Honorary Graduates – WEST

The Past, Present and Future of Preventing Stalking in Scotland

22May

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Honorary Graduates

The Past, Present and Future of Preventing Stalking in Scotland

You are warmly invited to attend a public screening of the UWS-produced short documentary ‘Unsilenced’ on Thursday 11 June 2026 from 4.00pm at our Paisley Campus. ‘Unsilenced’ features the story of Dr Ann Moulds CBE, an Honorary Doctor of the University of the West of Scotland, and a survivor of stalking who campaigned successfully for stalking to be recognised as a crime, and who launched the first anti-stalking charity in the UK. Please note that the film contains themes of sexual violence, nudity and threat. The short documentary screening will be followed by an expert panel discussion facilitated by Dr Maria Sapouna, Senior Lecturer in Criminology & Criminal Justice at UWS, and will feature contributions from Dr Ann Moulds CBE; along with Detective Chi...

24Apr

By uwsalumniNo Comments

Honorary Graduates

UWS Hosts Women’s Football Panel Event

The University has hosted an event that included expertise and opinion from across the women’s game to discuss how to build resilience in women’s football in Scotland, at a critical time as the game grows both nationally and globally. The event, which took place on Tuesday 21 April, at UWS Paisley campus, was hosted by UWS Principal & Vice-Chancellor Professor James Miller and included a fantastic panel featuring two UWS honorary graduates, Rose Reilly and Erin Cuthbert; Jane Dougall (BBC broadcaster and journalist); and Vivienne MacLaren (Chair of Scottish Women's Football). We've received a great response and feedback from guests - drawn from across the professional and amateur game - who joined colleagues from the University at the event held in Chancellor’s Hall. You c...

Talking AI with Prof Mark Girolami Chief Scientist at the Turing Institute

10Dec

By uwsalumniNo Comments

Alumni Stories, Honorary Graduates

Talking AI with Prof Mark Girolami Chief Scientist at the Turing Institute

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Honorary Doctorate Masterclass has given students, staff and the public an insight into the work of the Alan Turing Institute and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Professor Mark Girolami, Chief Scientist at The Alan Turing Institute and UWS alumnus, delivered a masterclass at the University’s Paisley campus on Tuesday 9 December exploring the challenges related to the speed and unpredictability of AI developments. During the session, which attracted around 70 attendees, Mark spoke about his early career and taking an opportunity to undertake his PhD at University of Paisley (now UWS) after a ten-year career as a Chartered Engineer within IBM. He also spoke about his current work as Chief Scientist at The Alan Turing...

Perfect Trio Honoured at UWS Winter Graduation

21Nov

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Honorary Graduates, News

Perfect Trio Honoured at UWS Winter Graduation

A Scottish singing star, football legend and an inspiring parish minister have been recognised as part of University of the West of Scotland's (UWS) winter graduations. Singer and songwriter Eddi Reader MBE has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from UWS for her contribution to music and the arts. The award was presented at the University’s Winter Graduation ceremony at Paisley Abbey on Tuesday 18 November, where she joined hundreds of graduating students celebrating their achievements. Born and raised in Glasgow until she was 16 and then spending her late teens in Irvine, Eddi Reader began performing at a young age, using music as a way to connect with others through busking and appearances in local folk clubs. Her career has spanned genres and decades. From early work with p...

Bestselling Authors Inspire UWS Audience

28Oct

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Honorary Graduates, News

Bestselling Authors Inspire UWS Audience

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Honorary Doctorate Masterclass has given students, staff and the public an insight into the world of historical fiction. Bestselling author Dr Marisa Haetzman delivered a masterclass at the University’s Paisley campus on Wednesday 15 October exploring her journey from medicine to literature. Dr Haetzman, who writes alongside her husband, crime author Chris Brookmyre, under the pseudonym Ambrose Parry, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by UWS in 2024 in recognition of her contributions to literature and the arts. Writing as Ambrose Parry, the pair have sold hundreds of thousands of books worldwide, with their award-winning Raven and Fisher series which captures the world of 19th-century Edinburgh, ...

Head of Oxfam Scotland’s Social Justice Work Celebrated at Dumfries Graduation

23Oct

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Honorary Graduates, News

Head of Oxfam Scotland’s Social Justice Work Celebrated at Dumfries Graduation

The Head of Oxfam Scotland has been recognised at the first of the University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) winter graduations. Jamie Livingstone has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate at the University’s Dumfries graduation ceremony, which took place at the Crichton Memorial Church on Wednesday 22 October 2025. Jamie has been at the helm of Oxfam Scotland since 2013 and was celebrated for his work to reduce inequalities and to address the climate crisis, not just in Scotland, but across the globe. Born and brought up in Dunfermline, Jamie studied international relations and economics at the University of St Andrews. Before being appointed Head of Oxfam Scotland, he was the charity’s Campaigns and Communications Manager, following an almost decade-long career in journalism, incl...

Charity leader recognised at UWS graduation

11Jul

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Honorary Graduates, News

Charity leader recognised at UWS graduation

An influential figure in the third sector has been celebrated as part of University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) summer graduations. Geoff Leask, previously the CEO of Young Enterprise Scotland, was recognised as part of a ceremony which took place at Paisley Abbey on Friday 11 July. Geoff has more than 25 years of experience working in the third sector. As well as leading Young Enterprise Scotland, he also spent 12 years with the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT). This included eight years of regional responsibility before joining the senior management team and going on to serve as Director. https://youtu.be/DPaIyXShDnk?si=HfxyjtbTRG8WmeHr Geoff recently founded Clayhills Consultancy in August 2022 whose mission is to support charities and third ...

International Higher Education Leader Recognised at UWS Graduation

10Jul

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Honorary Graduates, News

International Higher Education Leader Recognised at UWS Graduation

An international leader in higher education has been celebrated as part of UWS's summer graduations. Professor Colin Riordan CBE, who is the Secretary General and Chief Executive of The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), was celebrated as part of a ceremony that took place at Paisley Abbey on Thursday 10 July 2025. Colin began his career in education teaching English as a foreign language at Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg in Germany. He became Professor of German at Newcastle University in 1998, later being appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Provost of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in August 2005. In October 2007, he took up the post of Vice-Chancellor at the University of Essex and then in September 2012, he became President and Vice-Cha...

Alumna and Scotland star Wins Writers Award

1May

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Alumni Stories, Honorary Graduates, News

Alumna and Scotland star Wins Writers Award

University of the West of Scotland (UWS) former student Erin Cuthbert has been confirmed as the Scottish Football Writers' Association Women's International Player of the Year. Erin, who studied at the University before signing a professional contract, has been awarded the prize for the second season running. The 26-year-old, who was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2023, has amassed 74 caps for her country, scoring 23 goals along the way, pipping fellow nominees Rachel Corsie, Sophie Howard and Martha Thomas. Erin said: “I'm honoured to receive the award. Thanks to everyone who voted for me, and my friends, family, staff members and, most importantly, my team-mates who push me on every single day. "I'm proud, but it comes as a result of being part of a team and being successfu...

Honorary Graduate Patrick Doyle’s Five Best Film Scores

29Jan

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Honorary Graduates

Honorary Graduate Patrick Doyle’s Five Best Film Scores

Patrick Doyle’s five best film scores – including his pick of an undiscovered gem David Scott, University of the West of Scotland Scottish musician Patrick Doyle is an acclaimed composer of over 60 feature film scores with many attendant accolades, honours and awards. I first met him in 2001 while making a now long-vanished series on movie music called Silverscreen Beats for BBC Radio. I visited him at his office on the Shepperton lot in Surrey. There, I watched, enchanted, as he flitted between desk and piano bringing his creativity to life with his incredible musicality and riotous humour illustrating scores like Carlito’s Way (1993), Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Gosford Park (2001). So years later, when the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) presented Doyle with an ...