The Class of 2020 were invited to attend virtual events to celebrate what they have accomplished in such extraordinary circumstances.
Date: 30 July 2020
London Met hosted a series of virtual celebration events for graduating students, which took place on 28 and 29 July.
Students who have recently completed their courses were invited to the special one-hour events, which featured video messages from Vice-Chancellor Professor Lynn Dobbs, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Donna Whitehead and a number of special guests and alumni including drummer from the Libertines, Gary Powell; actress Maime Mccoy; Fiyaz Mughal OBE, founder and director of Faith Matters; Kevin Coleman, Equality & Diversity Manager at The Football Association; and Ben Harrison, Head of Aerodrome Operations at London City Airport.
London Met is one of the most inclusive and diverse institutions in the country, and this year’s graduate cohort reflects that. In total, over 2000 students from over 102 different countries are celebrating the completion of their studies.
These events are not designed to replace graduation ceremonies, which anyone who has achieved the fantastic feat of gaining a qualification deserves to experience in-person - these will hopefully be able to go ahead at the Barbican as usual in 2021.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Lynn Dobbs spoke to the graduating class, saying: “You are a unique group of students. Many of you have overcome considerable challenges to make it to the end of your course and just as the end was in sight you have had to contend with a global pandemic.
“You started your course in the old normal and you will end it in the new normal. Our graduates have gone on to be leading figures in policymaking, business, finance, the creative arts, architecture and industry - as a London Met graduate, you will play an important role in the recovery of the country. We have every faith that you will achieve great things and do your University proud. I feel very privileged to lead this great University, and I am so proud of each one of you.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Donna Whitehead invited students to take heed to the words of Barack Obama – “If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.”
She added that “it’s been a year like no other at London Met, and you are a unique group of graduates. I hope you are as proud of yourselves as we are for what you have accomplished in such extraordinary circumstances.”
