Brenda Gourley awarded an honorary doctorate by the UOC
The ceremony to award Brenda Gourley an honorary doctorate was held on 24 February. Gourley was Vice-Chancellor of the Open University, UK, between 2002 and 2009, and had previously been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Natal, South Africa, during 8 years. She was the first woman to become a vice-chancellor in the country’s history.
UOC President, Imma Tubella, and the Vice President for Technology, Llorenç Valverde, who read out the Governing Council’s resolution, both took part in the ceremony.
Gourley champions the open educational resources movement and is a member of the Open Education Foundation’s International Advisory Board. She contributed to the Open University’s being the first British university to offer a wide range of its educational resources freely over the web. She is also a great supporter of the role of higher education in promoting social justice and finding a sustainable way out of poverty.
The ceremony was streamed live over the internet from the University’s portal between 12 noon and 2pm.