Dundee student to become Scotland’s oldest graduate

Published On Tue 21 Jun 2016 by Dominic Younger

At 86 years-young, Alex Stewart will become Scotland’s oldest graduate, and possibly one with the most degrees when he graduates from the University of Dundee tomorrow.

Alex, who left school at 14, did not return to education until the tender age of 65 when he enrolled on the University’s New Opportunities Course through Dundee College in 1995. Over the next decade, he attained five degrees including ones in Philosophy, American Studies and Town & Regional Planning. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of all three of his sons who also graduated from Dundee.

Alex will be presented with his latest academic achievement, a Certificate of Higher Education, at the School of Humanities Award Ceremony at the University’s Scrymgeour Building at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 22^nd June.

“I was born in the days of the jute industry in Dundee,” explained Alex. “Both my parents worked hard and my father said to me, ‘You’ve got a good report son but you’ll have to leave school when you are 14 and go get a job’. These were the days when parents would have to pay for the academies and so that was the end of me learning anything. I left school with nothing.

“According to a meeting with the headmaster of Logie School, I could have gone to Harris Academy but instead I went into the world of work in the jute industry, as did most of my generation.

“Studying today is about the virtue of learning. What I would say to the younger folk, when picking a degree, is think about what will be useful for society in a few years’ time, but I would also tell those returning to education to study what they are passionate about.”

Alex spent his military service as a radio operator in the RAF before working for most of his career as a surveyor across the UK. Upon retiring he seized the opportunity to return to education after seeing his sons pass through the University. Simon Stewart studied geology, while his younger brothers Jonathan and Dominic graduated in medicine and law respectively. The Stewart brothers have achieved significant success in their chosen fields and are now spread across the globe from London to Sydney.

Alex’s passion for learning was not limited to the lecture theatre and he regularly took trips to the battlefields he studied for his American Studies degree. Alex also applied his knowledge practically and, after receiving his Town & Regional Planning degree, applied to help out the local council with part-time work.

Professor Jim Livesey, Dean of the School of Humanities who will be bestowing the Certificate of Higher Education on Alex at the Award Ceremony, said, “Mr Stewart is a remarkable testament to higher education in Scotland, in returning to studying he has brought an inter-generational element to the various degrees he has received here and also practically, has helped other students get the most out of their experience.”

Alex is planning to continue his love of learning with an application to read Criminology at Abertay next year.