>> 返回2013届毕业典礼专题

JOINT PROGRAMME GRADUATION

June 2013

As Principal of Queen Mary University of London, I should like to join President Fang in welcoming you to this ceremony on behalf of all my Queen Mary colleagues.

We are here today for a special and unique occasion - to mark the achievements of the 2013 graduates of the Joint Degree Programmes taught here in Beijing in partnership between BUPT and Queen Mary.

Those achievements are worthy of celebration by your families and your teachers as well as yourselves, and by our two partner institutions.

As you know, the degrees that you are about to be awarded are themselves unique, with very distinctive features.

When launched in 2004, the BUPT/Queen Mary degrees were the first joint programmes in China to be offered in cooperation between a top Chinese university and a top British university and offering a degree awarded by both universities.

The principle behind this programme is very simple – that by putting together the best of both Chinese and British higher education we provide an educational experience of unique quality.

The Joint Degrees were the first of their kind to be approved by the Ministry of Education here in China.

And they were the first to be accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the leading UK engineering professional accreditation body.

Graduates from the Joint Programme have been high achievers – and this year’s graduating students are no exception.

Of the 458 students who graduate this year with dual awards, more than 80% are progressing to study for higher degrees, almost 70% outside China at some of the world’s leading universities.

We will be welcoming to Queen Mary in London, Joint Programme graduates who include 5 recipients of China Scholarship Council awards.

Now that you have reached the end of your studies here, you are awarded degrees from both BUPT and the University of London.

Our two universities are recognised around the world for the excellence of their teaching and research.

As graduates of the Joint Programme, you now have an unusual and powerful combination of skills to offer your country and the world. You are equipped with excellent scientific and technological knowledge.

But you also have a greater international understanding, and an appreciation of the application of technology in global industry and business.

This combination of skills is in very short supply in the world today, but is absolutely essential to the future of not just the Chinese but the world economy.

I am confident that you will make a very important contribution to the future development of China’s economy and society, and that you will bring to your future career a global view that will further international relations.

While you have been studying for your degrees, you have been students not only of BUPT and of Queen Mary, but also of the University of London.

You have already attended the BUPT degree award ceremony.

At this ceremony today you will receive your University of London degree.

As you know, Queen Mary is one of the leading colleges of the Federal University of London.

The University of London is one of the largest and most powerful universities, not just in the UK and Europe, but in the world.

It has over 120,000 students and has graduates around the world numbering over a million.

Wherever you go, you will find University of London graduates in important positions in industry and business, in government, in science and in the engineering, medical and legal professions.

The degree that you are awarded today is exactly the same as the degree held by University of London alumni the world over.

It is a degree universally recognised and respected and it will open many doors to you in your future careers.

You have also today become graduates and alumni of Queen Mary, which has created its own reputation as an autonomous institution of excellence.

In the UK, Queen Mary is in the very top group of universities, ranked 11th in the country in the Government Research Assessment Exercise, with several departments being ranked first in the UK.

Last year, Queen Mary was invited to join the Russell Group of elite universities. The Russell Group in the UK is the equivalent of the 985 universities here in China and we are very proud that the stature and achievements of Queen Mary have been recognised in this way.

Since its foundation 125 years ago, Queen Mary has produced many distinguished graduates.

In graduating today you join a worldwide network of Queen Mary alumni.

Our alumni office will keep in touch with you in the coming years to help you make the most of your membership of the Queen Mary community.

Today is, above all, about you as individuals and your achievements, of which we are very proud.

You have worked hard for your degrees and you deserve your success.

But remember to thank your parents, family and friends, many of whom are with you today, who have supported you and encouraged you through the years of study.

I should also like you to join with me in thanking our friends and colleagues at BUPT for their dedication in ensuring that our Joint Programmes have been such a success.

I also thank colleagues in the Ministry of Education here in Beijing and in the British Embassy and the British Council for their continuing support.

>> 返回2013届毕业典礼专题