Clive Myrie

Chris Hughton, manager of Brighton & Hove Albion

The University of Sussex will celebrate the achievements of its postgraduate population this week at the upcoming Winter Graduation ceremony (Thursday 24 and Friday 25 January).

Over the course of six ceremonies, 1,610 students, mainly at Masters and PhD level, will be awarded degrees and diplomas in person, presented by the Chancellor, actor and comedian, Sanjeev Bhaskar at the Brighton Centre.

In total, just under 3,000 students from over 100 countries will receive awards.

The University will be recognising both the academic and the extra-curricular achievements of its students, highlighting a number of case studies where individuals have made a real difference to their peers or in the community.

These include:

• Alinery Lianhlawng, who graduates with a Masters in Business Administration and has pioneered a venture to create school libraries for marginalised communities in her home state in India
• Alice Skelton, who graduates with a Psychology doctorate in infant colour perception, and has helped researchers to understand how babies’ brains develop, and how much they are capable of from as young as four months
• Edward Bains, who graduates with a Masters in Journalism and Documentary Practice, having gained experience as a Digital Media Guru before landing a job as a video editor
• Josh De Witt, who graduates with a BSc with a placement year in Mechanical Engineering, and has won awards for a revolutionary fast-charging electric car battery concept

Adam Tickell, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “The University of Sussex is an institution with a proud history of developing inquisitive minds. Minds from all walks of life who, through sheer determination and unbounded spirit, will use their immense talent to go out and affect real change in their communities.

“Community - it’s a powerful word. One that has a different meaning to many different people. For me, it is about shared sense of meaning, the ability to a look out into the world and decide what we can do together to change it for the better.

“This year’s graduates from the University of Sussex are the embodiment of this and I wish them every success for their futures.”

The University will also be continuing with a five-decade tradition of awarding honorary degrees. These will be presented to Brighton and Hove Albion FC manager Chris Hughton  and BBC broadcaster and Sussex alumnus Clive Myrie on Thursday (24 January).

Both individuals have contributed significantly to the local community and, despite the barriers faced, have gone on to achieve considerable success in their fields, inspiring others from diverse backgrounds to chase their dreams.