Every graduate of the University automatically becomes a member of the General Council. It was set up in 1860 as a way for alumni to take part in the governance of the University. Nowadays, of course, its meetings are a lot more accessible than in 1860! Alumni can join the twice-yearly meetings either online or in person at King’s College Conference Centre, Old Aberdeen.
Please save the date for the next General Council meeting on Saturday 6 December (11am to 1pm). Find out more by emailing gest@abdn.ac.uk or visiting the General Council website.
Dr Duncan Macniven, who has chaired the General Council’s Business Committee since 2019, retired on 30 September having come to the end of his maximum term of office. Duncan is the longest-serving Convener of the Committee for 20 years.
He said:
“The General Council meetings are a way that alumni can keep in touch with what’s going on at the University and ask questions of our presenters who include the Principal & Vice-Chancellor, other senior academics, and the Student President. The Business Committee, which I have chaired, acts for the General Council between meetings and includes 21 members elected by alumni (who can also volunteer as candidates by emailing gest@abdn.ac.uk).
“The Business Committee explores topics which are important to the University, and on which the members have something to contribute. Recent special subjects have included graduate employability, the commercialisation of research, and widening access to a university education. We’ve also helped the University in its efforts to find a future for the disused part of Marischal College.
“When I joined the Committee in 2014, its members were all resident in Scotland, mostly in and around Aberdeen. Now, thanks to the opportunity to join meetings online, members have come from Asia, Africa, Europe and North America – as well as Scotland of course! It’s been fun being Convener of such a diverse and talented Committee.”
