UWS Alumni Blog

Month: July 2018

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Alumni Stories, News

Alumnus and boccia ace goes into World Championships as world Number 1

Good luck to alumnus Stephen McGuire who will be competing in August's World Boccia Championships in Liverpool. Stephen, who studied Retail Management at the Hamilton Campus in 2004 is the defending champion and the BC4 world number one. Stephen commented: “It has been my most successful 18 months or so on the court and it will be nice to be welcomed into the event as current world champion and No.1. The competition in Liverpool is the key event with regards to Tokyo 2020 qualification.” In 2012 Stephen managed to achieve his life dream of becoming a Paralympic athlete in the sport of Boccia. Since then he has gone on to have a healthy sports career, captaining his country to two Paralympic games and became European and World Champion. Stephen credits academics and sports c...
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Liz Cameron OBE Receives UWS Honorary Doctorate
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Honorary Graduates

Liz Cameron OBE Receives UWS Honorary Doctorate

Leading Scottish businesswoman, Liz Cameron OBE, received an Honorary Doctorate from University of the West of Scotland (UWS) at its graduation ceremony on Tuesday 3rd July 2018 at Paisley Abbey. Liz Cameron is recognised as one of the most influential forces in Scotland's business community. With a career spanning more than three decades in the private sector, Liz is widely viewed as a strategic and visionary leader. Liz currently serves as the Director and Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, the first woman to lead the organisation, and is a sought-after advocate for Scottish business at home and internationally. Liz is a personal champion of leaning-in and personally mentors aspiring women in business and young people. Liz also serves as the Chair of WEVOLUTION, a gl...
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UWS Honorary Doctorate Award for Dr Alan Goodall
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Honorary Graduates, News

UWS Honorary Doctorate Award for Dr Alan Goodall

Dr Alan Goodall, who is known globally for his scientific research into the behavioural ecology and conservation of rare mountain gorillas in Central Africa, received an Honorary Doctorate from UWS at its graduation ceremony on Wednesday 4th July at Paisley Abbey. Dr Goodall has close links with UWS and was a lecturer in environmental biology at the former Paisley College of Technology (now UWS) from 1974-1990. Conducting his research at the Karisoke Research Centre in Rwanda, where he was Director between 1987-1989 (during a sabbatical from the Paisley College of Technology), and the Kahuzi-Biega National Park in Zaire, his work has been extensively documented, including in his book ‘The Wandering Gorillas’. Commenting on his Honorary Doctorate Alan said: “I am delighted to recei...
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Class of 1978 civil engineers celebrate their 40 year reunion
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Alumni Stories, News

Class of 1978 civil engineers celebrate their 40 year reunion

Almost 40 years to the day the BSc Hons Civil Engineering class of 1978 met again for the first time since graduation in Paisley on 7th July 1978. The full class of six were joined by former staff members Professor Ian MacLeod who was head of civil engineering, and Bob Hardy who was the senior lecturer of the Structures Group to celebrate 40 years since graduating. The group met for dinner the previous evening before returning to UWS Paisley Campus on Friday 29th June 2018 to recreate their class picture and for a tour of the campus by Ewan O’Brien, Alumni Engagement Manager. The group: Grant Murdie; Arthur Nicholls; James Young; Graeme Forsyth; Alastair Black; and Douglas Trail, who have all gone on to have successful careers in engineering, had not all been together since fini...
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