Graduation address: Tuesday 14 June afternoon ceremony
Graduation address by Professor Stephen Gethins, School of International Relations
Vice-Chancellor, colleagues, graduates and special guests; it is my great pleasure and privilege to address our new graduates and honorary graduate today.
This graduation ceremony presents an opportunity for us, at the University, to join with friends and family to mark your hard work and achievements as we celebrate with you. So firstly, well done!
There is added poignancy in our celebration this year. This is our first summer graduation since 2019 and well over two years since the pandemic claimed its first victims and lockdowns touched us all. I know that many of you will be thinking about the impact that this has had.
The uniquely difficult circumstances each of you has overcome to be here, makes today even more special.
Graduations provide the briefest of pauses before you head out to make your mark on the world as generations of graduates from this University have done in the past – and will do in the future.
For centuries, the world has benefited and been enhanced by the insights, expertise and innovation provided by graduates of this University. I am confident that you will prove no different.
It is a world badly in need of your ideas and fresh thinking as we face significant challenges that will shape the lives of generations to come.
This is a time of unique challenges but also one of unique opportunities.
The pandemic has been devastating for lives, livelihoods, physical and mental wellbeing. Whilst acknowledging that, we also need to take the chance to look at what can be learnt from these past two years – especially tackling unfairness and inequality including new disparities that have emerged.
Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine also tells us that peace and security can never be taken for granted. The war has brought devastation to Europe, and touched friends and colleagues here at the University, just as war has done elsewhere such as Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and too many other places. From the ashes of conflict, we have the opportunity to revisit what it means to build security, dignity and prosperity for everyone.
And we must not lose sight of the work that needs done to tackle the climate emergency and living with its consequences. That means innovations and learning to do things better. A mammoth challenge, yes, but also significant opportunity.
Like those who have gone before facing up to these issues, and more besides, will rely on you and your ideas in building a better world.
Making that a reality will depend on you being able to debate what is best in a spirit of respect and productivity. That is and has always been the best way to make progress.
I often get frustrated with the remark be it in person or during an online debate that ‘I disagree with almost everything you believe in but…’
In fact, for those of us who believe in democratic values, respect for one another and the spirit of friendly debate then our values give us far more in common than we sometimes concede.
So, where we do disagree then we must do so with respect, for it is through productive debate and discussion and seeking to understand different perspectives that we may learn and ensure good ideas become better.
If we agreed all the time then not only would we fail in our duty to make progress, but frankly life would be pretty dull.
Remember wherever you go and whatever you do you will always be welcome and have a home here.
Remember too that we are relying on you to build a world that meets today’s challenges of war, inequality and environmental degradation. I know that you will be up for meeting those challenges and finding opportunities.
Congratulations and I look forward to reading about everything you have achieved in the years to come.