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UWS Graduate Wins Scots Writer o the Year Award
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Alumni Stories, Featured

UWS Graduate Wins Scots Writer o the Year Award

University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate Lucy Beth has been named Scots Writer o the Year at the Scots Language Awards 2026. Previous winners of the award include Morna Young, Liz Lochhead and Rona Munro. Lucy Beth BA (Hons) Performance (2020) A native Doric speaker (the traditional dialect of the Scots Language spoken in the North East of Scotland), Lucy graduated from UWS in 2020 with a BA (Hons) degree in Performance and seeks to make and perform work in Doric as a means of continuing to render the dialect present. Her recent credits include solo show Ma Name is Isabelle, performed at The Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, and a spoken-word poem celebrating the 120th anniversary of His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen. Reacting to the aw...
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Scottish Rom-Com Written by UWS Graduate Makes Cinema Debut
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Alumni Stories, Featured

Scottish Rom-Com Written by UWS Graduate Makes Cinema Debut

A contemporary Scottish romantic comedy written by University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate Kevin Walls has been released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland. Kevin Walls BA (Hons) Commercial Music 2012 Set in Glasgow, Premature follows two flatmates navigating an unexpected pregnancy after a one-night stand. Blending humour with honest, character-driven storytelling, the film explores ambition, self-determination and unpredictability through a millennial lens. Kevin, who wrote, directed and produced the film, said: “Premature is a romantic comedy, but at its heart it’s a coming-of-age film about two millennials who aren’t quite fully formed. “We made Premature to connect with audiences, so bringing it to cinemas is incredibly exciting. This has been a truly collabora...
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Research Finds Resilience Is the Game Changer for Young Footballers
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Featured, News

Research Finds Resilience Is the Game Changer for Young Footballers

Young players’ mentality, adaptability and the ability to cope with the initial shock of first team exposure are the keys to surviving the transition from academy football to elite first teams, new research by the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) suggests. Dr Mark McGuigan The study - undertaken at Celtic F.C - was led by UWS graduate, Sports Coaching lecturer and former professional footballer, Dr Mark McGuigan and published in the Journal of Sports Sciences. It offers timely insights into one of the most pressing issues facing Scottish football at present: how to successfully develop and retain homegrown talent. Participants included five academy-graduate first team players and the head coach who contributed perspectives of youth to first team transition within the elite...
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Building Community Through Whisky and Conversation: Meet Alumna Pamela Dobbin
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Featured, Profiles

Building Community Through Whisky and Conversation: Meet Alumna Pamela Dobbin

UWS Tourism Management graduate, Pamela Dobbin, has built a successful career in Canada’s beverage industry while co-founding the Dram Fine Podcast. Created to challenge stereotypes and make whisky more inclusive, the podcast has grown into a thriving community that hosts festivals, events and whisky experiences. Her love of whisky started with a dram from her Granny but her family connection to Islay meant that whisky has always been part of her life. Pamela Dobbin, BA Tourism Management (2011) Your podcast Dram Fine Podcast has been rated as the number 1 whisky podcast in Canada. Can you tell us how the idea for the podcast came about? My friend and I were sitting in a pub together in our mid-30s, initially joking about starting a band or finding a creative project to collaborat...
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Graduate Awarded OBE for Services to Maths Education
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Graduate Awarded OBE for Services to Maths Education

University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate Dr Rashmi Mantri has been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for services to Mathematics Education. Dr Rashmi Mantri OBE Rashmi, who studied a PhD at UWS and is founder of Glasgow's British Youth International College (BYITC) which offers after school classes for 5-14-year-olds, was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the summer. Rashmi commented: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been awarded an 𝐎𝐁𝐄. It is difficult to put into words what this recognition means to me. “I accept this honour with immense gratitude and humility, and I am thankful to everyone who has supported, encouraged and believed in me throughout my journey.” Growing up in a small town in India, Rashmi dreamed...
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Leading Asian Communications Technology Group Appoints UWS Graduate as Senior Director
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Alumni Stories, Featured

Leading Asian Communications Technology Group Appoints UWS Graduate as Senior Director

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has been appointed Senior Director, Technology & Transformation GBS, at Singtel Group in Malaysia. Terence Tan, MBA (2024) Terence Tan, who graduated with an MBA from UWS in 2024, has joined Singtel from Herbalife, where he was Regional IT Director for APAC, with technology leadership responsibilities across 14 markets. Previously, he spent 16 years with British American Tobacco in regional and global technology leadership roles. Talking about his time studying with UWS Terence commented: “Pursuing my MBA at UWS was a decision I had delayed for years through work and life situations, given the excuse that the timing was never quite right. But from the moment I finally clicked the button and paid the fees, I never looked back!...
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UWS Graduate to Lead IonQ’s EMEA Business
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UWS Graduate to Lead IonQ’s EMEA Business

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has been appointed Senior Vice President (SVP), Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for IonQ the world’s leading quantum platform and foundry. Martin Brown BA Business Economics (1996) Martin Brown graduated from University of Paisley (now UWS) with a BA in Business Economics in 1996. Martin commented on LinkedIn: “I'm incredibly excited to join IonQ as SVP, EMEA. “Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to help grow businesses at moments when transformative technologies were moving from early adoption to mainstream impact. “What drew me to IonQ is the combination of technical leadership, ambitious vision, and relentless focus on execution. IonQ is helping define the future of quantum computing, quantum networking, ...
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Alumnus Named in the Campaign UK 40 Over 40 Awards 2026
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Alumnus Named in the Campaign UK 40 Over 40 Awards 2026

University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate, Andrew Dobbie, is amongst the winners in the Campaign Magazine UK 40 Over 40 Awards, honouring professionals in advertising, media, marketing, and technology. Andrew, who graduated from University of Paisley (now UWS) in 2003, has been recognised for his outstanding contributions to the industry, from ground-breaking work, head-turning innovations to outside-of-the-box thinking and memorable campaigns as CEO of MadeBrave. Commenting on social media, Andrew said: “Over the moon to be named on Campaign’s 40 Over 40 list. “Some days when you’re running a business you need a wee positive shot of adrenaline in the arm. There are plenty of ups and downs, and today’s firmly in the up column.” Following graduation from the BSc Mult...
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Alumna Awarded for Advancing Equality and Anti-Racism in Education
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Alumni Stories, Featured

Alumna Awarded for Advancing Equality and Anti-Racism in Education

A UWS alumna and professor has been awarded by the UK’s leading educational research authority for her work in driving equality and embedding anti-racism practices within the Scottish education system. Professor Khadija Mohammed, University of West of Scotland Dr Khadija Mohammed, Professor of Teacher Education and Associate Vice-Principal (Inclusivity), has won the 2026 British Educational Research Association (BERA) Equality in Education Award. Describing her as “a leading voice in anti-racist education”, BERA has recognised Professor Mohammed’s impact on educational policy and professional practice, as well as her work in challenging systemic barriers affecting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) educators and students. Her work has informed policy development, curriculum r...
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TV Host and Graduate Awarded an Honorary Doctorate
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Featured, Honorary Graduates

TV Host and Graduate Awarded an Honorary Doctorate

Scottish television personality and broadcaster Jean Johansson has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate at University of the West of Scotland’s summer graduations.    Known for hosting hit Channel 4 show A Place in the Sun, Jean was celebrated on 10 July during a ceremony at Paisley Abbey for her remarkable career in television and radio, where she has become one of Scotland's most recognisable and respected broadcasters.  Jean is an alumna of the University, graduating in 2010 with a degree in broadcast journalism. Known for presenting a range of popular programmes, Jean has built a reputation for engaging storytelling, professionalism, and connecting with audiences across the UK. Beyond her broadcasting career, Jean has been a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion...
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