21 Nov 2017

Record-breaking Rector returns to campus

Image: Mark Beaumont by Muckle Media World record-breaking ultra-endurance athlete and Rector of the University of Dundee, Mark Beaumont is returning to campus this week as he shows his support for the city’s senior cyclists and officially opens a newly refurbished section of the University Library. Mark, who has recently smashed the Guinness World Record by cycling around the world in 79 days for charity, will get back on his bike as he joins cyclists at the University’s Riverside football pitches at 1.30pm on Tuesday 21 November. He will be pledging his support to the Active Senior Cyclist...

17 Nov 2017

“Homesickness nearly stopped me from graduating”

Syrian student Zena Ali has graduated from the University of Dundee after overcoming an often overlooked and misunderstood illness. The Human Clinical Embryology Masters student thought she might have to give up her ‘dream’ degree when she fell ill with homesickness. Feeling isolated and alone, the real dangers of the illness became apparent when she failed her first-year exams. “I felt so lonely, low and depressed and I couldn’t concentrate,” said Zena. “I felt so embarrassed when I failed a module that it made me feel more isolated so my symptoms got worse. “I...

17 Nov 2017

Mum and daughter graduate together this Winter Graduation

It was a family affair at the University of Dundee’s Winter Graduation when a mother and daughter from Glenrothes collected their Adult Nursing degrees. Kerry Perrie (46) and Robyn Watson (27) crossed the Caird Hall stage on Friday 17 November after studying together for three years at the University’s Kirkcaldy campus. Robyn first decided to venture into the world of nursing after the birth of her son Arthur, who is now 5. “I didn’t want to go back to my old job,” she said. “So I applied to college to do an NC Access to Nursing and then my mum said it was something sh...

16 Nov 2017

From shy student to stand-up success

When Jo Hastie joined the University of Dundee’s Creative Writing programme last year she was so lacking in confidence that she could not even read her work out to her fellow students.  A year on, and Jo has won a major poetry slam in Edinburgh, performed alongside the most-watched poet on YouTube, Neil Hilborn, and written and performed stand-up comedy.   To cap it all, she will graduate with a Distinction this week as she completes her Masters degree in Writing Practice and Study on Thursday 16 November. Jo, from Aberdeen, who is also known by her pen-name Jo Gilbert, said, &ldquo...

16 Nov 2017

University marks over 7000 years of staff service

Hundreds of staff at the University of Dundee had their long service celebrated this week as part of the institution’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The University’s first Long Service Awards recognised the contribution made by staff from across the campus community. Around 200 staff who have worked at the University for 25 years or more received a gift. Even more venerable are a select band of 20 staff who have been with the University for 40 years or more. Tallied up, the combined service of all those who attended the celebration is more than 7000 years. Among them was University Princip...