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

Two outstanding students have been awarded for their academic achievements at University of the West of Scotland’s Dumfries graduation ceremony on Wednesday 22 October 2025. At the first of the University’s winter graduations, Anna McKenna and Charlie McClure-Towers were recognised for their significant commitment and contribution during their studies at UWS. Anna McKenna Anna graduated with a BSc in Adult Nursing and was awarded the Evelyn Hastings Prize which is managed by The Crichton Foundation. Anna has demonstrated exceptional resilience and dedication throughout her nursing degree, managing her studies while navigating a deeply challenging personal situation at home, when during her training, a close relative became seriously ill and passed away. Despite this, Anna re...
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Become a Mentor at UWS
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Become a Mentor at UWS

Can you motivate people? Do you like helping people to develop? We are looking for inspiring professionals to mentor our students! The UWS mentoring programme is about to kick off for 2025-2026 and we are looking for alumni to get involved in the programme. Alumna and mentor Sarah said: “If I was to give one piece of advice for people thinking about doing mentoring… It would definitely be just to go for it. I got a lot out of it, passing on advice to my mentee and keeping my connections with UWS alive.” As a mentor, you will share your experience of work to help motivate and inspire your mentee and practice many skills including coaching and leadership. “Why did I become a mentor at UWS? First of all it was to give something back. I really enjoyed my time at UWS, it was an extr...
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WEST Scholarship Inspires Graduate to First Class Honours Degree
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WEST Scholarship Inspires Graduate to First Class Honours Degree

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has credited the WEST Scholarship he received during his studies as inspiration for him to pursue his dream of becoming a university lecturer.  Brian Boyd recently graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Business and Marketing and was awarded the Court medal for his academic achievement. He has now returned to UWS to study MSc Digital Marketing, pursue a PhD, and inspire others as a lecturer.  Brian is the first person in his family to earn a university degree, but it wasn’t a straight-forward journey to his graduation in July 2025. Brian explains how a WEST (Widening Education and Supporting Talent) Scholarship helped “change my whole outlook on university.”  In the third year of his undergraduate degree, Brian ...
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Exceptional Engineering Graduate Awarded for Achievements at Graduation
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Exceptional Engineering Graduate Awarded for Achievements at Graduation

A civil engineering graduate has been recognised for his significant commitment and contribution during his studies at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).  Stephen Cardwell, from East Kilbride, graduated with a BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering from UWS, and was awarded the Hutchison Prize for Engineering. The Hutchison Prize for Engineering was established in 2013 by UWS alumnus and retired Lanarkshire-born businessman, Dr Les Hutchison. The award recognises the best performing undergraduate engineering student graduating from the University's School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences.  On being recognised with the award, Stephen, who now works as a graduate Civil Engineer at Scottish Water, said: “I’m delighted to be graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Civi...
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Inspirational Health Graduate Recognised at Summer Ceremony
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Inspirational Health Graduate Recognised at Summer Ceremony

A recent graduate who is an "inspiration to other students" has been awarded for their academic achievements at University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) summer graduations.  Amy Bowers, from Royston in Glasgow, graduated with a BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing from UWS and received the Amundsen Trophy, which recognises a student who has overcome significant adversity during their studies but has managed to successfully continue with their programme.  During Amy’s time at UWS, she has been caring for her mother who has regularly been in hospital, while at the same time dealing with the sudden death of her brother. Amy’s programme leader called Amy an “inspiration to other students”. Amy now works as a Community Addictions Nurse within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Commen...
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Charity leader recognised at UWS graduation
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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 ...
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Brothers graduate from the same course with first class degrees
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Brothers graduate from the same course with first class degrees

A pair of brothers are celebrating their graduation – after both graduating from the same course. Balint and Peter Kaszap-Nagy both graduated from the BSc (Hons) Web and Mobile Development course at University of the West of Scotland (UWS) with a first class degree. Balint, 32, said: “We decided to enrol on the same course because both of us have always been interested in programming and technology, so choosing this course felt like a natural fit. It also gave us an opportunity to develop skills that we knew would be valuable for building something together in the future.” The brothers are originally from Hungary but have lived in Scotland for the past nine years. They found studying at the same time made their university experience more enjoyable. Peter, 36, said: “Studying at...
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International Higher Education Leader Recognised at UWS Graduation
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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...
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Sporting Alumni Stories Captured in New Podcast Series
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Sporting Alumni Stories Captured in New Podcast Series

A podcast series featuring sporting alumni, produced by University of the West of Scotland (UWS) journalism/ journalism (sports) students, has been released. The Top of the Scots podcast series delves into the world of sport with episodes from some of the university’s most talented former students, highlighting their incredible sporting successes across an array of sports. The series came about as part of a module in the BA journalism/journalism (sports) degree programme at UWS, and features student interviews with an Olympian, Paralympians, Commonwealth athletes, Coaches and a Scottish Cup winner. “I wanted to combine the knowledge of former students and their incredible graduate journeys with those in my current class about to set out on their own, to help them think there is a ...
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