Miltos Frangopoulos's commendation video transcript

Miltos Frangopoulos

PROFESSOR KEITH MCLAY: Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Honoured guests, Graduands of 2023 and all our guests here today, it gives me great pleasure to be presenting today Miltos Frangopoulos for the award of Honorary Doctor of Education.

Miltos, born in Athens and educated in the United Kingdom, has dedicated his life to
the pursuit of knowledge and the advancement of art and design. As a Deputy Director of Studies and Academic Liaison at the Vakalo Art and Design College in Athens, Greece, Miltos has played a pivotal role in shaping the institution and building its international reputation.

The College was founded in 1958 by George and Eleni Vakalo and a group of like-minded artists, designers and theorists, with the aim of offering courses in the applied arts. Today it is  recognised as a leader in Design education in Greece.

Miltos has led Vakalo's partnership with the University since it began in 1996 and has forged close relationships with staff at all levels across the institution but particularly in the School of Art and Design. He is currently a Visiting Research Fellow in Art History at the University.

During his time at Vakalo, Miltos has worked to allow the unique features of the College- its small-scale art school community, student-friendly environment, commitment to student care, openness to innovation, and, above all, its creativity -
to flourish and strengthen its world-class reputation.

Miltos has developed programmes that not only provide employment opportunities but also equip students with a solid learning foundation, empowering them to thrive in a competitive market. His collaborations with institutions and organisations worldwide have brought international acclaim.

Miltos is known for his integrity, and genuine care for students fostering a learning environment often described as a 'family ethos'. As an academic, writer and translator Miltos has had a distinguished career. He is the author of the first book ever published on Graphic Design history in Greek, An introduction to the History and Theory of Graphic Design (2006), now a standard textbook in several higher education design programmes in Greece.

He is also an acclaimed translator of literature and humanities. From Milton to Voltaire, he has brought the words of great thinkers and artists to a wider audience. His translation of 'Gulliver's Travels' into Greek is considered a classic in its field.

Miltos has written extensively on art, literature, semiotics, design education and cultural issues in journals and collective volumes, published in Greece and the UK.

We are delighted to welcome Miltos here today to celebrate his significant achievements in the field of education.

Chancellor, in recognition of his contribution to education and his leadership at an internationally recognized art school and valued partner of the University, we are delighted to award Miltos Frangopoulos the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education.

MILTOS FRANGOPOULOS: I can't read without these, I can see you better.

Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Honoured guests, Graduands of 2023 and all our guests here today, please allow me to express my deepest gratitude and most sincere thanks to all the representatives of the University and the College of Arts staff for the honour.

An honour which reflects on the whole of the Vakalo College in Athens and all the colleagues and friends here at Derby who have worked through the years since the mid 90s to build a most successful and long-lasting partnership between our two institutions, whose achievements we celebrate today through this event of honouring my person. It is a partnership spanning four decades that has created added value, has enriched both partners and may be considered as a model for TNE, Transnational Education.

Now TNE may sound like a boring bureaucratic term, but it isn't, it is what should be the core of education in this current age. Bringing together cultures, working across borders, increasing understanding, creating mutual trust and mutual confidence is something very important and not readily available in this era of conflict we're living in. It is a partnership expanding four decades so this partnership has ensured transfer of quality assurance and program management know-how from our British partners and a host of best practices in teaching and learning from the Vakalo which have led to high quality student work as tested by a long-line of national, international and indeed world prizes won by Vakalos students and also a near-perfect record of external examiner and auditor reports and of course frequent public prayers.

This in turn has ensured swift employment and creative and fulfilling careers and in some cases really impressive careers. I feel I can be proud of what has been accomplished through this joint effort and we should all be proud of all the 27 years of the partnership of the Vakalos.

It has been an enjoyable journey, it has been a journey in translation in a sense of bridging the gaps in educational traditions, in administrative cultures, in market practices, all these have to be worked through this TNE, makes it so fascinating and in a sense, this story has some pointers for all the graduates here as it shows that there is a point in working together with others and respecting others and resolving problems with others and I do wish you all to find the fulfilment in this effort as I have found it here today among you. Bless You and Thank You.

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