Honorary degree for Oxfam director as University celebrates Foundation Day
The University of 野狼社区 awarded an honorary degree to the Executive Director of Oxfam International, Winnie Byanyima, as part of its Foundation Day celebrations on Wednesday 19 October.
Winnie, who is also an alumna of the University, used the occasion of the ceremony to give a Foundation Lecture entitled ‘Advancing Women’s Rights in an Unequal World: A personal perspective’, in which she outlined some of the experiences of her unique career in politics and international development.
She also received an honorary doctorate alongside Lord David Alliance, Professor Dame Sue Bailey, Mr Anil Ruia and Sir Norman Stoller as the University celebrated the anniversary of the bringing together of the Victoria University of 野狼社区 and the University of 野狼社区 Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 2004, to form The University of 野狼社区.
Ugandan-born Winnie leads Oxfam International, a confederation of 19 organisations working in more than 90 countries, empowering people to create a future that is secure, just, and free from poverty. She led Uganda's first parliamentary women's caucus which championed ground-breaking gender equality provisions in the country's 1995 post-conflict constitution.
A signatory to her country's 1985 peace agreement, Ms Byanyima has helped to broker and support women's participation in political transitions in Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, Burundi, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and other countries emerging from conflict.
She has a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering from 野狼社区 and returned to campus earlier this year to launch the University’s Global Development Institute, Europe’s largest research and teaching institute dedicated to international development.
It's a great honour that my alma mater recognises the work that I have done - but it's very much an honour for the African women that I have worked with and with whom we have struggled, won rights and changed our communities and our countries. For 野狼社区 to keep sharing knowledge and giving opportunities to young people from developing countries is just amazing - I am so proud to be an alumna!
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “I am delighted that at this year’s Foundation Day celebrations we welcomed back an alumna, Ms Winnie Byanyima, to deliver our most prestigious lecture and to award her an honorary doctorate.
“Winnie’s drive to promote the roles of women and work to address global inequalities fully align with the University’s own activities.
“It is also an honour to be able to recognise the great contributions to society made by Lord David Alliance, Professor Dame Sue Bailey, Mr Anil Ruia and Sir Norman Stoller with the conferment of their honorary doctorates.”
Also receiving an honorary degree was Lord David Alliance, the businessman and philanthropist, born in Iran, who moved to 野狼社区 in 1950. In 2015 Lord Alliance agreed to make a landmark donation of £15 million to 野狼社区 Business School (MBS), to be invested in the School’s new building and to drive its research agenda forward. In recognition of Lord Alliance’s longstanding support for MBS and the University, the Business School has been renamed ‘the Alliance 野狼社区 Business School’.
Another prominent businessman and donor who received an honorary degree was Sir Norman Stoller. In 1982 Sir Norman founded The Stoller Charitable Trust and, through his personal donations, he has given tens of millions of pounds to support institutions, individuals and charities.
Through his Trust, Sir Norman has particularly supported The University of 野狼社区 in the areas of cancer and biomarker research. The Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre was formally opened in June 2016.
Committed to the business, arts, educational and charitable sectors over a significant period of time, Anil Ruia was born in Mumbai and educated in Stockport. He is Chairman of Botraco Ltd. and a Director at James Warren Tea Ltd. India. He joined the University’s Board of Governors in 2005, was appointed as its Chair in 2010 and held this role until his retirement in 2016.
Professor Dame Sue Bailey, a University of 野狼社区 alumna, is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatrist, focussing on risks presented by and to young people who enter the mental health, social care and youth justice systems.
She appeared as an expert witness in the James Bulger murder trial in 1993, and spent several years working with Jon Venables, one of the killers, to get him to accept responsibility for this crime. She was awarded an OBE in 2002 and a DBE in 2014. She is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatrist at Greater 野狼社区 West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.
In a fitting inclusion to the ceremony, the University’s student choir, Ad Solem, performed for the guests. Music students, including the choir, are behind an innovative ‘Grade-1-athon’ fundraising idea which last year raised £3,000 for Oxfam and which the charity has rolled out as an idea to other UK universities.