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IN BRIEF
New Director of LegalPractice announced
THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW HASseen undergraduate applications rise by 14.3per cent this year.The rise is the biggest increase for anyof the Russell Group institutions, a groupof the top 20 research-intensive universi-ties in the United Kingdom, which includesOxford, Cambridge and the London Schoolof Economics.Figures released by the Universities andColleges Admission Service (UCAS) showthat home, EU and international applica-tions to Glasgow, including applications in2009 for entry in 2010, rose from 21,147 in2008 to 24,171 for 2009.Fiona Andrews, Director of theRecruitments, Admissions and ParticipationsService believes the rise in figures reflectthe University’s increasing stature as aleading institute.She said: “We are delighted to see anincrease in applications to Glasgow whichspeaks volumes for the reputation of theUniversity and the high esteem in whichour teaching and research activities are held,both at home and abroad.”Overall, applications for the RussellGroup’s 20 institutions rose 7 per cent year-on-year, with a total of 1,890,236 applica-tions made.
14% rise in studentsapplying to Glasgow
DOUGLAS MILL HAS BEEN NAMEDas Glasgow University’s new Director of Professional Legal Practice.Mill, a Glasgow University graduatewith 18 years’ worth of experience inprivate legal practice and 11 years as Chief Executive of the Law Society, will beworking to strengthen the Department of Law’s links with the legal profession aswell as managing the return of the Diplomain Legal Practice.Professor Tom Mullen, Head of the School of Law, told Guardian thatthe appointment will greatly benefitthe University.He said: “Douglas Mill will bring acombination of vision, energy and prac-tical experience to his role as Director of Professional Legal Practice.”Mill explained how happy he is to bereturning to Glasgow University, saying:“I am delighted to return to my alma materto take up the challenge of deliveringthe University’s ambitious strategic plansfor the School of Law. I enjoy workingwith students and have always been veryinvolved in legal education.“With the 300th anniversary of theSchool of Law coming up in 2013, weaim to establish a centre of excellence forprofessional legal studies at Glasgow.”
GUSA elections attract competition
Ross Mathers
STUDENTS AT GLASGOW UNIVERSITY,in conjunction with the Royal ScottishGeographical Society (RSGS), have launchedan initiative to encourage more people to studyGeography at university.The move comes as figures show thenumber of students being recruited to studyGeography at Glasgow has been declining forthe past three years. In 2006, 107 level onestudents were recruited through the ScienceFaculty and by 2008 this number had droppedto just 47 students.While recruitments to the Earth Sciencecourse have been increasing gradually forseveral years, the 2008 recruitment figures forGeography are the lowest since 2000.The project, named ‘Global’, will be aimedat engaging school pupils and will attempt tointroduce them to new and exciting concepts inorder to bridge the gap between Geography atschool and at university.In addition, membership of the RSGS willbe widened to allow for a younger group. TheBBC’s ‘Coast’ presenter Nick Crane and thewriter, broadcaster and Glasgow PhD studentVanessa Collingridge have already shown theirsupport for the scheme.Dr. Gordon Curry of the Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences, speaking toGuardian, has argued that although there is aproblem with Geography recruitment there isstill success to speak of.He said: “Although Geography recruitmentinto Science Faculty declined last year, EarthScience recruitment increased. In a recentsurvey it was revealed that a higher proportionof our Earth Science graduates were in full-time employment or further study than for anyother UK Earth Science department.”Explaining the falling numbers of Geography students, Mike Robinson, Chairmanof the RSGS, told Guardian that it was in partdown to applicants choosing newer subjectsover Geography.He explained: “Geography is not attractingas many students as it once did, but this ispartly a consequence of the array of subjectsnow available and partly a low image and self esteem, so there is no question that it needs todo more to promote itself.”He therefore supports any attempts toincrease in interest in Geography.He said: “The RSGS, through initiativeslike Global, aims to help make these connec-tions between people, place and the planetfor the decision makers and geographers of tomorrow.”The initiative has already been piloted withGlasgow students Alyson Meeke and EmmaCulley delivering a talk for school pupils. Andit is now hoped that the scheme will be imple-mented throughout all Scottish universities.Speaking to Guardian, Emma explained theultimate aims of the initiative.She said: “Hopefully RSGS Global willhelp to dissolve the idea that Geography is justlearning about rivers and capital cities, andshow the great range of things which can bestudied within the discipline.”Mike Robinson of the RSGS claimsissues such as climate change make studyingGeography more crucial now than ever before.He said: “Geography is a brilliant subjectfor today’s students as it draws together science,arts, humanities and the environment.“It is a way of teaching citizenship, respon-sibility, giving a sense of place in the world andencouraging joined up thinking, so it has neverbeen more critical.”
Geography scheme goes ‘Global’
THIS YEAR’S GLASGOW UNIVERSITYSports Association Council elections are set tobe the biggest for years, with many of its posi-tions hotly contested.There are 16 positions to be filled with12 of these requiring no past place in thecouncil. One year in the council is needed to beelected as President, Vice President Clubs, VicePresident Recreation, or Secretary.Ruth Humphreys and Stephen Flavahanare the candidates competing for the covetedposition of president, both having had pastexperience in the council as Secretary and VicePresident of Clubs respectively.The position of president involves not onlythe general running of GUSA and representationof student sport at Glasgow, but involvement indevelopment planning and maintaining a closerelationship with the SRS management.However the presidency is not the onlysought-after position with more than 20 of 2008’s Freshers’ Helpers and club membersalready in the running for the six OrdinaryMember positions.GUSA Secretary, Ruth Humphreys,explained that attempts to publicise the elec-tions had resulted in high levels of interest.She told Guardian: “It is looking like thesewill be the biggest elections to date for GUSAwith lots of interest already shown.“There has also been lots of advertising totry and raise the profile of the elections.”The elections are set to take place on March10 and voting will take place in the StevensonBuilding reception from 9am-5pm. In order todo so, voters must be current members of theSport and Recreation.Stephen Flavahan, speaking to Guardian,explained the importance of voting.He said: “Voter apathy has been a big issuefor all student organisations at one time oranother but students need to ensure they voteat this election so that the problems I knowstudents are facing — rising gym membershipcosts, Kelvin Hall closure and limited clubfunding — can be tackled.”
Ross Mathers
Jim Wilson
3rd March 2009
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