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Lord Swraj Paul first Chancellor of Westminster varsity

Hasan Suroor

Support's drive to attract international students

LONDON: Britain's leading Indian industrialist and Labour peer Swraj Paul was on Monday installed as the first-ever Chancellor of the University of Westminster in a move aimed at affirming its multiethnic character.

Vice-Chancellor Geoffrey Copland said the university was delighted to have Lord Paul as its "inaugural" Chancellor.

Praise for Lord Paul

"He is well known to us as a leading figure in business and politics and has supported our programme for Indian journalists," he said praising Lord Paul for his "commitment" to social justice and public service.

Start of new role

Terence Wright, chairman of the university's Court of Governors, presented a scroll to Lord Paul signifying the start of his new role.

Lord Paul said he was proud of the confidence the university placed in him.

"The University of Westminster has a massive culturally diverse grounding and this is something I applaud," he told a select audience that included some of Britain's best-known academics and public figures.

Lord Paul said he supported the Government's drive to attract more international students, especially from the strong, emerging global powers such as India and China.

Making vision a reality

"And I will do everything I can in my role as Chancellor to make this vision reality," he said.

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