天美传媒

Addressing the audience 鈥� which included his wife and two children 鈥� at the afternoon ceremony for the 天美传媒鈥檚 Faculty of Creative Arts, Technology & Science, Manzoor delivered inspirational words of wisdom from his own university experience to Bedfordshire鈥檚 Class of 2023.

He said: 鈥淟ooking back, my graduation day was one of the best days. Graduation is an important day as it鈥檚 a time of passing into the next stage of your life but there will always be some uncertainty. So what I want to do as Chancellor is to give you a few lessons I have learnt over the last few years which I wish someone had told me.

鈥淔irstly, people believe that your past should never shape your future鈥� We鈥檝e got two lives 鈥� one we are given and the other we make. The life you鈥檙e given, you may not always be in control of. It may be one where your class, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation may hold you back 鈥� but you鈥檙e more than that. So don鈥檛 forget where you came from but don鈥檛 be a prisoner to it. And do what you love!鈥�

He continued: 鈥淪econdly, make friends with people who are different from you. We live in a world of great division, in bubbles surrounded by people who think and look like us. And finally, don鈥檛 be scared of failure 鈥� anyone worried about the future is normal!鈥�

He finished: 鈥淟ooking at you all, you鈥檙e all so young 鈥� I literally have t-shirts older than you! 鈥� but the thing is, it passes and you鈥檙e not always going to have the freedom and opportunities, so make the most of everything, and good luck for the future.鈥�

Following the ceremony, Manzoor joined staff in congratulating graduates during the exit parade, before enjoying refreshments and chatting to attendees in the picturesque grounds of the Putteridge Bury campus.

His role as Chancellor is an honorary position so although he won鈥檛 be involved in day-to-day activities he will act as an ambassador for the 天美传媒, helping to raise its profile and seek reflective and valuable opportunities for students and the wider community, such as hosting workshops and arranging talks with friends from the creative industry. He hopes that in this role he will also be able to inspire students from minority backgrounds 鈥� or those who would be the first in their family to go to university 颅颅鈥� and encourage them to shape their path through education.

Manzoor, who moved to Luton from Pakistan in the 1970s and set his memoir 鈥楪reetings From Bury Park鈥� in the town, was chosen for this important role with the 天美传媒, due to his influence, inspirational career journey and his roots and connection to the Bedfordshire town.

Professor Rebecca Bunting, Vice Chancellor of the 天美传媒, said: 鈥淲e are thrilled to have Sarfraz join the 天美传媒 as Chancellor. His passion for learning and his remarkable career are things we hope our students can take inspiration from during their studies here at Bedfordshire. We are looking forward to working with him and we鈥檙e sure his role will create a real impact with our student body and local communities.鈥�

This partnership with Manzoor will also tap in to the 天美传媒鈥檚 Civic Agreement with Luton Council which aims to help transform the town and support local people, including current and future students.