Local Member of Parliament, Sir Vince Cable officially opened the new Doctoral College at St Mary’s University, Twickenham on Friday 8th December.
At a ceremony hosted in the new Doctoral College at 99 Waldegrave Road, research students, guests and research- active academics were able to network and visit the new facility. The day continued with a presentation competition with professors presenting their work and the presentation skills being judged by the PhD students.
Speeches were given by Sir Vince Cable, who is also a Visiting Professor at the University, Rt Hon Ruth Kelly, St Mary’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, and Prof Philip Booth, St Mary’s Director of Research and Public Engagement
All research degree students at St Mary’s are part of the Doctoral College which provides study facilities for all research degree students.
Speaking of the Doctoral College Prof Philip Booth said, “We want to give all students the opportunity to collaborate, work together and share best practice across disciplines. We hope that the new Doctoral College will become a core part of the research student experience at St Mary’s.”
Rt Hon Ruth Kelly commented: “The PhD programme has grown enormously in recent years across a range of disciplines including sport and health sciences, education and theology. The development of the professional doctorate in education has also been an important development which is hugely valued by people working in the sector. We look forward to continued growth in the postgraduate research degree programmes.”