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CNN anchor woman and Sussex graduate Becky Anderson

CNN news anchor and Sussex graduate Becky Anderson will officially launch the new School of Global Studies on 12 November with a live link-up to academic staff and students working in India and California.

Ms Anderson, who holds a BA in Economics and French from Sussex, said: "At CNN my viewers rely on me for accurate reporting of issues affecting the whole world. I couldn't do that without the knowledge, expertise and passion of the academics and students at leading institutions such as the University of Sussex."

The University is building on an already excellent reputation in the field and intends the new School to become one of the UK's premier centres for education on global affairs.

The School will deliver undergraduate programmes in international relations, anthropology, geography and international development, as well as a range of specialist postgraduate programmes in subjects such as international security and climate change.

Professor Richard Black, the Head of School, said: "We are very happy that Becky is coming to Sussex to launch the new School, which is an exciting new venture for the University.

"Sussex has been characterised by its international outlook and its interdisciplinary character since it was founded in the 1960s, and the School reflects all that is good about the University's engaged approach to international issues."

During the live link-up Ms Anderson will interview Dr Maya Unnithan, who is in India conducting research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Department for International Development (DfID) on maternal and child health in the country.

The CNN anchor woman will also interview Mirjam Büdenbender, who is currently on a year of international study at the University of California, Berkeley.

Mirjam explained: "I'm studying International Political Economy and Economic and Political Development at Berkeley but I'm looking forward to the continuation of my studies in Sussex.

"I enjoy the fact that the School of Global Studies is very critical of mainstream theories, which creates an extremely motivating atmosphere.

"As a German/Iranian student I also like that the environment in Sussex is very international."

The School of Global Studies embraces the different and complementary perspectives of international students, as Professor Black explains: "Approximately one-third of the School's undergraduate students and two-thirds of our postgraduates come from international backgrounds. We also have a strongly international curriculum, with opportunities for study abroad embedded in our degree programmes."