Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is to receive an honorary degree from St Andrews University today.
She will give the graduation address at a ceremony to mark the 600th anniversary of the founding of Scotland’s oldest university.
It is the politician’s first foreign visit since her term as secretary of state concluded in February.
Mrs Clinton will be conferred with a doctor of laws degree in recognition of her achievements as a politician and diplomat.
The award will also mark her efforts to champion the causes of education, human rights, democracy, civil society and promoting opportunities for females around the world, according to the university.
However, anti-abortion groups have threatened to hold demonstrations in protest at what they claim is Mrs Clinton’s support for abortion.
The former US first lady, whose husband Bill was president for eight years between 1993 and 2001 and is himself no stranger to the town is one of 18 prominent figures to be honoured by St Andrews.
Honorary degrees will also be bestowed on the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, classicist Professor Mary Beard, inventor of the world wide web Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, primatologist Dame Jane Goodall, particle physicist Professor Peter Higgs, anthropologist Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern and philosopher Professor Nancy Cartwright.
Professor Louise Richardson, the university’s principal and vice-chancellor, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Secretary Clinton will join us and other distinguished guests from around the world as we celebrate 600 years of university education in St Andrews.
“In addition to traditional celebrations, we will mark the occasion by doing what universities do best, bringing creative and independent thinkers together to ask difficult questions and exchange novel ideas as we explore the role of universities in the centuries to come.
“As one of the most influential women in the world, Hillary Clinton, as stateswoman, senator and policymaker, never shied away from tackling difficult questions, working to make the world a better place, inspiring others, speaking out for the voiceless and striving ever to excel. We are honoured that she will participate in our celebrations.”
Mrs Clinton, who lost to Barack Obama in the contest to be Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, will address an audience of global education leaders, university staff and students at the institution’s Younger Hall.
The university has historic links with the US as three of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson and John Witherspoon, studied at or held degrees from St Andrews. And today, almost a fifth of its 6,000 undergraduate students come from North America.
The day is also due to feature a fly-past by Typhoons from RAF Leuchars.
For full coverage of the day’s events, see Saturday’s Courier or try our digital edition.