Latest news with #UWS
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Paisley graduate who felt 'misplaced and misunderstood' wants to inspire others
Brian Boyd, who completed a BA (Hons) in business and marketing, struggled when he was in school. A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) student who felt 'misplaced and misunderstood' in school has graduated with a degree. Brian Boyd, who completed a BA (Hons) in business and marketing, is now on a path to try and inspire others by becoming a lecturer. The graduate described his school years as 'terrible' and only went to avoid getting into trouble. During this time, Brian says he felt misunderstood and was misplaced in additional support classes despite his academic potential. He left school with low confidence and a belief that higher education wasn't for him. However, everything changed soon after arriving at the UWS. He explained: 'In my first year, I felt I didn't fit in, I hated it and I nearly dropped out. I couldn't make sense of the business language and I struggled to keep up. 'But when a lecturer noticed I was falling behind, and referred me to the disability team, everything started to make sense.' Following the referral, Brian was diagnosed with dyslexia and later combined type ADHD. He received support from the university's wellbeing and disability services team, and was awarded a UWS West scholarship which he used to help him fund a private ADHD diagnosis. This marked both a turning point in his academic journey and his confidence. Brian said: 'It gave me the biggest confidence boost ever. 'I'd always felt something wasn't right at school. UWS gave me the tools to learn differently – the tools I needed to flourish. And it's led me to be able to chase my dreams.' Brian's time at university was also marked by personal hardship. In his second year, his 90-year-old gran – who had helped raise him and nurtured his early love of cooking – was diagnosed with cancer. Brian took on full-time caring responsibilities alongside his mum, often operating on just four hours' sleep while juggling university, part-time work and the care of his gran. 'She made me promise to finish my degree,' Brian said. 'She passed away in May and the very next day, I got the email to say I'd passed second year. That moment meant everything.' His commitment was tested again when, later that year, his mum suffered a heart attack and his brother, Gary, had to rush her to hospital. Brian went on to become a student ambassador, vice-president of the Student Rep Society and, at his graduation ceremony in Paisley Abbey, was awarded the Court medal for his academic achievement. He credits his transformation to the university's culture of support, accessibility and belief in its students. Now working as a communications officer, Brian's sights are set firmly on the future. He has already accepted a place to study a masters at UWS and plans to undertake a PhD in the future – ultimately hoping to teach the next generation of students. He added: 'I want to show them that, no matter where you come from, or how long it takes you to get there, your dreams are valid. I want to give back to the university that gave me everything.' Dr Xiuli (Shelly) Guo, programme leader for BA business and marketing and lecturer in marketing in the school of business and creative industries, said: 'Brian's journey is nothing short of inspirational. 'He has shown resilience, empathy and determination throughout his time with us, and has become a role model for a lot of students. 'We are so proud of his achievements and would be delighted to welcome him back to continue his MSc digital marketing programme, and a PhD in the future.'
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
EIS members back strike action over proposed cuts at University of the West of Scotland
Over 94 per cent of members who participated in the ballot supported taking industrial action, signalling their deep-seated opposition to the university's proposals. Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers Association (EIS-ULA) have delivered a strong mandate for strike action at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in response to the university's proposed redundancies. Over 94 per cent of members who participated in the ballot supported taking industrial action, signalling their deep-seated opposition to the university's proposals. UWS is seeking 75 redundancies relating to academic and academic related staff, which the EIS believe will have an adverse impact on the quality of education students would receive. The staff cuts would also place additional burdens on an already stretched workforce at UWS. The EIS lodged a dispute in March in response to the proposed redundancies, but a lack of meaningful consultation discussion resulted in a ballot for strike action being opened last month. The EIS has formally complained to the university that it has not shared sufficient information and that the university identified redundancy pools without the pre-requisite initial consultation on avoiding redundancies. Commenting on the ballot results, the EIS National Officer for Higher Education, Garry Ross said: 'With over 94 per cent of those who voted electing to take strike action, this sends a loud and clear message to management at UWS that staff will fight against these proposed redundancies. 'Our members are hard-working, dedicated professionals who are not only concerned for the job losses that the university are set on making, but the impact the removal of these posts will have on the number of courses being made available at the university and the quality of the learning and teaching that students will receive in future at UWS.' He added: 'Now is the time for management at UWS to hold constructive talks with the EIS and remove their redundancy plans, avoiding the need for their staff to take industrial action to save their jobs.' The EIS urges UWS management to reconsider their redundancy plans and engage in meaningful talks to find an alternative solution that projects jobs and maintains the university's academic capacity. The union remains open to constructive talks and is seeking to avert taking disruptive strike action, but its members are prepared to defend their livelihoods and the quality of education at UWS. The EIS supports the Scottish Government's intervention at the University of Dundee and its call on the university not to make compulsory redundancies. The EIS believes that academics at Robert Gordon University and the University of the West of Scotland also deserve similar government support in avoiding compulsory redundancies. * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
UWS lecturers set to strike as ballot results revealed
More than 94% of members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers' Association (EIS-ULA) who took part in the ballot at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) backed industrial action. This decision comes in response to the university's plans to cut 75.2 full-time equivalent academic and academic-related posts. READ MORE: UWS lecturers hold ballt on strike action over job cuts The EIS has warned that the proposed redundancies would damage educational quality and increase pressure on an already stretched workforce. Commenting on the ballot results, the EIS National Officer for Higher Education, Garry Ross stated: 'With over 94% of those who voted electing to take strike action, this sends a loud and clear message to management at UWS that staff will fight against these proposed redundancies. "Our members are hard-working, dedicated professionals who are not only concerned for the job losses that the university are set on making, but the impact the removal of these posts will have on the number of courses being made available at the university and the quality of the learning and teaching that students will receive in future at UWS. 'Now is the time for management at UWS to hold constructive talks with the EIS and remove their redundancy plans, avoiding the need for their staff to take industrial action to save their jobs." READ MORE: Strike ballot launched at university over proposed job cuts The EIS lodged a formal dispute with the university in March and has raised concerns about a lack of meaningful consultation and insufficient information sharing by UWS management. The union claims the university identified redundancy pools without the necessary discussions on how redundancies might be avoided. The EIS remains open to negotiations and is seeking to avert strike action, but insists members are prepared to act to protect their jobs and the integrity of education at UWS. READ MORE: University of the West of Scotland staff ballot for strikes The union has also backed the Scottish Government's intervention at the University of Dundee, where the government has opposed compulsory redundancies. The EIS argues that staff at UWS and Robert Gordon University deserve the same level of government support to avoid forced job losses. The ballot follows a period of growing tension and calls for greater protection of academic roles and educational standards across Scotland's higher education sector.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UWS lecturers vote to strike over redundancies
Lecturers at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) have voted to go on strike in a dispute over planned job losses. The university is seeking to make the equivalent of 75 full-time academic roles redundant. It had a deficit of £14.4m in 2023-24 and its governing body has agreed an £8.4m deficit for the current financial year. The EIS union's University Lecturers Association said their members had "delivered a strong mandate" with 94% of those who voted supporting the strike action. More stories from Glasgow & West Scotland More stories from Scotland UWS is one of a number of Scottish universities seeking to make redundancies. About 2,000 staff work at UWS which has sites in Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton, London and its largest campus in Paisley, which has about 10,000 students. The union argued the job losses would lead to fewer courses being offered and affect the quality of learning and teaching. It has called for talks with UWS management and strike dates have yet to be announced. The university is yet to comment. What does the future hold for Scottish universities? Lecturers at UWS move closer to strike vote University of West of Scotland to cut jobs in bid to save £6.2m
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
UWS lecturers vote to strike over redundancies
Lecturers at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) have voted to go on strike in a dispute over planned job losses. The university is seeking to make the equivalent of 75 full-time academic roles had a deficit of £14.4m in 2023-24 and its governing body has agreed an £8.4m deficit for the current financial EIS union's University Lecturers Association said their members had "delivered a strong mandate" with 94% of those who voted supporting the strike action. UWS is one of a number of Scottish universities seeking to make 2,000 staff work at UWS which has sites in Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton, London and its largest campus in Paisley, which has about 10,000 union argued the job losses would lead to fewer courses being offered and affect the quality of learning and has called for talks with UWS management and strike dates have yet to be university is yet to comment.
