Age campaigner Alison Clyde joins hundreds to graduate from University of Stirling

Age campaigner Alison Clyde has received an honorary degree from the University of Stirling, joining more than 400 students at today's spring graduation ceremony.

Alison was honoured for her outstanding contribution to intergenerational work and age-related equality, including being involved in the University’s research related to healthy ageing.

Alison was educated at Eastwood High School in Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, and Glasgow Caledonian University. Her storied career began in sports development, and she went on to be manager of a sports centre in Glasgow before taking leadership of health and wellbeing charity The Braveheart Association.

For the past 14 years, Alison has been Chief Executive Officer of Generations Working Together, the nationally recognised centre of excellence supporting the development and integration of intergenerational work across Scotland and highly regarded worldwide as a leader in its field.

Alison has been actively involved in several University of Stirling research projects, including Generating Older Active Lives Digitally, funded by the UKRI/ESRC as part of the UK’s Healthy Ageing Challenge. She has also contributed to numerous publications and books on the topic of intergenerational connection.

Alison received a Doctor of the University at the ceremony, which took place this morning, Friday, 21 March. More than 400 students from all five of Stirling’s faculties joined Alison to cross the stage at the on-campus National Tennis Centre.

Thrilled

Addressing fellow graduates, Alison said: “We are all the products of those around us since the moment we were born. To be here today, we are standing on the shoulders of giants, none more giant than the previous generations. You’ll find that our older generations can share skills and experience that it has taken a lifetime to amass. Give older people a chance - you’ll be amazed at how much you learn."

She added: “I am thrilled to be receiving this honorary degree and more than a little humbled. None of us do the work we do for appreciation, but it is such an honour to be acknowledged for contributing to a cause that I’m deeply passionate about.”

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “Alison’s dedication to intergenerational work and to fighting ageism align with one of our strategic research areas here at Stirling, which is healthy ageing. She is an excellent role model for our students, and in particular the graduates who joined her today. Graduation is always a special occasion for the University and we are proud to recognise and celebrate the hard work of our graduating students.”