Students and guests from more than 100 countries are gathering today for Imperial College London's 2013 Postgraduate Graduation Ceremonies.

In the largest graduation event for postgraduates in the College’s history, 2,600 graduands will receive their degrees in front of 5,000 friends, family and supporters, over three ceremonies in the Royal Albert Hall. 

Alongside the postgraduates, honorary doctorates will be conferred on renowned industrialist Sir John Parker, pioneering engineer Professor Dame Ann Dowling, leader in higher education and statistics Professor Sir Adrian Smith and distinguished mathematician Professor Tim Pedley, all for demonstrating outstanding merit and leadership in their fields. 

As the ceremonies conclude, the new graduates who comprise an exceptional international community of scholarship and outstanding talent, will join an international network of 170,000 alumni, supported by more than 50 alumni associations worldwide. 

President & Rector Sir Keith O’Nions will tell the graduands:

“You are now building your professional careers after an intense period of globalisation. On the back of this liberalisation of global trade and investment, there is a huge increase in the globally mobile student population and mobility of graduates and postgraduates upon employment. There is a global competition for your talents.

“Our alumni, who are very much part of Imperial College, have created Imperial as a global university, with a global brand, and also so generously support many studying and researching here today.  You will meet them on your travels and will undoubtedly be inspired by them, as you in turn will inspire those that follow.  

“As individuals you might think that your own efforts are a mere ‘drop in the ocean’, but the impact that 2600 of you graduating today will have on the world will be enormous.”

At the ceremonies, Imperial College Medals will be awarded to three people who have made an exceptional contribution to the College. Those being recognised are: economist and former Principal of Imperial College Business School Professor David Begg; alumnus and chairman of the Friends of Imperial College Roderick Rhys Jones (Civil Engineering, 1964); and founder of the Pimlico Connection student-pupil mentoring programme Emeritus Professor Sinclair Goodlad. Imperial College Medals are only awarded to people who have rendered outstanding service to the College. 

Rector’s Medals will be presented to:

• Dr Mick Jones from the Department of Medicine for excellence in pastoral care;
• Fionnuala Ni Dhonnabhain from the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering for supporting the student experience;
• Dr Daniele Dini from the Department of Mechanical Engineering for excellence in research supervision;
• Professor Sir John Pendry from the Department of Physics for excellence in research supervision;
• Professor Adrian Sutton from the Department of Physics for outstanding innovation in teaching.