Alan Robertson

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Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:29:25 +0100

NHS TAYSIDE chiefs close down Dundee-based GP surgery after its doctor comes under yet another investigation…

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STUDENTS at Glasgow Gaelic School celebrate the arrival of their SQA exam results in the first year Higher Maths examinations were translated into native language…

University Could Move INTO Bed with Private Sector Provider...

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:52:00 +0100

An ‘Exclusive’ story in today’s Herald reveals the University of Strathclyde is in talks with a private sector company to recruit and teach international students. Here is the original exclusive that appeared in the final edition of the Strathclyde Telegraph almost three months ago, a copy of which is available to read below…

UNIVERSITY COULD MOVE INTO BED WITH PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDER

Written by Alan Robertson

The University of Strathclyde is in discussions that could culminate in the recruitment and teaching of international students being “carved” out to a private sector partner, The Telegraph can disclose.

Talks between senior management and INTO - a private company tasked with preparing overseas students for study at institutions across the UK - over plans to establish a partnership have been ongoing for almost six months as the University at- tempts to boost lucrative income from foreign fees.

The move - branded “wrong” by one MSP – would see Strathclyde invest in the introduction of one-year foundation degrees for overseas students recruited by INTO and without pre-requisite language skills in the hope that they will then progress onto full-time programmes.

However, the prospect of public money being channelled into a private for-profit company – which would need to be housed on the Glasgow-based campus – at the same time as Strathclyde faces severe funding difficulties has stoked serious concerns.

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has operated a similar joint venture since 2008 in which 279 out of 646 students that have passed through INTO have went on to study at GCU.

SNP MSP Bill Kidd said: “It’s wrong that public institutions should use public money in dealings with a private company which, in my opinion, hasn’t proven itself in its track record to be a partner that a publicly-funded body like a university should be involved with.

“With the track record that INTO has, I would hate to think that they were going to be spreading into other universities in the Glasgow area.”

University sources stressed complete academic control over course content, which would include a mix of English language classes together with subject-specific material, would remain in the hands of Strathclyde should the deal proceed and dismissed suggestions already strained staff numbers would be “flattened” by the additional workload.

A final decision on the proposed partnership will be reached by the end of next month, The Telegraph understands, following consultation with campus unions representing Strathclyde staff and students.

But the suggestion of entering into an agreement with INTO is unlikely to be welcomed by trade union leaders. University and College Union (UCU) Caledonian President, Vince Mills, warned following in the footsteps of Strathclyde’s neighbouring institution could prove “fatal”.

“It’s a very, very bad move for public institutions like universities to get into bed with organisations whose ethos is entirely different,” he said.

“Bringing in a private institution whose central interest is profit and not education is problematic.

“In the end up their concern is how much money can we make out of this, not how do we give these people the best education.”

National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland President, Liam Burns, said: “I’m not sure at all, with all the challenges the university sector is facing, that carving out teaching to profit-making companies is in the best interests of students.

“We’ll have to wait to see the details of what Strathclyde is negotiating, but moves that seek to make international students more ‘profitable’ at the expense of a departments capacity to teach would be worrying to say the least.”

Philip Whyte, University of Strathclyde Students’ Association (USSA) President, said: “While we do not question the university’s strategic aim of greater internationalisation, it is disingenuous to suggest that a partnership with INTO would be an enabler of this.

“INTO is an organisation that takes students without the prerequisite skills in English out of their home country – at great cost – and we believe that regardless of academic ability, there are countless international students the university could reach on its own merits, with the requisite skills.”

A Strathclyde spokeswoman said a final decision had yet to be taken. “The University has a number of arrangements with education partners who are a source of international students.

“It is currently exploring the potential of a relationship with INTO University Partnerships which would see the establishment of foundation programmes to prepare students for study at Strathclyde.

“In any partnership the responsibility for all the academic matters will remain with the university.”

An INTO spokesman added: “INTO University Partnerships is in initial discussions with the University of Strathclyde with regard to a possible joint-venture to support the university’s growth ambitions through provision of pathway courses for international students.

“If successful the partnership would become part of a growing network already including seven universities across the UK and two in the US who have benefited from the unique 50/50 partnership approach.”

Paramedic who tried to save Riggi children speaks for first time

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 19:41:24 +0100

A BRAVE paramedic who risked his life to try and save the three young children killed by mother Theresa Riggi has spoken for the first time of the moment he discovered their bodies.

Craig Gray was one of the first to arrive on the scene after reports of multiple casualties following an explosion at the Riggi residence in Edinburgh in August last year.

And together with colleagues Donna Swadzba and Elaine Wilson, Mr Gray took the selfless decision to ignore a raging fire and risk of a second gas explosion and enter the Slateford town house in a bid to save the three youngsters.

Article featured in the Daily Record

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 19:41:12 +0100

Article featured in the Daily Record

More than 1,000 packages of missing drugs in past two years

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:34:50 +0100

MORE than a thousand packages of controlled and prescription drugs have been lost or stolen across Scotland in the last two years.

The medication, worth thousands of pounds, disappeared from premises such as hospitals and supermarkets.

At least 1,350 instances of stolen or lost drugs were recorded north of the Border between 2009 and 2010.

Three packages of one drug that went missing were worth thousands of pounds alone.

And the figures – released following a Freedom of Information request to all health boards and police forces across the country – paint a bleak picture of poor recovery rates.

Read the rest of this article at http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2011/06/26/number-of-packages-of-prescribed-and-controlled-drugs-lost-or-stolen-is-more-than-1000/

Strathclyde taken over by student occupation

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:58:00 +0100

STUDENTS at a leading Scots university today (Mon) occupied a campus building in a last-ditch bid to reverse cuts to courses.

Strathclyde University saw its Geography and Sociology department the scene of a sit-in by students.

The move comes ahead of a crucial meeting of the institution’s governing body tomorrow to determine the fate of four courses facing the axe.

Under the plans, geography, community education, sociology and music are all to be scrapped from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences offering.

Strathclyde Students’ Association President Philip Whyte insisted direct action remained the “only effective tool” left at students’ disposal.

Around 25 students were said to be participating in the protest inside the Graham Hills building this evening (Mon) before security reportedly restricted access to prevent numbers swelling.

The proposed course closures, which would see up to 25 jobs lost, were last week overwhelmingly backed by the University’s leading academic body - despite persistent pleas from staff, students and the wider community.

Around 150 demonstrators last week gathered outside the offices of senior management to voice anger over the proposals.

Student leader Whyte said: “Since the outset of this campaign, staff and students have been united in their condemnation of these proposals, and the impact they will have both on the university and the wider community.

“We’ve been clear that not just has the timing been unreasonable, but so too have the supposed justifications for targeting these courses - all of which has so far gone unheeded.

“When the university has roundly failed to listen to us and our concerns in a meaningful way, peaceful direct action remains the only effective tool to make our voices heard.

“Today’s action is about reclaiming our university and ensuring that it is made clear that these decisions will not be taken lightly.”

The cuts to courses come a little over a month after it emerged university bosses had earmarked its theatre, art gallery and head of music for the axe as part of measures to save up to £12 million.

Cash-stricken council set to shell out £30k on signs

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:33:00 +0100

A SCOTS council facing a financial black hole is planning to spend £30,000 replacing golf signs.

Angus Council has invited bidders to tender for the replacement of banner signs on approach roads to Carnoustie ahead of the arrival of the Women’s British Open next month.

The project comes as the local authority prepares to tackle a funding shortfall of almost £35m over the next four years.

Read the rest of this article at http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2011/06/22/council-plans-to-spend-30k-replacing-golf-signs/

Strathclyde subjects all but scrapped

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:38:00 +0100

PLANS to cut courses at a leading Scots university were today (Wed) overwhelmingly backed by academics - despite last-minute pleas from staff and students.

Around 150 protestors staged a last-ditch demonstration at Strathclyde University in a bid to reverse the proposals.

However, courses in music, community education, geography and sociology are now all but sentenced to the scrapheap after the institution’s governing academic body refused to save the subjects.

A final decision now rests with Strathclyde’s ruling body, University Court, which is set to meet next week.

Strathclyde Students’ Association President, Philip Whyte, condemned the move as having the support of “a few spineless yes men”.

Of the 60-odd University Senate members today granted voting rights on the proposed closures, only one spoke out in favour of community education and similarly sociology. No members voted against plans to axe music, while five tried to reverse the fate of geography.

Under the proposals, up to 25 jobs are set to go.

The crucial vote came after members rejected a motion by lecturers’ union, University and College Union (UCU), to delay a decision on course cuts to allow for a more thorough consultation.

Thirty-seven voted in favour of pressing ahead with the original timescale, 15 opposed and 6 abstained.

A university spokeswoman said: “These proposals have been developed by academic leaders in Humanities and Social Sciences to ensure that Strathclyde continues to build its reputation for international excellence in these disciplines.

“The humanities and social sciences are playing a central role in the establishment of Strathclyde as a leading international technological university. The Faculty’s plans will ensure resources are focused on existing areas of strength for the benefit of students, staff and the wider community.

“The comments received from staff, students and external organisations during the consultation process provided valuable information to the Faculty’s academic leadership team as it finalised its recommendation to Senate and the proposals went forward with their unanimous support.”

However, student leader Whyte said the University ought to ”hang their head in shame” and accused bosses of delivering a “done deal” from the moment plans were aired last month.

In total, over 700 responses critical of the proposals – from staff, students, and those external to the university - were received.

He said: “It is quite clear that all serious attempts by the 700 individuals who responded were entirely discarded, and had zero input into the final decisions.

“This isn’t just a slap in the face to all those who took the time to formulate coherent and professional replies, but also clear evidence of the shoddy way in which this process occurred from start to finish.

“We have called in to question the consultation process since its initiation, and today we have been proved right in all our concerns and criticisms.

“It is clear that there was never any intention to alter the proposals in face of public opinion, and that ultimately this was a deal stitched up behind the scenes and rubber stamped by a Senate which does a minimal job in actually providing academic direction or oversight.”

The cuts to courses comes a little over a month after it emerged university bosses had earmarked its theatre, art gallery and head of music for the axe as part of measures to save up to £12 million.

Strathclyde subjects set for the scrapheap

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:27:00 +0100

DEMONSTRATORS as young as seven gathered outside a leading Scots
university today (Wed) to protest over proposed cuts to courses.

Around 150 students and staff staged the last-ditch demo at
Strathclyde University.

The rally, which enjoyed support from students at nearby Glasgow
University facing a similarly bleak situation, coincided with a
crucial meeting of the institution’s governing academic body to
discuss the scrapping of subjects.

Under the proposals, geography, community education, sociology and music are all to be axed from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences offering.

Strathclyde Students’ Association President Philip Whyte condemned the
move as having the support of “only a few spineless yes men”.

A motion put to University Senate - the highest academic-related
committee at Strathclyde - calling for a decision to be delayed until
September due to a lack of time for consultation was today
rejected.

Thirty-seven members voted in favour of pressing ahead with 15 against and 6 abstentions.

The decision paves the way for the institution to continue with the
course closures, which would see up to 25 jobs lost.

Gillian Wales, 37 - a second-year Geography student and former
Business graduate of Strathclyde - brought her 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son to join the action.

She said: “What if they choose a subject that they want to study that
is not economically viable in some people’s eyes? It will restrict
their choices.

“I’ve absolutely no idea what my children will want to do in the
future but I’d like them to be able to do something they are
passionate about.”

University bosses edged on the side of caution ahead of the
demonstration, opting to close a central campus building in which
Strathclyde chiefs are housed for fear of a potential occupation.

The decision to shut the McCance Building followed a similar protest
staged earlier this month that culminated in two arrests.

Student leader Whyte said: “We have consistently made the argument for
these courses based on issues of access, provision, and quality - all
of which have stood up to scrutiny.

“For Senate to ignore these and focus on placating the managements’
vision of a narrowly defned technological university is not just
ridiculous, it’s scandalous.”

The cuts to courses come a little over a month after it emerged
university bosses had earmarked its theatre, art gallery and head of
music for the axe as part of measures to save up to £12 million.

Director of Music, Alan Tavener, was last month given a temporary
lifeline with his position protected for the timebeing, though the
Ramshorn Theatre and Collins Gallery have since been sentenced to the
scrapheap.

Last-ditch bid to save Strathclyde subjects

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:03:00 +0100

STUDENTS and staff at a leading Scots university will today (Wed) stage a last-ditch protest in a bid to reverse course closures.

The rally at Strathclyde University is set to coincide with a crucial meeting of the institution’s management to discuss the plans.

And university bosses are already edging on the side of caution, opting to close a central campus building in which Strathclyde chiefs are housed for fear of a potential occupation.

The decision to shut the McCance Building follows a similar protest staged earlier this month that culminated in two arrests.

Care assistant Adam Hughes, 20, was arrested for the alleged assault of a police officer, while Mahmoud Mahdy, 20, an architecture student, was arrested for alleged obstruction during the “largely peaceful” march involving around 100 people.

Under the proposals the University Senate will today deliver a final decision on, geography, community education, sociology and music are all to be scrapped from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences offering.

The proposed cuts to courses - which would see up to 25 jobs lost - comes a little over a month after it emerged university bosses had earmarked its theatre, art gallery and head of music for the axe as part of measures to save up to £12 million.

Director of Music, Alan Tavener, was last month given a temporary lifeline with his position protected for the timebeing, though the Ramshorn Theatre and Collins Gallery have since been sentenced to the scrapheap.

A statement sent to all Strathclyde students earlier this week said: “The McCance Building will be closed to students from noon on Tuesday 21 June and all day on Wednesday June 22.

“Service will resume on level 1 of McCance on Thursday 23 June.”

Keep up-to-date with the Carnival Against the Cuts rally at the University of Strathclyde as it unfolds from 1pm on Wednesday on Twitter @arobertson450 and also here http://adrobertson.tumblr.com/…

Man's body lay undiscovered for four months

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:06:00 +0100

THE body of an vulnerable man lay undiscovered in his home for up to four months, it emerged today.

Brian McCutcheon, 39, who was epileptic and at one stage receiving social work support, is believed to have died in February.

Staff at the affordable housing development in Tranent, East Lothian, where he lived knocked on his door during an inspection in April and received no reply. No follow-up checks were done.

His remains were finally discovered on June 3 after neighbours reported an “odd smell” and flies gathering at the window of his ground-floor flat.

Police officers then forced their way in and found Mr McCutcheon’s body in the bedroom.

…

Dead four months and no-one noticed

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:59:00 +0100

THE body of an epileptic man lay undiscovered in his home for up to FOUR MONTHS, it emerged yesterday.

It’s thought Brian McCutcheon died in February.

But his remains weren’t discovered until June 3 after neighbours reported an “odd smell” and flies gathering at his ground-floor flat.

Staff at the affordable housing development where he lived in Tranent, East Lothian, knocked on his door during an inspection in April. But no follow-up checks were done.

…

Read the rest of this article at: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/3643159/Dead-four-months-and-no-one-noticed.html#ixzz1PwEjOZmU

Article featured in Scottish Sun...

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:11:35 +0100

Article featured in Scottish Sun...:

An article written that appeared in today’s Scottish Sun…

Article featured in Scotland on Sunday

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:55:00 +0100

Article featured in Scotland on Sunday:

An article written that appeared in today’s Scotland on Sunday…

Criminals cost taxpayers £17m in legal aid bills

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:34:00 +0100

Here is the beginning of a story that was picked up by the Scotland on Sunday and featured as a page lead on page five today…

CONVICTED criminals have received more than £17 million in legal aid to challenge the verdicts of Scottish courts over the past five years, it has been revealed.

Taxpayers helped fund more than 10,000 appeals, even though only one in 20 was successful in overturning a conviction.

With the cost of legal aid for criminals set to soar in coming years as more cases are referred to the Supreme Court in London as the final court of appeal, taxpayers’ groups warned yesterday that the situation was “spiralling out of control”.

Read the rest of the article at http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Criminals-cost-taxpayers-17m-in.6783659.jp?articlepage=1

University of Strathclyde Protest in Photos

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:27:00 +0100

Below is a photo gallery charting how things took a turn for the worst in Thursday’s University of Strathclyde demonstration…

Protesters arrested as tensions mount in Strathclyde demo

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:43:00 +0100

TWO people were arrested yesterday (Thurs) after a student protest over course closures at a leading Scottish university spiralled into chaos.

Care assistant Adam Hughes, 20, was arrested by Strathclyde Police on an allegation of police assault, while Mahmoud Mahdy, 20, was detained for alleged obstruction during the demonstration at Strathclyde University.

The double arrest came after around 100 Strathclyde students and staff marched in protest at plans to axe courses in music, community education, geography and sociology.

Students’ Association President at Strathclyde, Philip Whyte, blasted the police reaction as “entirely disproportionate”.

Up to 18 uniformed officers were called to the scene on Richmond Street, Glasgow, as demonstrators attempted to ‘kettle’ police in a bid to prevent the arrest of a fellow student.

Twenty-year-old Hughes, a care assistant who hopes to go into nursing, was subsequently wrestled to the ground by officers and bundled into the back of a van following claims he spat on an officer.

Both individuals have since been released and expected to appear in court at a later date.

Richelle Fraser, 22, a Psychology and Politics student at Strathclyde, said she was hit in the face in her attempts to reach partner Hughes.

She said: “I’m a student here and he came to give me support and everyone else because he believes in this cause.

“Adam didn’t have a megaphone – he’s not that voiceful. He’s a very quiet guy. He was basically trying to block the van so the police couldn’t arrest anyone, which made him get arrested.”

The march began at 12 noon as staff and students set off from Strathclyde Students’ Union in John Street with only a few officers in tow.

However, after circling the Glasgow-based campus, a group of protesters splintered from the designated finish point in Rottenrow Gardens to try and force their way into the McCance Building where the University’s senior management team, including Principal Professor Jim McDonald, is housed.

Security guards positioned inside had locked all doors as students then set off in search of a building to occupy - though the neighbouring Collins Gallery and Livingstone Tower were quickly closed to the public in anticipation of a potential fallout.

Protesters congregated on the road, prompting the situation to turn ugly as police demands to move onto the pavement were largely ignored and Mahdy, an Architecture student at Strathclyde, arrested for alleged obstruction.

Aberdeen student Gordon Maloney, 20, said: “They’re arresting him just for telling people to march a different route.”

But demonstrators blocked the police path to a nearby van, with Hughes arrested in the aftermath as back-up enforcements were called in to try and defuse the situation.

A stand-off between police and demonstrators ensued for two-and-a-half hours as around a dozen individuals sat in the road, preventing the van holding Mahdy to leave.

A lecturer in Geography at Strathclyde who took part in the sit down protest said the action was a “legitimate” means of trying to reverse the situation.

Association leader Whyte added: “While I recognise the job police have had to do the demonstration was peaceful. It may have been on the road and breaking some by-law but it was still a peaceful protest at that time.

“To move in the way they did and arrest two people was entirely disproportionate. I don’t think there was any need to arrest both without trying every other means first.”

However, Superintendent Nelson Telfer, Glasgow City Centre Police Office, said: “There were about 100 protesters at the scene including students blocking the road and surrounding a police van. There were 12 officers, including three supervisors, at the demo so in no way is this disproportionate.

“One or two students chose to break the law and were arrested as a result of that.”

Under the proposals currently out for consultation, Strathclyde is seeking to scrap four subjects with up to 25 jobs set to be lost in an effort to save an estimated £750,000 from its Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

A university spokesman said the institution was delivering high-quality education and internationally recognised research across a spectrum of disciplines.

Article featured in Daily Record...

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:56:19 +0100

Article featured in Daily Record...:

An article recently written that appeared in top-selling national newspaper, the Daily Record…

Success at The Herald's annual student awards

Sun, 29 May 2011 19:00:48 +0100

Success at The Herald's annual student awards:

An article that appeared on All Media Scotland following the recent Herald Scottish Student Press Awards…