Annual Review 2013 The University of Stirling ranked in the top 2.5% of global universities The QS World Ranking Contents Principal’s review 2 News highlights 6 Impact Fellows 9 Student view: world of opportunity 10 Stirling people Students and staff 12 Alumni 16 Honorary Graduates 18 Key statistics and financial summary 20 Principal’s review 2013 Outstanding progress has been made this year across a wide range of activities. In this annual review, I would like to highlight and share with you some of these activities and commend the individuals and teams whose efforts have enhanced our reputation on the world stage. This year saw significant improvement in A particularly prolific research area in many of the league tables. In the Times 2013 was health. In the field of cancer Higher Education 100 universities under care, Dr Liz Forbat, from the University’s the age of 50 league table, we retained Cancer Care Research Centre, led a our position as the leading institution pioneering study funded by Prostate in Scotland. We also secured a place Cancer UK to investigate the benefits in the Telegraph’s ‘Top 12 universities of offering post-surgery relationship for getting a job’; recognition that our counselling to prostate cancer patients graduates remain highly sought after by and their partners. employers. Our inclusion in the 2013 QS ormac, hancellor Dr Gill Hubbard began a 21-month C C World Rankings for the first time in the study with NHS staff – looking at ice- University’s history reflects the enormous V whether joint-rehabilitation sessions for progress we have made recently on the bowel cancer and cardiac patients can world stage. be more sustainable in rural areas and In November 2013, we were awarded improve the outcomes for patients. Professor Gerry Mc Principal and the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Dr Carron Shankland from Computing Prize for Higher and Further Education Science and Mathematics launched for our ground-breaking research in a £1.2m project to explore a tailored social marketing. Our Institute of Social approach to cancer care, bringing Marketing, led by Professors Gerard together expertise in biology, computer Hastings and Linda Bauld has conducted science, mathematics and physics. research that shows how commercial marketing of alcohol, tobacco and Other cancer research included two complementary studies led by junk food endangers young people’s the University’s Occupational and health. This prize, which will be Environmental Health Research Group presented to the University by the which won a prestigious American Queen at a ceremony in Buckingham Public Health Association (APHA) Palace is the most prestigious in the Scientific Research Award. UK, and is recognition of the invaluable contribution our research is making to Workplace health was again the focus society. We also received an Athena of Professor Rory O’Neill’s landmark SWAN Bronze award – in recognition of study which investigated the deadly our ongoing commitment to advancing consequences of workplace sectors women’s academic careers in science, operating without inspectors. The technology, engineering, mathematics project highlighted that the majority and medicine. At the 2013 Times of workplace deaths occur in sectors Higher Education Awards, we won the excused from unannounced safety ‘Most Improved Student Experience’ regulator inspections. award, and also the Outstanding Research funding by the Scottish Employer Engagement Initiative Award Government to our School of Nursing, for our Making the Most of Masters Midwifery and Health saw progress (MMM) scheme in partnership with the in the UK’s largest ever study into universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen. patient experience and the delivery of The University’s research performance frontline healthcare. in 2013 showed sustained progress, In finance, our research looked at the with research awards continuing to nature of the economic issues faced exceed the £10m threshold. This at both a national and international upward trajectory of research awards level. Professor Johnston Birchall in and expenditure was achieved in a Applied Social Science authored an challenging period for research funding; International Labour Organization most other institutions are experiencing report, which examined why financial significant decreases in research income. co-operatives fared better than PAGE 2 | PRINCIPAL’S REVIEW investor-owned banks during the In English Studies, the Centre global recession. for International Publishing and The prestigious Communication launched a new Closer to home, Professor David Gaelic publishing scholarship in Queen’s Anniversary Bell’s ESRC-funded research has partnership with the Gaelic Books been looking at fiscal aspects of Prize for Higher and Council, while Dr Padmini Ray Murray constitutional change. was awarded an AHRC-funded Unbox Further Education In preparation for the 700th anniversary fellowship to work on projects in India of the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014, that encourage sustainable innovation was awarded in environmental scientist Dr Richard for Indian businesses and society. Tipping has studied the topography of The University’s Art Collection recognition of our the historic landscape to help recreate received a major boost, gaining the battle site within the visitor £100,000 worth of awards from ground-breaking centre. Historians, Professor Richard the Scottish Funding Council, Oram and Dr Michael Penman Museums Galleries Scotland and the work in social and our Chair in Creative Writing, Robertson Trust. These funds are Professor Kathleen Jamie, have also helping to ensure the Art Collection marketing research. contributed to the Bannockburn is accessible and enjoyed by everyone preparations; Professor Jamie having in the University and members of won a national competition to have the local community. In the spring, one of her poems inscribed on the we welcomed our first Artist in site’s iconic Rotunda Monument. Residence, Alec Finlay – an artist, poet In March, First Minister Alex Salmond and University of Stirling alumnus. announced Stirling aquaculture He has been working with colleagues researchers and partner organisations across various academic disciplines had been awarded funding to work to create new bee-themed public with fish farmers in Malawi – to sculptures for the Art Collection. improve fish production practice. In Our cultural outreach programme was another important aquaculture project, enhanced last year with the creation Stirling researchers began work on a of a new Quartet in Residence. The multi-partnered, €3 million EU-funded Edinburgh Quartet has performed study – to look at how flies could a series of concerts on campus and become a cost-effective alternative for collaborated with various departments animal feeds. to foster musical engagement. Some In Applied Social Science, researchers particularly interesting workshops began a five-year, £2.5 million study were held with students in the School into the welfare system. The ERSC- of Education, to explore the benefits funded study comes at a crucial time, of music in school classroom settings. as the UK faces a major overhaul of its It was also a year of notable existing welfare benefits system, and developments for the University’s examines the ethics of current benefits Archives and Special Collections. and services. Dr Jim Smyth and Dr The Archives received a tremendous Michael Penman in History and Politics boost when one of its collections – an made progress on their five-year archive of early documents from the project to create a digital catalogue Royal Scottish National Hospital in of all forms of memorialisation of Larbert – was recognised as being of Scotland’s contribution to the Great outstanding historical importance by War (1914-18). UNESCO. PAGE 3 | ANNUAL REVIEW Principal’s review 2013 In addition, we received the Archives champions, adding to the Scottish and of Commonwealth Games Scotland British university strokeplay titles. They and will work with Creative Scotland were also invited to represent Europe at and Glasgow 2014 to create a public Prestige, the world’s premier collegiate exhibition of the extensive collection competition run by Stanford University of photographs, correspondence and and the University of California. memorabilia documenting more than 80 years of international sporting On the international stage, Sports Studies competition. We were awarded a grant student Cormac Sharvin was crowned from the National Cataloguing Grants Irish Amateur golf champion and Business Scheme to catalogue and preserve the Studies student Zander Culverwell papers of former Scottish First Minister followed in the footsteps of Stirling’s Jack Jack McConnell. Although deeply McDonald, when he was crowned 2013 saddened by the death of Stirling Scottish Amateur Champion. alumnus Iain Banks in June, we were In swimming, another key strand of also honoured to become custodian of the University’s International Sports The University of Stirling signed a Memorandum the Iain Banks Archives. of Understanding with Atomi University near Tokyo Scholarship Programme, we had in Japan. In our commitment to ensuring all several reasons to feel proud. We were delighted to cheer on four Stirling Pictured are Mr Yasukazu Uchiyama, Head of University employees have access to Administration at Atomi University with Principal and the same opportunities, 18 female swimmers at the World Championships Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McCormac, Dr Taeko members of staff across the University