UWS Alumni Blog

Month: July 2024

UWS Alumni Flying the Flag for Team GB at Paris 2024
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Alumni Stories

UWS Alumni Flying the Flag for Team GB at Paris 2024

The University is hugely proud to see our former students competing for team GB in Paris 2024. Kirsty Gilmour (BA Creative Industries Practice 2015) is taking part in her 3rd Olympics as she spearheads the Badminton squad. Spending most of the last decade in the top 30 of the world rankings, Kirsty is one of the best badminton singles players that Britain has ever produced. “Selection never gets old. It’s maybe a bit cliché but it’s just as special as the first one. I’m maybe a bit better versed in what’s going on and all the build-up and pageantry around it, but it’s still super exciting." Lee Morton (BA (Hons) Criminal Justice 2017) is fresh off captaining Scotland Men’s Hockey side and will be adding to his 100 combined international caps as he competes in his first Olympic...
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UWS Alumna Named Young African Business Leader of the Year 2024
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Alumni Stories

UWS Alumna Named Young African Business Leader of the Year 2024

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has been named as co-winner of the Young African Business Leader of the Year 2024 at the prestigious African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA). Dr Jesca Nkwabi, who is based in Tanzania, graduated from UWS London Campus in 2020 with a Doctorate in Business Administration and has been recognised for her outstanding achievements as the CEO of KOM Group, where she has significantly contributed to business growth and youth empowerment across the continent. Jesca commented: “I’m deeply honoured to be recognised as Young African Business Leader of the Year 2024. This recognition serves as a reminder for me to continue striving for excellence to positively impact development in Tanzania and Africa and to inspire and mentor more youth in...
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Alumnus Appointed MD of Global Life Sciences and Animal Health at WittKieffer
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Alumni Stories

Alumnus Appointed MD of Global Life Sciences and Animal Health at WittKieffer

University of the West of Scotland (UWS) law graduate and experienced executive search professional Joe Kennedy has joined WittKieffer as Managing Director of Global Life Sciences & Animal Health. Based in London, Joe joins WittKieffer to lead its extension into Animal Health & Sciences. Graduating from UWS Paisley Campus in 2007 with a BA in Law, he is a seasoned executive search professional with extensive global experience within the segment, including for senior scientific, medical/veterinary, commercial, operational and functional roles. Joe commented: “I am delighted to announce that I have joined Wittkieffer as Managing Director, Life Sciences & Animal Health. I will be working to round out the company's One Health approach, building on the legacy and capability al...
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Graduate and Laboratory Professional Honoured for Excellence
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Alumni Stories

Graduate and Laboratory Professional Honoured for Excellence

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has been named among 40 high-achieving pathologists, pathology residents, and medical laboratory professionals under age 40 in the prestigious American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) 2024 40 Under Forty list.   Alumnus Prince Kenneth Homiah, who graduated from the MSc in Quality Management programme at UWS with Distinction in 2019, commented: “I'm delighted to announce that I've been honoured by the American Society for Clinical Pathology as a 40 Under Forty honouree for 2024. Thank you UWS for the knowledge and confidence you empowered me with.” ASCP’s 40 Under Forty program shines the spotlight on 40 highly accomplished pathologists, pathology residents, and laboratory professionals under age 40 who have made significant co...
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Chemistry Graduate Recognised at Summer Graduation
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Alumni Stories, Honorary Graduates, News

Chemistry Graduate Recognised at Summer Graduation

A UWS graduate and distinguished chemist, who was awarded an OBE in 2023 for her contributions to chemical sciences and inclusion in science education and communications, has been recognised as part of University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) graduations. Dr Audrey Cameron, OBE, who graduated in 1991 with a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry, was celebrated as part of a ceremony taking place at Paisley Abbey on Friday 5 July. Audrey is deaf and uses British Sign Language (BSL) and leads a range of projects to contribute to the Scottish Sensory Centre Glossary to agree new signs for science terminology. A repository of 5,000 signs for technical terms is now available, extending BSL vocabulary on technical terms and supporting access to, and communication within, science education. https://...
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UWS Alumna Becomes MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North
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Alumni Stories, News

UWS Alumna Becomes MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has won the contest to become Member of Parliament (MP) for Paisley and Renfrewshire North in the recent UK general election. Alison Taylor, who graduated from the University’s Paisley Campus in 1988 came out top in the constituency standing for Scottish Labour with 19,561 votes, replacing the SNP’s Gavin Newlands, who had been the area’s MP since 2015 who achieved 13,228 votes. "As an alumna my first stop before departing for London was a very early meeting with UWS Principal Professor James Miller. It felt both comforting and emotional to be back where I started out as a 17-year-old student, then experiencing later the same day a very similar emotion as I walked through the doors of the Palace of Westminster for the first time as ...
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Honorary Graduates Celebrated at Summer Graduation
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Honorary Graduates, News

Honorary Graduates Celebrated at Summer Graduation

Leading figures from the world of education, science, music and literature were celebrated at the University’s summer graduations in Paisley, by being awarded honorary doctorates. The Chair of the Robertson Trust Mark Batho, who was also previously a Vice-Principal at Abertay University, was celebrated as part of a ceremony taking place at Paisley Abbey on Tuesday 2 July. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucM3rb25S-w Mark Batho has been the Chair of The Robertson Trust since 2021, joining as a Trustee in 2017. The Trust is Scotland’s largest independent grant giver and, under its current strategy, disburses £25 million each year to help organisations in Scotland – mainly charities – in their work to address the causes and impact of poverty and trauma. As part of this work, it runs...
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Honorary Graduate Launches New Book About His Ayrshire Childhood
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Honorary Graduates

Honorary Graduate Launches New Book About His Ayrshire Childhood

Honorary graduate and award-winning Scottish writer Billy Kay, has launched his new book Born in Kyle, which goes back to his linguistic and cultural roots and celebrates a sense of place and belonging in his native Galston in Ayrshire’s Irvine Valley. Billy Kay is one of the most influential figures in the Scots revival of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Through radio, television, plays, creative writing and especially his hugely influential book Scots The Mither Tongue, Billy's work helped change negative attitudes surrounding Scots and paved the way for its extended acceptance as a key element in Scottish cultural identity. On receiving his honorary doctorate in 2019 in Troon Billy commented: “I was delighted to hear that my work in promoting Scottish culture has been reco...
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