Debate on university
Stirling University’s 50th anniversary is due to be mentioned in the Scottish Parliament today (Wednesday).
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford raised a parliamentary motion on the milestone and it has been backed by MidScotland and Fife Tory MSPs Dean Lockhart and Alexander Stewart.
Mr Crawford‘s motion urges Scottish Parliament colleagues to congratulate the university on reaching its 50th anniversary.
He said the university was a success story.
It opened on September 18 1967, with 64 undergraduate students and 31 postgraduates and, since then, the university’s alumni has grown to include over 80,000 people in 170 countries.
The motion also seeks to acknowledge notable alumni, such as the BBC documentaries, Planet Earth and Blue Planet, cinematographer Doug Allan and the biotech innovator, Sunil Kadri, who founded the AKVA Group, which is understood to be the world’s largest aquaculture technology supplier.
Mr Crawford said: “This debate is an opportunity to highlight the significant history and inspiring achievements that the past half-a-century has seen as a result of Stirling’s university.
“From being named as Scotland’s university for sporting excellence, to boasting the largest Institute for Aquaculture in the world, to the inspiring Macrobert Arts Centre, the University of Stirling has made a significant contribution to people and communities across the world.
“I look forward to opening the debate – which will give MSP colleagues across all parties the chance to come together and celebrate this fantastic university.”