University of Aberdeen
When the charter of foundation was set down in 1495, just four universities existed in the whole of the UK, so the institution that is now the University of Aberdeen looked outward to Europe and beyond, taking the great European universities of Paris and Bologna as inspiration. This tradition continues today and we remain committed to playing a part in maintaining and building on international connections and the mutual benefits they bring. Having been involved with the European Commission since Framework 3, Aberdeen has attracted support from a diverse range of European sources, has seen 5 Nobel Prizes awarded to former alumni and was recently awarded the Queens Anniversary Prize in 2018, the highest national honour for a UK University.
Alongside our growing international standing we are proud of our central role within the city of Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland. We are committed to working with partners across all sectors to contribute to the success, prosperity, innovation and sustainability of our region and beyond, accordingly, our Technology Transfer Office has administered more than 100 patents and established 17 spinout companies since 2007. We’re proud that our research continues to have a measurable impact on the rest of the world, often exceeding expectations and making contributions of great significance to society. Our aim is to be at the forefront of global industry engagement. As a co-founder of the National Decommissioning Centre of Excellence with the Oil & Gas Technology Centre, our ambition is to be the global leader in research and development which transforms oil and gas decommissioning and mature field management.
As a whole, our sustainable and environmentally conscious approach to improving our own infrastructure sets us apart in our ability to deliver an exceptional educational experience and to celebrate innovation and excellence with future generations. Throughout our 500 year history, we as a University have remained committed to our founding principles; to be ‘open to all’ and ‘dedicated to the pursuit of truth’. In line with this, people are at the heart of everything we do, all members of the Aberdeen family have a role in driving the University forward: as our students and staff they thrive in an environment which encourages and nurtures achievement, or as alumni with a lifelong relationship with their alma mater. Our teaching and learning is alive to the changing needs of our students, and our research delivers sustainable benefits to society.