News – WEST | Alumni Blog

Research Finds Resilience Is the Game Changer for Young Footballers

16Sep

By uwsalumniNo Comments

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...

British Council Launches Study UK Alumni Awards to Celebrate International UK Alumni Achievements

1Sep

By uwsalumniNo Comments

News

British Council Launches Study UK Alumni Awards to Celebrate International UK Alumni Achievements

The British Council has announced the thirteenth year of its Study UK Alumni Awards, recognising the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni worldwide. These awards honour leaders who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their communities, industries, and countries. This year’s categories include Business and Innovation, Culture, Creativity and Sport, Science and Sustainability, and Social Action. Applications open on 1 September 2026 and close on 15 October 2026. Eligible applicants will be considered for both national Alumni Awards in participating countries and the global Alumni Awards. Potential applicants can find out more about applying for the Study UK Alumni Awards by joining the ‘How to Apply’ webinars on Tuesday 22 Sep...

TNE partnership strengthened with launch of Sri Lanka’s first UK Doctor of Business Administration

13Aug

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News

TNE partnership strengthened with launch of Sri Lanka’s first UK Doctor of Business Administration

University of the West of Scotland and Imperial College of Business Studies (ICBS) have marked a significant milestone in their partnership with the agreement to deliver the first UK Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) qualification in Sri Lanka, with the first cohort of students starting in September. The collaboration was celebrated at a special event in Colombo, bringing together senior representatives from UWS and ICBS, distinguished guests, alumni, academic colleagues and industry partners. The event included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalising the partnership between UWS and ICBS to deliver a prestigious UK doctoral qualification in Sri Lanka for the first time. The agreement reflects the strength of the relationship between UWS and ICB...

29Jul

By uwsalumniNo Comments

News, Uncategorized

In Memoriam: Professor Alan Roach

It is with sadness we inform you that our retired member of staff, Professor Alan Roach, has passed away. Professor Roach was a former Dean of the Science and Technology faculty at the then University of Paisley. He later became an Emeritus Professor and a key figure in Scottish educational research. His research primarily focused on science education. Notably, Professor Roach served as a lead investigator on the Scottish team for The Relevance of Science Education project. This international comparative project analysed secondary school students' attitudes toward science and technology. His work in this area involved conducting comprehensive surveys with Scottish pupils to evaluate how the curriculum relates to modern industry needs and student interests. Professor Roach's funera...

Paisley Lawn Tennis Club War Memorial Relocated to Paisley Campus

24Jun

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News

Paisley Lawn Tennis Club War Memorial Relocated to Paisley Campus

UWS formally unveiled the relocated Paisley Lawn Tennis Club War Memorial at its campus on Monday 8 June. Originally established in the 1880s, Paisley Lawn Tennis Club was a prominent part of the town’s sporting and social life. The Club moved to Thornly Park in 1909, where its war memorial was later erected to commemorate 15 members who died in wartime service. The memorial has been relocated from the former Thornly Park site to UWS’s Paisley campus, in a move that will improve public access to the memorial and ensure its long-term preservation by the University. The ceremony included a reconsecration by Reverend James Gibson, Interim Moderator and Minister of Paisley Abbey, as well as remarks from Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, Vice Lord-Lieut...

15Jun

By uwsalumni1 Comment

News

In Memoriam: Professor Peter Williams

The University is sad to share the news that former lecturer, Professor Peter Williams, died on 12 June 2026 at the age of 88. Professor Peter Williams Peter began his career as a lecturer at the then Paisley College of Technology (now UWS) in the Department of Electrical Engineering in 1965 and progressed to senior lecturer, gaining his PhD in 1978. He had an extensive background in teaching, research and academic publication and co-authored a widely used practical guide series on electronic circuits, co- wrote a how-to manual called The ZX Spectrum – Your Personal Computer and was Editor of Programming the BBC Micro. Following his interest and expertise in the growth area of microprocessor technology, Peter was asked to head up Scotland’s new training centre for the electroni...

Scotland Players Train at UWS’ Extreme Environments Chamber

12Jun

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News

Scotland Players Train at UWS’ Extreme Environments Chamber

Some of Scotland’s World Cup stars visited University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) Lanarkshire campus recently to experience training in demanding temperatures. The university’s Extreme Environments Chamber – one of only two in the country and the only one in the West of Scotland can replicate environmental extremes for athletes. Professor Vish Unithan from UWS said: “If you can have this acclimation eight, nine, ten days, then it can help to maintain the sort of sprint distances that these footballers need to maintain. It can also hopefully prevent any decline in the sort of high-speed running over prolonged distances that the players are going to have to cover.” Watch the piece on STV news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzjwXvjPXK0

25 Years of Commercial Music – A Celebration

1May

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News

25 Years of Commercial Music – A Celebration

BA (Hons) Commercial Music at The University of the West Of Scotland is 25 years old! Celebrate our industry changing course with us at our live event. For over 25 years, the Commercial Music degree at UWS has nourished creativity, collaboration and innovation in the Scottish Music Industry and beyond. Join us for a celebration of our students, staff and alumni, featuring live music, special guests and awards. Wednesday 20th May 2026Barras Art And Design (BAaD) in Glasgow7:00pm til 9:00pm (Performance starts 7:15pm) This is a ticketed event with full details here: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Glasgow/Barras-Art-And-Design-%28BAaD%29/25-Years-of-Commercial-Music---A-Celebration/42313227/

UWS to host public panel on issues shaping Scottish Parliament election

22Apr

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News

UWS to host public panel on issues shaping Scottish Parliament election

Members of the public are being invited to UWS’s Paisley campus on Wednesday 29 April for an event that will explore some of the biggest issues facing voters ahead of the Scottish Parliament election on Thursday 7 May. The free event, taking place on Wednesday 29 April, will bring together expert voices for an impartial discussion on some of the key areas influencing this year’s election and what they could mean for Scotland’s future. Hosted by Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, the panel will feature The Scotsman’s Catriona Stewart, Professor Murray Leith, Dr Anna McKeever, Dr Emilia Pietka-Nykaza (all from UWS) and Dr Sean Kippin of the University of Stirling. Discussions will look beyond election campaigning to examine th...

Exchange Programme That Helped Launch 1,000 Music Careers Turns 30

24Mar

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News

Exchange Programme That Helped Launch 1,000 Music Careers Turns 30

A University of the West of Scotland-led international music exchange programme that has helped launch the careers of more than 1,000 young people is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. EuroGig, which began in the 1996–97 academic year as an exchange between Scotland and Germany, has expanded into a five-partner European network involving organisations in France, Italy and Belgium. Since 2001, the programme has given student performers, tour managers and technical support teams the chance to work on live music events at home and abroad, helping them build international experience while gaining practical insight into the industry. Former EuroGig event managers have gone on to work for major organisations and events including TRNSMT, Glastonbury, DF Concerts and others ...