University News Last updated 27 July 2023
Clare Short, former Labour Member of Parliament and the first ever International Development Secretary, tasked Birmingham City University (BCU) graduating students with “re-shaping the world” as she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University.
Conferred with the honour by BCU’s Chancellor Sir Lenny Henry, Ms Short addressed the hundreds of graduating students inside Birmingham’s Symphony Hall (Tuesday 25 July), labelling them a “precious generation” and challenging them to combat the twin threat of climate change and ecological collapse.
Remembered by many in the city as the MP for her home constituency Birmingham Ladywood - a position she held from 1983 to 2010 – Ms Short devoted her career to tackling issues of justice and equality.
She occupied several roles in the Labour cabinet, including Shadow Minister for Women from 1993-1995 and Shadow Transport Secretary from 1995-1996, before being appointed Secretary of State for International Development following Labour’s 1997 election win.
Following her retirement from Parliament in 2010, Short remains passionate about better management of urbanisation and improving the lives of slum-dwellers while also promoting transparency in the oil, gas, and mining industries.
BCU Summer Graduations take place at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall until Friday 28 July.
Students from across all four BCU faculties – Arts, Design and Media; Business, Law, and Social Sciences; Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment; and Health, Education, and Life Sciences - will take to the stage to receive their awards.