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UEL Vice-Chancellor celebrates academic excellence and enterprise at Inauguration

Monday 26 April 2010

Professor Patrick McGhee and Bianca Jagger

The University of East London Vice Chancellor, Professor Patrick McGhee, was inaugurated at a formal ceremony held at UEL’s Docklands campus Friday with special guest Bianca Jagger, President of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation.

Opened by Mark Stephens, UEL’s Chair of the Board of Governors, Professor McGhee was also joined by the Chancellor of the university, Lord Rix, and an academic procession that included the Deans of the Schools and Governors.

Mark Stephens, a senior member of the law firm, Finers Stephens Innocent, and a distinguished media lawyer, welcomed guests and opened the ceremony by sharing the history of UEL, including his time as a former Law student there in the 1980s.

In his speech, Lord Rix invited Professor McGhee to accept the formal invitation to lead the University of East London as Vice-Chancellor and to promote the mission of the university and its role in assisting the educational, cultural and economic development of East London.

Professor McGhee said: "I’m delighted and honoured to be taking up this position. UEL has huge opportunities ahead and the diversity of our student community and the commitment of our staff to innovation is a particular source of ambition and dynamism."

"There is no doubt that the sector faces challenging times, but at UEL we face those challenges with confidence, given our academic and financial strength, the energy and talent of our staff, the drive and aspirations of our students, and our unique location."

After the ceremony, the procession exited to the sounds of Liquid Strings Gospel Choir, a 16-piece group from London, for refreshments at Aqua East, the Students' Union bar.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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