully important achievement. -The degree also marks the point at which students become alumni, a crucial body of supporters to the University and to younger students around the world. Sheffield graduates over the years have included: Eminent alumni such as the first British astronaut, Helen Sharman Nobel Prize winners in Science and Medicine Economics graduates such as Lord O'Neill, who has championed the Northern Powerhouse, and Andy Haldane of the Bank of England Celebrated writers such as Hilary Mantel and Lee Child, both of whom studied Law Women of great daring and determination from the aviator Amy Johnson to Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis. Sir Keith added: -The University is also home to students who have a vibrant social life and make a difference in the world and I am delighted that our city has also shown that it is proud of them and wants to support their success. Sheffield has been top of the list of the universities students would most recommend to their own friends and family. -Sheffield students also have an extraordinary reputation for the volunteer work done across our city. Our wonderful students serve their placements in our hospitals, change lives and create social enterprises which go to the root of problems to make a difference. Many of our international societies 'adopt a local charity'. They are truly inspiring! -Of course, these young people also graduate at a time of major upheaval in so many ways. It is not just this country which is undergoing unprecedented change, it is the whole world. We will need these able and caring young people to help shape that world and to fill it with purpose and critical thinking and the willingness to challenge and share ideas across nations. Honorary graduates this week include individuals who have excelled themselves in their contributions to Medicine, Science and Law. It is also a very special time for the Right Honourable the Lord David Blunkett who came to the University of Sheffield as a mature student of Politics in 1969 and went on to hold many of the most senior government offices in the land. Lord Blunkett now works as a Professor of Politics in Practice within the Sir Bernard Crick Centre at the University of Sheffield which promotes the public understanding of politics.

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