Honorary doctorates
The University of Groningen awards honorary doctorates to people who have made an exceptional contribution to society, academia or politics.
Honorary doctorates 2024
On Friday 24 May 2024 at 3 p.m., the University of Groningen (UG) will award four honorary doctorates in the Academy Building. The recipients of the honorary doctorates are meteorologist Gerrit Hiemstra, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Prof. Mariana Mazzucato, and artificial intelligence researcher Dr Kate Crawford.
Livestream
You can follow the award ceremony from 3 p.m. onwards through the livestream on this web page.
More about the ceremony
The awarding of honorary doctorates is part of the UG's 410th anniversary celebrations, which will include all kinds of activities from 21 till 25 May. The honorary doctorates were selected on the basis of four important UG themes: energy, digitization, sustainability, and public health.
The ceremony will take place in the Aula of the UG Academy Building. Following the presentation there will be a reception.
Guests for this academic ceremony are invited in their personal capacity.
Honorary doctorates in the 21st century
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2024 Dr Kate Crawford
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2024 Gerrit Hiemstra
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2021 Feike Sijbesma
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2019 Dr Philipp Blom, Arts
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2019 Prof. Titia de Lange, Medical Sciences
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2018 Ban Ki-moon, for his outstanding achievements, incl. the development of the Paris Agreement.
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2014 Prof. José Casanova, Theology and Religious Studies
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2014 Prof. Sir Francis Jacobs QC KCMG, Law
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2014 Prof. Ronald M. Evans, Medical Sciences
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2014 Prof Renata Kallosh, Mathematics and Natural Sciences
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2014 Prof. Michael Schudson, Arts
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2014 Prof. Dani Rodrik, Economics and Business
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2014 Dr H.C. Paul Polman, Economics and Business
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2014 Prof. Robert E. Slavin, Social and Behavioural Sciences
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2014 Prof. Christine Korsgaard, Philosophy
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2014 Prof. Andreas Faludi, Spatial Sciences
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2012 Desmond Tutu, Theology and Religious Studies
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2009 Hisashi Owada, Law
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2009 Marilynn Brewer, Behavioural & Social Sciences
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2009 Michael Menaker, Mathematics & Natural Sciences
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2009 Kader Abdolah, Theology and Religious Studies
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2004 Mirjam Pressler, Arts
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2004 Ian Buruma, Theology & Religious Studies
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2004 Jan Blokker, Social Sciences
Read more on previous awarded honorary doctorates, starting in 1717.
Honorary doctorate ceremony
The UG honorary doctorate is symbolised by the red cappa. The Rector will also present the doctorate with a doctor's bull, adorned with the seal of the UG.
Both staff and student associations take part in the ceremony, starting with the procession from the Academic Building to the Martini Church where the ceremony will take place. Professors are present in academic dress: Gown, bands and beret, decorations and distinctions. Students carry their flags and banners.
Honorary doctorates receive the title doctor honoris causa, or dr.h.c.
| Last modified: | 23 May 2024 1.04 p.m. |