University of Limerick president Professor Kerstin Mey has urged the latest batch of students to graduate to be ‘future changemakers’.
More than 1,900 students, including 77 PhDs, are graduating from University of Limerick this week for the 2024 Winter Conferring.
Over three days of ceremonies, students will be conferred with their degrees from Kemmy Business School, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering and Interfaculty Programmes.
Speaking to the graduates, who join an alumni body of over 125,000 worldwide, President Professor Kerstin Mey said: “As President of this great institution, I stand here with immense pride and joy, knowing that each of you has overcome challenges, embraced opportunities, and triumph through your academic pursuits at University of Limerick.
“This is no mean feat. Many of you have juggled personal and family lives in the pursuit of an academic qualification linked to your careers and advancing them in the workplace.
“All of you have reached a point in your lives where your own sense of pride in completing this journey has reached a new height.
“This ceremony is not just a recognition of your academic accomplishments, but a celebration of resilience, dedication, and the indomitable spirit that defines our university community.
“Your time here has been a continuous journey of intellectual growth, personal development, and the pursuit of knowledge.”
Professor Mey noted the challenges facing not only the newly minted graduate students, but those on a global scale.
“You might ask yourself what these global challenges have to do with you, now, here in this moment.
“But I will say that you are the future changemakers empowered to bring about radical and overwhelming change from even the smallest contribution to society.
“These challenges are interconnected and addressing them requires a collective and collaborative effort on a global scale. We are global citizens, and it is our responsibility to be part of the response.
“Graduates, as you embark on your respective journeys, consider how your skills, knowledge, and values can contribute to solutions that promote a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.
“Our University of Limerick community believes in your ability to make a positive impact in the face of these challenges.
“We stand at a crossroads where the choices we make will influence the course of history. In the face of global uncertainty, we must champion democratic values, uphold human rights, and stand in solidarity with those affected by terrorism and caught in the throes of military conflicts worldwide.”