University of Edinburgh confer honorary degrees on European research and education trailblazers and guardians
18 July 2018
Among the many honorary degrees conferred this year, some European highlights were:
- On Monday 2 July 2018 Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, the President of the European Research Council, was conferred a Honoris Causa, and the following day, Professor Michael Ignatieff, President and Rector of the Central European University received his Doctor of Science award in Social Sciences from Principal Peter Mathieson.
In his letter to Prof. Ignatieff, former Principal Sir Timothy O’Shea wrote: “The Senatus Academicus of this University has resolved to invite you to be admitted to the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in Social Science for your championship of liberal values as an academic, writer, and journalist”.
Rector and President Michael Ignatieff (Photo: University of Edinburgh)
- The founding fathers of the Erasmus Programme were also honoured, on 7 July Alan Smith, the former Director of the Erasmus Bureau was awarded a Honoris Causa, and the following Monday, 9 July, Dr Hywel Ceri Jones, the former Director of the Task Force Education and Training, now Directorate-General Education and Culture, received his Honoris Causa from Principal Peter Mathieson.
See also Vice-Principal Charlie Jeffery’s introduction to “Europe Day 2018”, which includes a reference to the honorary degrees to be conferred on Alan Smith and Hywel Ceri Jones.
Click here for a full overview of the 2018 honorary degrees conferred by the University of Edinburgh.