personalstories - university of cambridge& diversity introduction...

& diversity

Personal stories

‘It’s a veryinspirationalplace to be.’Dr KateStone

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IntroductionThe individuals profiled here are across-section of the University’s community,and their endeavours demonstrate thetransformation of the University from a groupof male clerical scholars into a vibrant anddiverse community of some 20,000 studentsand over 8,000 staff.

Today, the University of Cambridge can justlyclaim to embrace individuals from allbackgrounds, offering all of them a uniquelearning and working experience.

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The University of Cambridge is committed to:

� Equality of opportunity� A proactive and inclusive approach to equality� Supporting and encouraging all

under-represented groups� Promoting an inclusive culture� Valuing diversity

Personal stories

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Diane Abbott, MP‘I was always a ‘bookie’, and in the novelsI read people tended to go to Oxford orCambridge. So, I thought: why not me?Nobody told me that working class orblack children didn't go.’

Overcoming obstacles

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Philippa FawcettPhilippa's achievements helped tosilence those who claimed that womenwere not sufficiently rational in thoughtto be allowed the vote.

A pioneer in education

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Professor Kikuchi DairokuProfessor Kikuchi was in the vanguard ofJapanese students to attend Cambridgeand is credited as being one of thepioneers in the modernisation of Japan.

First Japanese graduate

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Professor Athene Donald‘I think the media tends to pick up onthe people who say you can't have afamily and be a successful scientist,instead of trumpeting those who havesucceeded. That's why I want to standup and say: think about it, maybe youcan do it; it's not easy, but it can be doneif you are prepared to work at itand you really want to do it.’

Because she’s worth it

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Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan‘Cambridge enchanted me from veryfirst glimpse. If I were to describe my firstreactions, I would have to say I wasoverwhelmed: entranced by itscultivated beauty, humbled by itsextraordinary gifts to the world.’

A poet and a scholar

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Pav Akhtar‘In Cambridge you can be who you areand have your own identity. The greatthing is that you are judged by what youdo. Cambridge taught me to try, toexplore, and to learn. Cambridge makesyou believe that anything is achievable.’

Aworld of opportunities

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Katrina Ffrench‘I can honestly say, when it comes tolectures, it's not about the colour of yourskin, it's about the content of yourargument. People couldn't care lesswhat you are.’

Transforming tomorrow

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Snehal Sidhu‘You are constantly asked to questionassumptions, to question scientificauthority, presuppositions. As you leaveCambridge, you take that with you. Ifyou enjoy what you do, and you enjoyyour subject, the atmosphere you willget here will be fantastic. A vast numberof students here are passionate aboutthe subject they are doing — it’s not justa course.’

University challenge

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Matthew Green‘It's a source of inspiration to otherswhen they find out that I'm atCambridge and that we share similarinterests and background histories, wentto similar schools and grew up in similarareas. It then seems like something thatisn't so distant or unattainable.’

Great expectations

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Dr Kate Stone‘I came to an environment that I thoughtI could do things in, and did. I just gotused to Cambridge being somewherewhere you can be who you believe youare. You can do what you believe youcan do. After being in Cambridge, Iended up with this attitude that I can bewhoever I believe I am and do whatever Iwant to do.’

Becoming Kate

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Dr Gregory Burke‘I've swum against the tide on a lot ofdifferent issues. Cambridge gave me theconfidence and intellectual security todo that. Independent thinking wasencouraged. It's about how well you canthink, how you are able to look at aproblem. Cambridge made me feel that Icould make a contribution, thatanything was possible, that anything ispossible.’

Broadening horizons

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Professor Nancy Lane‘I think it is important that senior womenencourage young women coming upbehind them. It is important to givethem a helping hand. Initiatives thatencourage women to believe inthemselves can be useful in supportingpeople coming through the pipeline byraising awareness of possible careers forthem.’

AWiSE women

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Alison Hennegan‘I wasn’t from a background of highereducation but there was an intense loveand respect for learning in the house. Itwas a space in which no one censoredme, no one mocked me, no one wasunpleasant to my face. There was justencouragement — go for it, girl!’

Speaking out

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Sir Derek Jacobi‘I’d never been away from home, so myfirst difficulty was my feeling of isolationwhen I got there. The rest of my timethere was idyllic. I am still in touch withmany people that I knew and workedwith at Cambridge. For me, it was agolden age.’

A bohemian rhapsody

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For further information about equality anddiversity at the University of Cambridgevisit www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/equality/

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