University launches a year of Diamond Jubilee celebrations

Over the course of the coming academic year, staff, students and friends of the University from around the world will be coming together to mark the anniversary and to celebrate our remarkable achievements to date.

The last 60 years have seen the University make unprecedented progress, from small beginnings to the outstanding teaching and research institution we are today. Throughout this anniversary year, the University will host a diverse mix of events commemorating this development and celebrating with the people that have made this possible.

Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter, said: “Since 1955, the University has grown to become a dynamic and successful institution, placed in the top ten of all the main UK higher education league tables and ranking within the top 1 percent of all institutions globally.

“This Diamond Jubilee year is an opportunity to celebrate our past, and to thank staff, students and friends of the University who have contributed to our development in the last sixty years. This celebration is also a time to look to the future and explore the many ways through which we can create a lasting legacy, not only to help shape our future but also to look at how we can continue to work in partnership to enrich the world around us.”

Events begin with the launch of a new book about the University; ‘The City on the Hill’, written by Professor Jeremy Black. Professor Black draws on archive material and personal accounts from colleagues and students, past and present, to create a comprehensive portrait of the University.

Other events taking place throughout the year will see staff, students and alumni sharing their memories of Exeter as well as getting involved with community events to share the celebrations with the city.

Details of all our events and how you can get involved can be found on the Diamond Jubilee website. You can also find out more about the Jubilee, our history and how we hope to create an impact for the future.