UWS Alumni Blog

Tag: Media

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, incl...
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Eight influential figures to be honoured at summer graduations
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Honorary Graduates

Eight influential figures to be honoured at summer graduations

Eight prominent figures will be celebrated at University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) summer graduations.  Paisley Abbey Jean Johansson, Laura Montgomery & Carol Anne Stewart, Fiona Campbell MBE, Paul Andrew, Manira Ahmad, Brian Cannon and Evelyn McDonald will be given Honorary Doctorates as part of the University’s graduation ceremonies, running from Tuesday 7 – Friday 10 July.  Evelyn McDonald, CEO of business funding enterprise, Scottish Edge. Tuesday 7 July 2pm. Brian Cannon, owner of graphic design company, Microdot, and creator of Oasis’ debut album cover for Definitely Maybe. Wednesday 8 July 10.30am Manira Ahmad, Chief Officer of Public Health Scotland. Wednesday 8 July 2pm. Paul Andrew, Vice-Principal of Public Affairs and Communication at Harvard Un...
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ITV Announce UWS Graduate as Reporter For World Cup
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Alumni Stories, Featured

ITV Announce UWS Graduate as Reporter For World Cup

ITV Sport has included a University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate as part of their line-up for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Connie McLaughlin, a well-respected presenter and journalist known for her work reporting across BBC, ITV, Premier Sports and TNT Sports, will be reporting pitch-side at the tournament for ITV. A graduate from the postgraduate degree in broadcast journalism at UWS, Connie will be taking a break from her presenting duties on BBC Radio Scotland’s Mornings phone-in show to follow and report on the Scotland men’s team as they take on Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the World Cup. Connie commented on social media: “Still pinching myself…but so excited to be part of the team covering the World Cup 2026 for ITV Sport. "I’ll be following Scotland out in North Ca...
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Radio and TV Presenter Giving Behind the Scenes Look at the Scotland Camp
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Alumni Stories

Radio and TV Presenter Giving Behind the Scenes Look at the Scotland Camp

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) alumnus is working with the Scotland National Team to create exclusive content, record player interviews and give fans a peek behind the scenes at the World Cup. Broadcast journalism graduate Gordon Duncan, who is well known as the host of the long running Clyde 1 Superscoreboard football phone in show and as a presenter on Sky Sports, has been working with the Scottish FA to produce content for its YouTube channel and social media channels. Gordon Duncan PgDip Broadcast Journalism (2012) Gordon has been giving viewers an insight into the Scotland camp with his daily round-up series and the activities that take place in between training and games. He has also interviewed Scotland captain Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Lawrence Shankland and...
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Research Finds VR Sign Language Used by Deaf Gamers
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Alumni Stories, Featured

Research Finds VR Sign Language Used by Deaf Gamers

A graduate and current PhD student from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has led a study on the experiences of deaf people in VR social spaces as part of her postgraduate degree and revealed that members of the deaf community have created a ‘virtual sign language’ specifically for accessing VR technology. The findings, shared by BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development graduate Lara McIntyre, highlight VR headsets’ ‘incompatibility’ with BSL - a visual-spatial language used by 87,000 deaf people in the UK, which uses a mix of hand shapes, facial expressions, lip patterns and body language to convey meaning. It shows some deaf people who actively use VR as a means of socialising with other gamers are adapting by creating a new form of sign language, called virtual reality...
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The Past, Present and Future of Preventing Stalking in Scotland
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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...
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Graduate Releases New Psychological Thriller
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Alumni Stories, Featured

Graduate Releases New Psychological Thriller

An Edinburgh author, and University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate, explores the risks of psychedelic healing in new psychological thriller The Medicine. Scottish author Emma Dhesi, who graduated from the then University of Paisley (now UWS) with a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies, returns with The Medicine, a psychological suspense novel that examines trauma, memory, and the growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Emma is the author of five novels, including The Day She Came Home and Follow Me, and is known for writing emotionally charged stories centred on women navigating complex personal crises. Her work blends domestic suspense with psychological depth, often exploring the tension between perception and truth. The third instalment in A Scottish Sus...
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Alumna Strikes Gold at European Championships
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Alumni Stories, Featured

Alumna Strikes Gold at European Championships

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has picked up gold at the European Badminton Championships in Huelva, Spain, and become the first British woman to win a singles title in 40 years. Kirsty Gilmour, who graduated from UWS in 2015, beat Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark in the final to win gold after previously placing second in the 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024 and 2025 finals. In a story of resilience and determination, Kirsty overcame injury to win a European Championship gold medal for the first time against the opponent who beat her in the final last year. “Being able to call myself European Champion after so many near misses feels better than I could’ve ever dreamed. It’s certainly made for a great story,” commented Kirsty on social media. https://www.yout...
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Graduate Lands Weekend Breakfast Hosting Role on STV Radio
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Alumni Stories, Featured

Graduate Lands Weekend Breakfast Hosting Role on STV Radio

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate is waking up the airwaves as the Weekend Breakfast Show host on the newly launched STV Radio. A seasoned radio presenter of over 20 years, Alan Edwards had previously decided to leave radio broadcasting behind focusing on his career as a Humanist Celebrant, before the opportunity to join the weekend presenter line up for STV radio came along. Alan said: “I am hugely privileged to have become a part of the brand new STV Radio, hosting Weekend Breakfast between 6am and 9am on Saturdays and Sundays.” “I left full time radio to focus on my career as a Humanist Wedding Celebrant,” continued Alan. “But out of the blue, this opportunity presented itself, and I simply couldn’t say no. Radio is in my blood. And this way, I can continue fo...
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Graduate’s Unique Podcast Series Releases Its Final Season
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Alumni Stories

Graduate’s Unique Podcast Series Releases Its Final Season

A sports podcast series by a University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate will be releasing its final episodes this month, focusing on the Women’s game. Dr James Mahon, alumnus and former lecturer of journalism at UWS, has launched the fourth season of his acclaimed sports podcast Dr James's One Cap Wonders. This bespoke final series, features only female footballers, including ex England Assistant Manager Julie Hemsley and PSG star Ella Masar as well as the current captain of Sevilla and former Barcelona player Esther Sullastres. https://youtu.be/oO6_d_qDJ1Q?si=daZnHoOiFoSa6UF4 The podcast explores the careers of footballers who had extraordinary club careers across the world but were only capped once for their countries. With new episodes every Wednesday in January exp...
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