Celebrating Open Universities

Abstract

Vardhaman Mahaveer Kota Open University, 3rd Convocation, 10 January 2007, Celebrating Open Universities, Remarks by Sir John Daniel on the conferment of the honorary degree, Doctor of Letters honoris causa // I congratulate the graduates and I thank you for making me an honorary doctor of Vardhaman Mahaveer Kota Open University. I am proud to become a member of your academic community. // University convocations are enjoyable events. I estimate that I have taken part in 150 such ceremonies. At the UK Open University I shook hands and talked to some 50,000 graduates as they were presented for their degrees. // For me today's convocation is an anniversary and a double milestone. 2007 marks the 35th anniversary of my involvement with open universities. It was in 1972 that I went to the British Open University as an intern, had a conversion experience and re-oriented my career to advance the concept of open universities.