A Labour MP and former minister highlighted the critical role Future Skills has to play in how artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, after returning to Kingston University to be awarded an honorary doctorate.
Feryal Clark, a lifelong champion of education’s power to open doors and transform lives, was bestowed the award at a ceremony for graduates from the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education. It was made in recognition of her outstanding contribution to health science, digital and AI innovation, and the University’s Future Skills campaign – which is championing the vital importance of ensuring graduates acquire the human-centric skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
A Kingston University alumna in biomedical science who went on to serve as Minister for AI and Digital Government in the current Labour government, Feryal’s early career was firmly rooted in science. After graduating from the University, she went on to study bioinformatics at the University of Exeter before spending six years working in pathology services for the NHS. It was there that she saw first-hand science, technology and public service can work together to positively impact society – and why data-driven approaches matter.
“I saw how evidence-based approaches save lives. Evidence and innovation help us move beyond good intentions to outcomes we can measure and improve. When you bring together technology, innovation and public policy in the right way, you can improve access to services, reduce inequality and help build fairer, healthier communities,” she said.
“AI-driven diagnostics can help ensure that people receive the same quality of care and opportunity regardless of where they live. That doesn’t happen by accident, it requires deliberate, evidence-led design and inclusive deployment.”
Feryal’s commitment to public service and giving back to society led her into local government, being elected to Hackney Council in 2006. As Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member, she oversaw services including health, social care, leisure and parks, while championing environmental initiatives to improve air quality and reclaim public space for communities.
In 2019, Feryal was elected Labour Member of Parliament for Enfield North, becoming the first British MP of Kurdish and Turkish heritage. A first-generation immigrant who arrived in the UK at the age of eight, she described how education shaped her personal and professional journey.
“Education was the single most powerful enabler in my life. As a first-generation immigrant, many systems, norms and expectations were unfamiliar to me,” she explained. “Studying at Kingston University not only gave me knowledge, but also a sense that I belonged in professional and public spaces. It opened doors to networks and careers and gave me a confidence I wouldn’t otherwise have had.”
Reflecting on her own journey, Feryal encouraged young people not to see their background as a barrier. “I always say to young people, your background doesn’t limit your future,” she said. “For me, it strengthened it. I loved my time at the University, it shaped who I am today, and I’ve never allowed where I came from to define the limits of what I can achieve.”
Most recently, Feryal has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Germany, where she will play a key role in supporting trade and investment opportunities for British businesses. Prior to this, she served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Government within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from July 2024 to September 2025, leading work on cyber security, digital identity and AI, and supporting responsible innovation across the UK. Reflecting on her time in this role, she outlined the enormous potential AI has to support the public good.
“From faster medical diagnosis and personalised treatments to more efficient transport and more accessible public services, AI is an incredibly powerful tool,” she said. “When used responsibly, with strong protections around transparency, privacy and inclusion, it can improve productivity, support healthier and more independent lives, and ensure the benefits of innovation are shared by everyone, not just a few.”
Feryal is a passionate advocate for the University’s Future Skills campaign, having been a guest speaker at the launch of the latest report in June 2025 at the House of Commons. She explained how the University’s approach to Future Skills education – ensuring its students are equipped with the uniquely human skills most needed by businesses including digital competency, creativity and critical thinking – is increasingly important as artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace.
“We talk about AI increasingly handling routine tasks, but human judgement and skills such as creativity and strategic thinking will become increasingly valuable,” she said. “Kingston University’s focus on Future Skills helps prepare graduates to work with that technology, rather than be displaced by it. Graduates who can understand how AI functions, interpret data responsibly and evaluate its societal impact will be in a much stronger position to shape how we effectively use AI, rather than simply reacting to these technologies.”
Feryal received her award from Kingston University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Spier, who congratulated her on the contributions she has made. “Feryal is not only an alumna, but also a committed and vocal advocate for our mission,” Professor Spier said. “Her educational journey as a first-generation immigrant is inspirational to many and it was great for our graduates to hear her story first-hand. Through her public service, her advocacy for education and skills, and her continued engagement with the University, Feryal Clark exemplifies the values we seek to promote.”
Her closing remarks at the ceremony came with some words of advice for this year’s graduating students. “Stay curious and keep learning. Remember that a degree is a foundation, not a finishing line,” she said. “Careers will evolve, and change is not a failure but a constant, so be open to new directions. Above all, protect your values. Technical success without integrity is fragile, and how we develop and use technology matters just as much as what we achieve with it.”
