Portillo to Give University Address
Pub Ideas More Than a Pipe Dream
Foreign Correspondent Accepts University Mission
Elinor Goodman to Give Hetherington Lecture
The Principal's Music Series Continues
What Does Housing Mean to You?
Portillo to Give University Address
Date released: Monday 3 October 2005
The Rt Hon Michael Portillo will give the University of Stirling’s annual Andrew John Williamson Memorial Lecture on Tuesday 11 October.
Mr Portillo, who left the House of Commons in 2005 after more than 20 years in politics, will pose the question How Healthy is our democracy?
Speaking ahead of the lecture, Mr Portillo said: “Politicians and journalists blame each other for the public's apathy about our democratic processes. But is apathy always a bad thing? And if things are bad, given that politics is not just what politicians do, when will the public take some responsibility on itself?”
The lecture has been organised by the Andrew John Williamson Memorial Trust which was established by an endowment from the parents of Andrew John Williamson. Andrew died as a result of a car accident in 1981 while a Politics student at the University of Stirling.
The annual lecture has attracted major political figures since it was launched in 1983 including Paddy Ashdown, Alex Salmond, Michael Forsyth, George Robertson, Menzies Campbell and George Reid.
The talk is free of charge and open to the public. It will be held in the Logie Lecture Theatre commencing at 6.30pm.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
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Graham Timmins University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: +44 (0) 1786 467598 |
Pub Ideas More Than a Pipe Dream
Date released: Tuesday 4 October 2005
The winners of Stirling University student enterprise programme’s ‘business idea on a beer mat’ competition were announced on Monday 3 October. Specially designed beer mats to promote the competition, which doubled as entry forms, were distributed in student bars and pubs in Stirling, Falkirk and Alloa. The competition was sponsored by local business Graham Robertson Sony Centre who donated the prizes.
Stirling University student Sarah Pillans won the main prize, a Sony Vaio laptop, with her novel approach to recycling children’s clothes. While Nick Cheetham of Forth Valley College won the second prize of an mp3 player for his innovative new way to sell mp3s. Runners-up Stephen Wright, Alistair Cernik and Kelly McShane, all students at Stirling University, won book tokens from John Smith & Son Bookshop.
At the prize-giving, held in the MacRobert, Alasdair Gammack, head of the student enterprise programme, also launched the University’s Business Plan Competition. Students who want to develop their business idea into a business plan will compete to enter the national finals, held by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise in March 2006.
Lesley Pollock
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Alasdair Gammack University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: +44 (0) 1786 458014 |
Tall Women Aim High
Date released: Tuesday 4 October 2005
New research has revealed that tall women may be more ambitious in their careers and less inclined to start a family.
Scottish researchers surveyed 679 women aged 20 to 29 and found that the taller women were, the less broody and more career minded they tended to be. Denis Deady from the University of Stirling and Miriam Law Smith of the University of St Andrews gathered data through an online survey. Women were asked questions such as how many children would you like to have and how important to you is having a career.
Denis Deady said: “Our study has shown that traditional masculine traits, such as being more career driven, are related to physical stature. Previous studies have suggested that taller women may have more trouble finding mates. However we think that tall women may have higher levels of testosterone which may cause them to have more ‘masculine’ personalities.”
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
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Denis Deady University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: +44 (0) 1786 466845 |
Foreign Correspondent Accepts University Mission
Date released: Monday 10 October 2005
Revered foreign correspondent for The Independent and author, Robert Fisk will give a lecture on recent events in Iraq at the University of Stirling this Friday entitled Into the Wilderness: How to Escape History in Iraq.
Mr Fisk, who is based in Beirut, has been on the battlefront of the Middle-East’s conflict for 28 years and has met Osama bin Laden three times. He holds more British and International journalism awards than any other foreign correspondent.
His book, Pity the Nation, a history of the Lebanon war, was published to great critical acclaim and he publishes his latest book, The Great War for Civilisation – The Conquest of the Middle East today (Monday).
The event is free of charge and will take place on Friday 14 October at 7-8.30pm in the University’s Pathfoot lecture theatre, A96.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
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Dr Dejan Jovic University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: +44 (0) 1786 467567 |
Elinor Goodman to Give Hetherington Lecture
Date released: Monday 17 October 2005
The distinguished television journalist Elinor Goodman will give this year’s Hetherington Memorial Lecture. She will speak on the topic Mutual Destruction? Politicians and the Media on Wednesday 19 October 2005 at 5.30pm in Logie Lecture Theatre, University of Stirling.
Ms Goodman joined Channel 4 News as Political Correspondent from the Financial Times in 1982. She was made Political Editor in 1988, a post she held until she retired this year. While at Channel 4, she covered four General Elections and countless by-elections and European elections. In her long journalistic career she has gained a reputation as a shrewd, incisive, but fair analyst among politicians, fellow journalists and academics.
The Hetherington Memorial Lecture was established in memory of Alastair Hetherington, former Guardian editor and BBC Scotland controller, who was the first research professor in the Department of Film & Media Studies at the University.
Jon Snow, Alan Rusbridger and Sheena McDonald are among the well-known journalists who have given the annual lecture, which is supported by the Scott Trust, owners of the Guardian and the Observer.
The event is open to the public and admission is free.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
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Peter Meech University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: +44 (0) 1786 467526 |
The Principal's Music Series Continues
Date released: Monday 10 October 2005
The University’s series of lunchtime musical recitals is back by popular demand this semester.
The Principal’s Music season kicks off on Monday 17 October with a performance by bass baritone Ian Ainsworth accompanied by Martin Davies on piano.
There will also be performances by folk band Wired to the Moon on Monday 14 November and Dollar Academy Senior Choir on Monday 19 December.
The first two performances take place in the MacRobert foyer, while the third will take place in the University Chaplaincy. All three events will take place 12.15 – 1pm, are free of charge and open to the public.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
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Khlayre Mullin University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: +44 (0) 1786 466675 |
Making Knowledge Work
Date released: Monday 24 October 2005
More than 120 public policy-makers, community development leaders and academic researchers from across the globe will gather at the University of Stirling this week (25-28 October) to share their knowledge and experiences of community-building, policy-making and regeneration and sustainability projects.
A number of high profile speakers will attend the conference – entitled Building Sustainable Communities through Partnerships in Place Management, Social Capital and Lifelong Learning – including Johann Lamont MSP, Scotland’s Deputy Minister for Communities; Professor Shirley Walters, Chair of the South African Qualifications Authority; Professor Paul Bélanger, former Head of the UNESCO Institute of Education; Professor Tom Schuller, Head of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) and Alex King, Deputy Leader of Kent County Council.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Professor Tom Schuller said: “At OECD we have done a good deal of work on globalisation and what it means for competition and skills. But we still understand rather little about how localities go about equipping themselves, not only for the challenge of globalisation but also for less grandiose challenges. In particular, we need to know how far the rhetoric surrounding lifelong learning translates itself into coherent activity at community level."
The event is organised by PASCAL, an international research and policy development alliance, which aims to develop, communicate and explain new and emerging ideas about Place Management, Social Capital and Learning Regions. The body was established in 2003 by the University of Stirling, the RMIT University, the State Government of Victoria (Australia), the Scottish Executive and Kent County Council.
Professor Mike Osborne of the University of Stirling’s Institute of Education and Co-Director of PASCAL said: “The conference will look at the implications for policy and practice of new research in place management, social capital and learning regions. Our discussions will no doubt raise fresh questions about practice that will make a difference to communities across the world and will identify areas which need further research. For example the conference will provide policy-makers, social partners and practitioners with research-informed knowledge and practice in the implementation of lifelong and lifewide learning at a regional level, and on the wider benefits of learning.”
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
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Mike Osborne University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: +44 (0) 1786 467618 |
What Does Housing Mean to You?
Date released: Monday 31 October 2005
Housing policy is more concerned with bricks and mortar than what people actually think about their homes according to housing expert David Clapham.
Professor Clapham of the University of Cardiff will make a case for involving people in decisions regarding their housing when he gives the University of Stirling’s annual housing lecture this Wednesday.
“Housing policy is too focussed on the physical condition of housing rather than what housing means to individuals, who need to feel comfortable, safe and in control of the situation,” he said. “Unfortunately, despite their best intentions, housing agencies get involved in changing the housing situation of people in a way that only helps to undermine this sense of control. For example, a regeneration scheme that fails to listen to the wishes of residents or putting pressure put on a rough sleeper to enter a hostel. There needs to be more awareness of questions of identity and lifestyle of residents and how their particular housing situation fits into this.”
The talk, entitled The Meaning of Housing, will take place on Wednesday 2 November in room 3S15, Colin Bell Building, 4pm to 6pm.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
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Professor David Clapham |
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Tel: +44 (0) 2920700956 |
Rebuilding Rwanda
Date released: Monday 31 October 2005
The University of Stirling is one of ten Scottish universities offering scholarship places to Rwandan women this year as part of the Rotary University Scholarship Scheme, Rwanda (RUSSR).
Married mother-of-two Diana Haguma (30) from Kigali joined the University last month to study for an MSc in Finance – taking a break from her accountancy career and family life.
Diana said: “I feel very privileged to be given the opportunity to study at Stirling. The course will broaden my financial skills which will not only bolster my career with the Rwanda Revenue Authority, but will give me the skills Rwanda requires to restructure its financial systems.”
The scholarship scheme was set up as a registered charity to further the education of Rwandan women and contribute to capacity building in a country which had been devastated by genocide.
Diana’s course director, Dr Kevin Campbell, a senior lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Law, said: “With so many men killed during the genocide, Rwandan women play a crucial role in society. Around 55 percent of the population are female and women’s education is therefore clearly vital to the country’s progress. We are delighted to offer Diana the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to benefit her country.”
This is the second year the University has participated in the scheme. In the academic year 2003-04, Sylvie Karasira studied for an MSc in Aquaculture. She has since returned to Rwanda to share her knowledge of fish farming with students at the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry where she is an assistant lecturer.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
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Dr Kevin Campbell University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: +44 (0) 1786 467289 |