A north-east academic institution has begun preparations for an important milestone.
Next year will mark 50 years of The Robert Gordon University’s Aberdeen Business School (ABS).
And the anniversary celebrations got off to a bang yesterday, as RGU officially announced its sponsorship of this year’s Stonehaven Fireballs Ceremony.
The ceremony is a world-renowned attraction that takes place in the town every year, on New Year’s Eve.
Speaking at the launch, Rita Marcella, who has been dean of ABS for more than a decade, said: “There’s going to be quite a lot of activity for students, staff and alumni over the next year, to celebrate 50 years of the business school.
“It’s quite fitting because next year also marks 50 years of oil and gas, which I also believe should be recognised – and it’s quite nice the two are being celebrated together. Although we work with all industries.
“Over the 50 years of our existence, the number of people who have studied at the business school – or who know people who have studied here – is enormous. I think we have something like 32,000 email addresses for our alumni, and that’s just the people we have on record.
“It’s hugely important to be supporting the community and I think we already do it in lots of ways.
“We intend to have an event in the summer time to bring all of these people to the campus, some for the first time as they would have studied at the previous campus.
“I have never been to the fireballs ceremony myself so it will be a lovely experience to go this year, although I won’t be swinging a fireball.
“It is a world-famous event so it’s fitting that it will be the beginning of celebrations for an institution which has such a strong identity globally, as well as locally.”
A special anniversary calendar also went on sale yesterday, featuring photographs of ABS staff members.
The calendar costs £5 and is available to buy at the ABS main atrium with proceeds from the calendar going to the ABS Achievement Fund, which has been set up to help disadvantaged students.
