I have just come from the 2011 graduation ceremony for postgraduate students both in the Physics Department and other Departments in our Faculty (Computing, Maths and the Engineering Departments). I think it was over 300 students getting their Master and PhD degrees, including a PhD student of mine.

The (now ex-) students came with their parents, sisters and brothers, children, partners etc, and it is a happy occasion where we all celebrate their achievements. Academics like me are proud of the students who have worked so hard and learnt so much in their time at Surrey.

It satisfying to think of people going out into the world and applying the skills that you have helped them to learn. Many of them already have good jobs where they are using these skills, and which the degree helped them to get. But as the University’s Chancellor, the Duke of Kent, said in a brief speech at the end, hopefully this is not all, hopefully they are more thoughtful, and happier people as well.