Over one hundred students gathered beneath the dome of the University of Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall on the 26 November, marking the graduation of Edinburgh Futures Institute’s Class of 2025.
Rob Rizzo, (Education Futures MSc) described the day as a day for reflection, a rare moment to look back over “all the work done individually and together with the cohort and the wider EFI community…and how we can work together to build a better future.”
Xiru Li (Planetary Health MSc) described graduation as a celebration shaped not just by academic effort, but by experience: “I worked for about 10 years before coming back to school. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
For some, this ceremony carried a special weight. Parthav Easwar (Sustainable Lands and Cities MSc) said he never really experienced his undergraduate graduation ceremony because of COVID, making this his “first real big one.”
“We’ve finally done it!” said Namitha Kuttiparambil (Narrative Futures: Art, Data and Society MSc), encapsulating the sense of pride and achievement felt by her fellow graduates.
A Community That Carried Them Through
Following the official ceremony, our students continued celebrations at a Graduate Reception inside the Edinburgh Futures Institute building, where we asked them some questions about their student experience.
What made your time at Edinburgh Futures Institute special?
“Definitely the people I met…the community.” Rob answered.
Namitha, an online student, emphasised just how powerful that connection felt despite the distance: “Even though I was in a time zone five hours ahead, to have that support, the openness…it was really nice.”
What is one thing you have learned about yourself this year?
Simi Oluwashewa (Cultural Heritage Futures MSc) reflected on gaining “the courage to speak up and ask questions.”
What do you hope humans will have solved by the year 2100?
Simi hoped for deeper societal transformation, wishing for a future of “Equity of wealth, equity of distribution.“
Interwoven with global goals were more intimate ones. Ellie Lex (Data Inequality and Society MSc) would like people “To be kinder to each other.”
Similarly, Namitha shared: “I just hope we have a bit more empathy for each other. We are, at the end of the day, all the same.”
What Comes Next
The paths ahead are as varied as the students themselves. Some are preparing to dive deeper into academia, while others are moving into digital literacy.
Parthav shared that he is looking for jobs in urban planning and also intends to do a PhD.
Rob shared that he is planning to work on projects that teach people “how to use AI critically, in a way that empowers them and supports human flourishing.”
Namitha hopes to take the social impact lens she learned from the Institute into the world of marketing.
As 2025 draws to a close, we wish all our graduates the very best as they challenge, create, and change our futures.
Congratulations to the Edinburgh Futures Institute Class of 2025!
Images: Andrew Perry
