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Vice-Chancellor calls on º£½ÇÖ±²¥ graduates to remain ambitious

Remain ambitious and follow your dreams with confidence is the encouraging message to graduates from º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson CBE DL.

The Vice-Chancellor was speaking to around 4,000 graduates and their families over 14 ceremonies taking place over seven days at Middlesbrough Town Hall. Professor Henderson said: 'The combination of the qualification and the experience you have gone through have enriched you as a person and will make a huge difference to your life going forward in so many ways.

'Every successful person you admire got where they are today by just starting where they started, not by starting at the top. The secret is not to just go through life, but to grow through life. Be yourself, be the best that you can.

'If you love what you’re doing, you’ll always be or feel you’ve been, successful. Follow your dreams with confidence and work towards living the life you’ve always imagined for yourself.'

Professor Henderson highlighted recent reports which suggest people with a higher education qualification earn an average of 45 percent more than those without and over the lifetime of their career, graduates are likely to earn an average of £200,000 more than non-graduates.

He added: 'A good return for all of the hard work and the cost which went into achieving your award.'

Professor Henderson also called on graduates to give thought to how proud their families and friends are, while also remembering the help and support they provided.

'Have a brilliant day sharing your and their pride in your achievements together. Days like today need to be treasured.'

Professor Henderson added: 'We keep proving that with belief and hard work, anything is possible. If you cramp your ambitions you’ll only constrain your achievements.

'Throughout our 83 year history we’ve had a lot of ‘finest hours’, not least when we became the first and still the only modern University to be named University of the Year. Last week we received another amazing accolade when it was announced we’d won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize.

'Later this week we’ll also learn if we’ve received another national award, one for which we’ve been shortlisted twice in the last four years, namely to be acknowledged as the most Entrepreneurial University in the UK.'

He also pointed out other recent high points for the University, which include

• extending the University’s partnership with further education across the region • national recognition as a University which plays a major role in economic development and Secretary of State Dr Vince Cable’s acknowledgement that º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is a University doing great things in its work with business • construction of a new £20m building next to the library • the recent announcement that the University will take over the running of mima.

He also paid tribute to Sandy Anderson, Chairman of the University’s Board of Governors, who retires in the New Year.

Professor Henderson said: 'He retires after 15 years as a board member and nine years as chairman, having attended every single one of the University’s graduation ceremonies. His contribution has been truly immense and I really couldn’t let the day pass without just saying a huge thank you to him from everyone who has been involved with our University over the last 15 years.'

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