Swedish politician and devoted volunteer celebrated at Stirling graduation

Respected Swedish parliamentarian and women’s right advocate Margot Wallström and dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison have received honorary degrees from the University of Stirling. 

Margot, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs and acting Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden, received an Honorary Doctorate on the first day of the University’s summer graduation, whilst Lynda, a founding member of the University of Stirling Service User and Carer Group (UNITY), was recognised for two decades of selfless voluntary work with an honorary Master of Arts degree. 

Born in 1954 in Skellefteå, Sweden, Margot first entered the Swedish Parliament in 1979 and went on to hold a series of ministerial posts. She became a household name in Sweden and in 2014 made history as the world’s first foreign minister to adopt a feminist foreign policy. 

Margot Wallström received an Honorary Doctorate on the first day of the University's summer graduation.

Margot received the honour in recognition of her groundbreaking approaches to integrating the rights, resources and representation of women, and pursuing women and girls’ emancipation and empowerment, in foreign policy globally.  

Her other achievements include being the first ever Vice President of the European Commission from 2004 to 2010; being appointed the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict in 2010; she is also former Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative, which seeks to promote the appointment of women to high levels of leadership. 

Collecting her degree along with more than 2,100 other graduates at Wednesday afternoon’s ceremony, Margot said: “I am so proud and honoured to be awarded an honorary degree by the University of Stirling – and to be invited to Scotland. 

“All leaders, including those in politics, must acknowledge the crucial role universities play in providing education, research, facts and innovation, each of which is needed to contribute to a better world.” 

Lynda Morrison has supported the University's students for the past 20 years.

Former mental health nurse Lynda, from Bannockburn, was instrumental in setting up the UNITY group in 2005. For 20 years, she has supported efforts to shape the education of the next generation of social workers and nurses, drawing on her own lived experience of providing health services and as a service user.  

The UNITY group has attracted national and international recognition as one of the first to involve service users and carers in the design, development, and delivery of teaching to social work and nursing students. 

She has been a passionate and determined voice promoting the perspectives of service users in education and has collaborated closely with staff from the University’s Division of Social Work to enhance and promote the work of UNITY. 

Lynda said: “Receiving this honorary degree is a huge privilege, but it is not just for me, it is for the whole UNITY group within the University. We are all passionate about what we do and love working with the students. As a group, we hope that they get as much from our workshops as we do. 

“Personally, I can’t believe that this year marks the 20th anniversary of UNITY and, as a founding member, I’m sure that it will continue making a positive impact well into the future.” 

Two sets of twins (L-R) Nathan and Ben McQuaid and Milosh and Nenad Zezelj graduated at the same University of Stirling ceremony.

Meanwhile, two sets of identical twin brothers graduated from the same ceremony and, in both cases, with the same degree as their sibling. The audience at the afternoon ceremony, which conferred degrees on graduates from Arts and Humanities, did a double take – twice – as twin brothers Milosh and Nenad Zezelj, followed by Ben and Nathan McQuaid, crossed the stage. 

Milosh and Nenad, both raised and living in Switzerland, made their first trip to Scotland to each receive a MSc Public Relations and Strategic Communications. Milosh works in communications and runs a publishing company while Nenad is an actor and voiceover artist. This is the third time the Zezelj brothers have studied together; they also attended the School of Economics, Switzerland, and New York Film Academy. 

Nenad said: “The Stirling course was fully online, which allowed me to focus on my acting career, and the course content and structure were far more creative and engaging than what most institutions in Switzerland would have offered.” 

Milosh added: “We have always shared the majority of our interests academically, and our upbringing was highly creative. The Stirling course resonated with us and spoke to both our interests.” 

Ben and Nathan, from Uddingston, graduated with BA (Hons) Film and Media and are already working on their first feature film, about aliens in Glasgow. Members of the student filmmaking society AirTV during their time at Stirling, they won a silver and bronze for two of their films at this year’s National Television Association Awards.  

The brothers praised their course leaders for encouraging them to pursue their childhood dream of being filmmakers, and for providing opportunities to meet and learn from leading industry figures, many of whom are Stirling alumni. 

Ben said: “Most of the big, up-and-coming Scottish feature filmmakers went to Stirling. It’s a good network we have been connected to. There have been a lot of industry nights, and through that we’ve been mentored by Scottish filmmaker Graham Hughes.” 

Achievements

In total, 2,157 students will graduate from the University of Stirling this week. Four ceremonies are being held across two days (25-26 June) as students celebrate their academic achievements alongside their families, friends and university staff. 

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “Margot Wallström’s journey and achievements are remarkable and inspiring. As a campaigner for equal rights, she has truly left her stamp worldwide, and society is better for it. 

“Lynda Morrison has played a pivotal role in shaping social work and nursing education throughout two decades of selfless volunteering, putting her lived experiences and the voices of service users at the heart of the UNITY programme. 

“In receiving these awards, Margot and Lynda join hundreds of Stirling students whom we know will be motivated by their achievements as they carve out their own futures. Congratulations to all our graduating students.” 

Photos are available to view from Ceremony One and Ceremony Two.