UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis visited the University of Buckingham on July 31 to receive an Honorary Doctorate degree for International Studies. The ceremony was conducted in front of his team and university staff in the garden of Ondaatje Hall. He later joined Vice-Chancellors and University staff for a lunch.
The ceremony was conducted by Vice-Chancellor James Tooley wearing graduation ceremony robes. In his speech, Francis explained that in previous studies he attained a Masters degree, before returning to his home country. He said he had always wanted to achieve a Doctorate degree.
Those also in attendance included Mark Seddon, Director, Centre for UN Studies and Social Sciences Director, Prof Julian Richards.
The President had previously studied geography at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. He then studied International relations at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
He is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, and took on the role of President of the United Nations in September 2023.
With his term set to end in September 2024, the Doctorate Degree had to be awarded with little planning, making sure he received the degree whilst still in his presidency.
He tweeted to say he was “honored to have been admitted to the degree of Doctor of International Studies, Honoris Causa from The University of Buckingham, UK.
“Grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a distinguished institution.”
