For the attention of: news editors, education editorsPR4506
Friday, September 14, 2001
OU HONOURS AUTHOR AND PHILOSOPHER UMBERTO ECO
The Open University will honour author and philosopher Umberto Eco for his renowned contribution to the arts and sciences when he receives an honorary degree at the university’s graduation ceremony in Brussels.
Umberto Eco will receive his Doctorate of the University award (DUniv) at the ceremony, where 250 OU graduates will also receive their degrees, at the Palais des Congrès, Brussels, on Saturday, September 15. His Excellency Gaetano Cortese, the Italian ambassador to Belgium, will also be present to watch Professor Eco receive his award.
Born in Turin, Italy, Umberto Eco studied medieval philosophy and literature at the University of Turin and gained a PhD in medieval philosophy and literature in 1954. He then entered the world of journalism by taking a position in Milan as editor for cultural programmes at Italy’s state-owned television network, RAI.
Umberto Eco’s work has established him as one of the foremost thinkers in medievalism. Professor of Semiotics, Umberto Eco continues to run the programme for communication sciences at the University of Bologna. He also writes a weekly column for the Italian magazine, L’Espresso. Umberto Eco is best known to the public for his two novels, The Name of the Rose, and Foucault’s Pendulum. He is among more than 20 Open University honorary graduates for 2001, whose awards were presented at 28 degree ceremonies across the UK and Ireland during the spring and summer.
EDITOR'S NOTES
Full details of the Open University's other honorary graduates for 2001 were published in an earlier press release. If you would like a copy, please call Neil Coaten on the number below.
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Sir Bryan Nicholson, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council of the Open University, and Prof Allan Cochrane, OU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Students, Quality and Standards), will present the awards in Brussels.
The graduates at the Brussels ceremony will come from all over Europe and will be attended by an audience of their families and friends and guests from European academic and other institutions. About 70 managers from IBM sites around the world will also graduate at the ceremony after successfully completing the MBA (Master of Business Administration) with the Open University Business School, Europe's largest business school.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Neil CoatenOpen University media relations, UK01908 652580
Richard TuffsOpen University co-ordinator, Brussels+32 02644 3372