The university’s first five decades are a story of remarkable achievement.
Dundee has pioneered innovations as diverse as flat screen technology and keyhole surgery, and had the vision to bring the V&A to Dundee.
Many of the satellites and shuttles launched into orbit have circuitry designed and built here, while biomedical research underpin global efforts to tackle cancer, diabetes and tropical diseases which kill millions each year.
One of the world’s foremost centres for forensic science research is found at the university.
From Turner Prize winners to political leaders, activists for social change to captains of industry, graduates of the university are transforming the world and the way we look at it.
So what might the next 50 years hold?
Peering into the crystal ball is always an uncertain exercise and the current political and international climate at the moment makes things particularly murky.
Who even five years ago would have predicted the UK would be out of Europe or Donald Trump would be President of the United States?
Given the global stage on which the university must operate, these kind of external factors can change the landscape considerably.
The best way for the university to ensure it can adapt and thrive is to build core sustainability, delivering excellent teaching and research which makes an impact, transforming lives locally and globally.
That is where the focus lies and to give an indication of what can be achieved in the short-to-medium term we need only look at the university’s progress over the last five years, from 2012 to 2017.
In that time Dundee has:
- improved its position across all the major university rankings
- welcomed students from more countries than ever before
- progressed further than any other Scottish university in widening access to higher education
- been named among Europe’s most innovative universities, reflecting the strength of research at the University
- produced some of the best figures in the UK Scotland for graduate employment and student satisfaction
The university’s stated goal is to become Scotland’s leading university.
Everything that has been achieved in the past five years shows Dundee is heading in the right direction as it moves into its next half century.
