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CITE students make the grade

Wednesday 17 November 2010

CITE Students Graduate

Graduates from the School of Computing, Information Technology and Engineering (CITE) have become the latest UEL students to celebrate academic success.

Nearly 750 students packed into the Barbican Centre in central London on Tuesday (16), where they were each personally congratulated by Mark Stephens, Chair of the board of governors at UEL.

The event – which was once again streamed live on-line – also saw a number of dignitaries, including England footballing legend Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, being conferred with honorary degrees and doctorates from the university.

Sir Geoff – who remains the only footballer to have scored a hat-trick in a world cup final – was awarded an honorary degree conferring upon him the status of Master of the Arts.

Sir Geoff told the audience: "Teachers and parents are there to guide and support you, but it is ultimately up to you to shape your lives and decide your own future."

He added: “I wasn’t a top class footballer as a boy, but I was consistent, took my studies seriously and worked hard. While you should enjoy today, you should remember it’s just the beginning, and you will need to continue to work hard.”

Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe, and former London Docklands Development Corporation Director Sunny Crouch OBE, were conferred with Honorary Doctorates in Law and Business Administration respectively.

CITE school has been voted the 5th best school for Civil Engineering among UK universities by the Guardian newspaper, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Patrick McGhee said: "We are preparing our students for the challenges of future employment, equipping them with the tools to compete in an ever changing world, and we remain committed to employability and enterprise. I congratulate you all and wish you well."

Quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Stephens told graduates: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

The vote of thanks was given by BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering graduate Kinga Owczarek. Praising her tutors she said: "At UEL I felt inspired. I wasn’t just treated as a student but as an individual. Our tutors have given us the tools to begin our journey, and I am very happy to be starting this journey with my fellow graduates today."

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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