Conferral of an Honorary Doctorate for His Majesty by UEL

Conferral of an Honorary Doctorate of Education for His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti, by the University of East London 3 September 2018 Level39, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf

A message from Shabir Randeree Chancellor of the University of East London It is my huge privilege to be able to confer His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti, an honorary Doctorate of Education. What is clear is that education is at the heart of His Majesty’s raison d’etre, something which he has made his life’s work, and a passion which seems to increase with every passing year.

It is only fitting that we, the University of East London, the people’s university, should be the place to recognise his achievements.

We are a richly diverse university, with more than 135 different nationalities represented on campus, and in the time I have been here, it has proven to be a very vibrant educational community.

On occasions like this, I remember fondly my old friend and predecessor, the late Lord Noon, who said, “If you can make a change to the life of just one child in your lifetime, you will have been a success.” His words were incredibly inspiring and have had a huge influence on me.

So today’s historic signing of a memorandum of understanding with His Majesty, UEL, Mace and Youth Charter is prescient, apposite and legacy building. It will cement a relationship which will benefit the next generation of UEL students and the next generation of His Majesty’s subjects.

Ghana is seen as a role model in Africa, and according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation it remains one of the most important democracies in the continent. Today, we will see these words embodied by a leader of immense foresight, and I congratulate him for everything he has done, continues to do and will carry on doing in years to come.

Shabir Randeree CBE Chancellor of the University of East London

A message from Geoff Thompson Chair of the Board of Governors at UEL As a university that is deeply committed to widening access to education and providing life-changing opportunities for students from all backgrounds, it is fitting that we should be honouring the achievements of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti, today.

Since ascending to the ‘Gold Stool’ in 1999, his unwavering support for education as an instrument of societal development and social mobility has transformed the lives of communities and individuals in his kingdom and throughout Ghana.

His charitable foundation has awarded thousands of scholarships to young people, while hundreds of schools have benefited from infrastructural programmes and new equipment such as computers, books and school uniforms.

Under his leadership, the foundation has also placed an emphasis on the education of girls, ensuring that the opportunities to achieve a better life are spread fairly and equitably.

Working with the Ghanaian government, he has helped to raise teaching standards, particularly in deprived rural areas, by providing incentive packages to reward deserving teachers.

Even when pupils have completed their school education, the foundation has continued to provide support by offering opportunities for students to study abroad for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

The success of Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s educational development programme has become a benchmark of good practice for the rest of Africa, underlining the power of education to modernise society and address the challenges of our times.

As Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

May I take this opportunity to congratulate Otumfuo Osei Tutu on his vision and determination and offer our support as a university in continuing his excellent work.

Geoff Thompson MBE DL FRSA Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of East London

A message from Professor Amanda Broderick Vice-Chancellor & President Designate of the University of East London I welcome all our colleagues and guests today on behalf of the University of East London to recognise and celebrate the contribution of an important friend of the University, His Majesty Otumguo Osei Tutu II, King of Ashanti.

On the 10th of September 2018, I will have the privilege of becoming Vice-Chancellor and President of one of the most diverse and vibrant educational institutions in London and I am delighted that my tenure commences following the conferment of an honorary degree for His Majesty’s contribution to education and society.

UEL is an incredible institution: realising the potential of a diverse range of learners; developing and fostering talent to engage successfully in the 4th Industrial Revolution; supporting East London’s regeneration; and advancing knowledge and discovering solutions across a range of research priorities.

The University of East London’s diversity provides it with an amazing ability to be an agent of positive change, to find solutions to the challenges of our communities and to make a significant contribution in economic and social regeneration. Our relationships will be particularly important as we seek to achieve these goals.

His Majesty has publically spoken about the role we all have in the development of education: highlighting the importance of developing the knowledge, character and skills of learners to become competitive in the global job market. The commitment to expanding the ‘Mental Wealth’ of learners is central to University of East London. I believe that, working together, His Majesty and the University of East London can: widen access to education in the UK and Ghana; provide unique opportunities to learners in both countries; build business; and connect communities.

I invite His Majesty, and all the University’s partners and friends here today, to join me in this pioneering journey as we focus on developing the ability of individuals, industries and communities to make a positive difference in life.

Professor Amanda Broderick Vice-Chancellor & President Designate of the University of East London

His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti, ascended to the ‘Gold Stool’ on 16 April 1999.

As a leader, his commitment to bettering the lives of Ghanaians has been unflagging.

Born in 1950 in Ghana, His Majesty studied for two years at the Institute of Professional Studies in Legon, Ghana. He then moved to the UK to attend Kilburn Polytechnic, now the University of North London.

His Majesty spent the ensuing years employed by organisations including Brent Council in London. In 1989, he moved back to Ghana, where he founded his own business, Transpomech International Ltd. In 1999 he became the sixteenth occupant of the Gold Stool, and thereafter created foundations to help people throughout Ghana. His programmes have focused particularly on education, health, poverty, conflict resolution and the development of traditional leaders.

His Otumfuo Educational Fund has provided scholarships to tens of thousands of Ghanaian students. The foundation has also provided money to schools, allowing for new classrooms and furniture, housing for teachers, computers, books, and school uniforms.

The foundation has placed a special emphasis on the education of girls, ensuring that the opportunities to achieve a better life are spread fairly and equitably.

In 2009, His Majesty founded the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The great success of the Otumfuo Charitable Foundation has set a new benchmark for chiefs and the institution of chieftaincy— for Ghana, in particular, and all of Africa.

His Asantehene Health Fund works to enhance access to good quality and sustained healthcare services for vulnerable populations, reduce infant and maternal mortality rates, and to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

This tremendous work has been recognised by institutions around the world ranging from Harvard University in the United States to the Association of Commonwealth Universities. His Majesty has been the Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumase since 2006.

Order of Conferral 17:00 Guests arrive 17:30 Procession enters 17:35 Welcome message by UEL Chair of the Board

of Governors, Geoff Thompson MBE 17:40 Introduction to His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,

King of the Ashanti, by European Head of Ashanti

Investment Trust, Evans Amoah-Nyamekye 17:45 UEL Vice-Chancellor Designate,

Professor Amanda Broderick 17:50 Head of Aviation at Mace, Carl Dainter 17:55 Honorary citation by

UEL Acting Vice-Chancellor, Dean Curtis 18:00 Honorary conferral by UEL Chancellor,

Shabir Randeree CBE 18:02 Honorary acceptance speech by His Majesty

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti 18:10 Memorandum of Understanding signed by

HRM’s office, UEL, Youth Charter and Mace 18:15 Ceremony closed by UEL Chair of the Board

of Governors, Geoff Thompson MBE

91%

About the University of East London The University of East London is an open and inclusive university that is transforming people’s lives by developing their skills and unlocking their potential.

The University’s 17,000 students are drawn from 135 different nationalities. It occupies two campuses in vibrant east London, one in the Royal Docks area and one in Stratford.

The University is committed to community engagement and to improving social mobility by widening access to higher education.

More than 50 per cent of students are mature at the point of entry and almost two-thirds are from BAME backgrounds.

UEL offers more than 300 undergraduate and postgraduate courses and a broad range of research opportunities through its three colleges: the College of Arts, Technology and Innovation; the College of Professional Services; and the College of Applied Health and Communities.

UEL is one of the country’s leading modern universities for research. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (a national peer review of higher education research), 94 per cent of the University’s research was officially classified as at ‘internationally recognised’ or better. Of this, 62 per cent was rated ‘internationally excellent’ or better and 17 per cent was judged to be ‘world-leading’.

In the 2018 National Student Survey, UEL rose 23 places in the national league table for overall student satisfaction and now sits in the top third of the table. Its score of 85 per cent ‘overall satisfaction’ was the highest rating of any modern university in London.

With thanks to: The Office of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Mace Youth Charter Canary Wharf Group

91% of UEL graduates were in employment or further study within six months of graduating

Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (2016-17) – HESA methodology

1

ST

Most improved university in the UK over the past decade for the quality of its student experience 2018 Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey

19

19 places climed in the 2019 Guardian University Guide league table – one of the UK’s biggest movers Guardian University Guide 2019 (all subjects)

1

ST

UEL has the happiest students of any modern university in London according to the 2018 National Student survey (NSS overall satisfaction league table)

Stay Connected facebook.com/universityofeastlondon @UEL_News universityofeastlondon university-of-east-london youtube.com/videouel

Docklands Campus University Way London E16 2RD United Kingdom

Stratford Campus Water Lane London E15 4LZ United Kingdom

University Square 1 Salway Road London E15 1NF United Kingdom

uel.ac.uk