The Strathclyde community has had a busy 12 months!
Some of the key moments for the University in 2021 have included:
- our attendance at COP26
- the return of on-campus graduations
- the opening of our state-of-the-art Learning & Teaching building
- a transformational gift from a philanthropic alumnus
- a third Queen's Anniversary Prize for Strathclyde
While society continues to navigate the difficulties brought by the COVID-19 virus, our expert academics have been actively working on helping to find solutions. We've been working on areas including research into vaccine efficacy, ‘telemedicine’ consultations and sex-specific immune response to COVID-19. Our researchers have also helped develop a low-cost sensor that can detect COVID-19 in wastewater.
We also won a national award for best COVID-19 response from Working Families charity.
Take a look below at some of our 2021 highlights.
Learning & Teaching building opened
State-of-the-art facilities for students
One of the key milestones of 2021 was the opening of our new Learning & Teaching building. The £60m project was opened in September, ahead of Freshers' Week, and features state-of-the-art facilities including:
- student learning village (lecture theatres, study and social spaces)
- brand new Students' Union
- new location and facilities for Strathclyde Doctoral School
- dedicated spaces for student support facilities (including wellbeing room, access, equality and inclusion, international student support team, careers and employability, and many more)
Inspirational women
Ahead of the opening, the University held a consultation on naming the building after inspirational women our community wanted to honour.
From a shortlist of five, students and staff were invited to vote on the names for the two wings of the building and the plaza, which connects the two wings. More than 4,400 votes were cast and the results were as follows:
- The Professor Mary Dunn Wing in honour of the University's first female professor and Head of Department
- The Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell Wing in recognition of the renowned Astrophysicist, the first women President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the Institute of Physics
- The Professor Jackie Kay Plaza in recognition of the award-winning poet and author who, in 2016, was appointed the new Scots Makar
Charles Huang Foundation:
A transformational gift
In September 2021, the University received £50 million from alumnus and global business leader Dr Charles Huang from his philanthropic foundation.
The gift is the largest Strathclyde has ever received – and is set to transform the lives of students and the global communities we serve.
Read more about the four areas the gift will support.
Charles Huang Foundation
The return of in-person graduations
A highlight of the calendar every year, but this year graduation season was even more special as we were able to welcome students back to campus for the ceremonies!
The first in-person graduation ceremonies since the pandemic began. We were so happy to welcome our graduands back into the Barony Hall to celebrate. Watch the ceremonies back or meet some of our Class of 2021!
Third Queen's Anniversary Prize for Strathclyde
Highest national honour in field of Advanced Manufacturing
In November, we were awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for the third time. We first received the award in 1996 and then, in 2019, the University was recognised for our excellence in energy innovation. This year, it was in the field of Advanced Manufacturing for which we were honoured.
Part of the UK Honours system, the Queen’s Anniversary Prize is the highest national honour conferred on the sector and is given in recognition of world-class excellence and achievement at academic institutions. It is presented to a small selection of UK institutions every two years.
Read more about the prize
Strathclyde fourth in UK for student satisfaction, according to Times Higher Education
The University was placed fourth in the UK for overall student satisfaction, following analysis of the 2021 National Student Survey by the Times Higher Education. The University scored over 85%, significantly above the UK average of 75%, and moved up 28 places from last year on the THE list.
Strathclyde amongst world’s top universities contributing to achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Strathclyde is amongst the top universities in the world whose work is contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2021 .
COP26 comes to Glasgow
"A pivotal moment in the fight against climate change."
That was the message to us all as global leaders arrived in Glasgow for COP26 - the UN's 26th annual climate change summit. After almost two weeks of negotiations, the Glasgow Climate Pact was agreed upon all parties, representing 200 countries.
The Pact, according to COP26 Chairman Alok Sharma, means we can "say with credibility that we have kept 1.5 degrees alive (the target limit set out by the Paris Climate Agreement)."
Strathclyde was given Observer Status, allowing us to be actively involved in the conference.
We also hosted the UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY16) in partnership with StrathUnion.
Strathclyde & COP26Former US President Barack Obama visits Strathclyde
We were honoured to welcome former President Barack Obama to the University to talk to young leaders about climate change.
President Obama was welcomed by our Principal, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, and Benn Rapson, President of Strath Union.
The Obama Foundation, in collaboration with Columbia University’s Climate School, hosted a roundtable in our new Learning and Teaching Building to connect President Obama with young people attending COP26.
Read more about the visit