On Friday on the shores of Lake Geneva, 214 students who completed their master programmes at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year received their diplomas and began the next chapter of their careers.

Elisabeth Prügl, Professor of International Relations/Political Science and Deputy-Director of the Institute, presided over the event with Riccardo Bocco, Director of the Institute's master programmes and Professor, Anthropology and Sociology of Development.

Three students were awarded for exceptional theses.

Özcan Yilmaz, a Turkish National, was awarded the Pierre du Bois Prize for the best PhD thesis in International History for his work “Du groupe ethnique à la nation: la formation des petites nations et les Kurdes de Turquie”. Irina Du Bois presented Mr Yilmaz with the prize on behalf of the Pierre du Bois Foundation.

Anouchka Didier from France received the Mariano Garcia Rubio Prize for the best master’s dissertation in international law for her work entitled "Le dommage écologique pur en droit international". Professor Andrea Bianchi, Head of the International Law Department delivered the prize.

Fouad Zarbiev of Azerbaidjan was presented with the Alumni Association Prize for his PhD thesis "Le discours interprétatif en droit international: une approche critique et généalogique”. It was presented by Tony Murdoch of the Institute's Alumni Association, in absence of Mr Zarbiev.

The Immediate Past President of the Graduate Institute Student Association (GISA), Eric Asmar, spoke on behalf of the students at the ceremony. He said that it had been privilege to attend such a prestigious school and it was a rich experience to have become friends with classmates from all over the world, who come from different cultures and speak numerous languages.

More information about the ceremony is available on the Graduation website. Videos and photos from the event will be available in the coming days.