Former SCVO convenor awarded doctorate

The former convenor of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Alison Elliot, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by The Open University.

Elliot, who is the associate director at the Centre for Theology and Public Issues, and was the first female moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, was given the award of Doctor of the University at a ceremony in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.

She was appointed convenor of SCVO in 2007 and served a full six year term in office.

Elliot had her award conferred alongside 460 graduating students and fellow honorary graduates Alan Cumming OBE, actor, author and activist; Dr Heather Reid OBE, physicist and meteorologist; and Karyn McCluskey, director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit.

Elliot and McCluskey were recognised for their outstanding public service, while the awards given to Mr Cumming and Dr Reid were a consequence of their exceptional contributions to education and culture.

Dr Alison Elliot OBE, Doctor of the University, said: "I've always been impressed by the way The Open University gives people the chance to catch up with the pleasure of studying at different stages in their lives.

“Undertaking academic learning alongside everyday concerns may be tough, but I'm sure it leads to more-rounded students and better understanding of the subjects at hand.

“I take my hat off to all OU graduates and it's a great honour to share this special day with them."

John D’Arcy, acting director of The Open University in Scotland, said: “The exceptional calibre of honorary graduates shows how highly our students, and colleagues who teach and support them, are regarded. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to welcome them as part of The Open University family."