Russian honour for St Andrews Principal

The Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, Professor Louise Richardson, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by leading Russian university MGIMO at a ceremony in Moscow.

After the award, Professor Richardson addressed MGIMO students and academics on contemporary terrorism in a Doctorate lecture entitled ‘Terrorism – what have we learned?’.

The ceremony in Moscow on November 11 was opened by MGIMO Rector, Anatoly Torkunov, who introduced Professor Richardson, and noted her background in the study of International Security and Terrorism, and her academic background, which includes Harvard University, University of California, Los Angeles, and Trinity College, Dublin, and saw her appointed the first female Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of St Andrews in 2009.

Under her stewardship, ties between the University of St Andrews and MGIMO have strengthened with the development of the double-diploma Master Programs in Sustainable Development and Strategic Energy Sector Management.

Honorary Doctorates are awarded by MGIMO to outstanding international state, political and public figures, diplomats, and also scientists working in the field of the international relations and foreign policy.

Recent recipients have included Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority.

The MGIMO Rector noted that the Academic Council of MGIMO had bestowed the Honorary Doctorate on Professor Richardson for her “landmark contribution” to strengthening global security ties and advancing democratic values.

Professor Richardson’s Russian hosts played the Gaudeamus in her honour before Anatoly Torkunov handed her the diploma and cloak of the Honorary Doctorate.

Professor Richardson thanked MGIMO for the great honour, noting the international renown of MGIMO, before commencing the Doctorate lecture examining the terrorist threats facing mankind.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

MGIMO is amongst Russia’s pre-eminent universities and regarded as its leading humanities institution. MGIMO’s diverse student body of 6,000 is drawn from the top ranks of Russian students and from partner universities around the world. MGIMO offers a broad range of courses at undergraduate and graduate levels — from international affairs, political science, economics, and international law, to journalism, business management, and energy policy. International undergraduates can apply for a fully English-taught B.A. program or choose from challenging and exciting courses in Russian. Students seeking a Master degree can apply for one of MGIMO’s groundbreaking double-degree programs, offered in partnership with international institutions, or seek a place in one of more than thirty MA programs taught in Russian.

Its reputation and academic status mean that MGIMO consistently ranks highly in university ratings. Its research is extended globally through collaborations with leading research institutes in Russia, CIS countries, and around the world. Under the umbrella of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MGIMO is an esteemed policy think-tank and forum for debate and analysis of international developments and current affairs, with its contributions to global analysis highly sought after.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Press Office
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