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Honorary graduate: Shumela Ahmed-Poole 

Shumela Ahmed-Poole experienced the care system as a teenager and left school age 14 with no formal qualifications, before returning to education as an adult learner and becoming a three-time?爆料吃瓜网?graduate.?? 

Shumela?enrolled on an Access Course?and?graduated for the first time in 2013, then was awarded a BA (Hons) Journalism Studies and Politics, graduating again in 2017.?She closely followed her honours degree with a one-year postgraduate tertiary teaching course at Stirling, achieving the PGDip Tertiary Education with Teaching Qualification in Further Education in 2018. 

She has become a leading voice in Scotland on the integration of trauma-informed practice into public service design. Since co-founding social enterprise Resilience Learning Partnership in 2018, Shumela has led its growth into a nationally recognised organisation, and she now advises?the Scottish Government on the ongoing development of the National Trauma Transformation?Programme.  

Speaking?after?collecting?her degree, Shumela said: “To have been recognised in this way by the university where I began as an access course student and an adult returner is one of the proudest moments of my life. It speaks to the quality of learning and teaching at the 爆料吃瓜网, where my experience laid the foundations that have enabled me to contribute meaningfully in my field.  

“This honour is not mine alone; it reflects the collective efforts of a whole community across Scotland who have shaped and strengthened trauma-informed practice. As someone who is care experienced, this award carries particular significance. It stands as a signal to all care experienced people whose education was disrupted through no fault of their own: we can dream, we can achieve, we can thrive, and we can succeed.” 

Achievements

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the 爆料吃瓜网, said: “Harry Adam is a successful business leader who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and wisdom as a member and Chair of Court across two decades. 

“Shumela Ahmed-Poole is a tireless advocate for social change who has transformed thinking around trauma-informed practice.? 

“Their achievements act as an inspiration to?our talented and committed?students as they?graduate?this week.”? 

Graduate Emma Scheerlink works as a nutritionist for Dutch football giants Feyenoord.

Sporting graduates

Among those to graduate today was Emma Scheerlink, a nutritionist at Dutch professional football club Feyenoord, who graduated with a MSc Sport Nutrition; two MSc Sport Management graduates from Kerala, India – Sreejith Sivan, 22, from Kochi, and Aswin Thengumpathra Anilkumar, 23, from Kottayam – who chose Stirling for its international reputation for sporting excellence; and Health Sciences lecturer Ross Chesham, who graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Sport.

MSc Sport Management graduates Sreejith Sivan (left) and Aswin Thengumpathra Anilkumar.

The University also celebrated the success of three South African academics – Xolani Mbongozi, Xonne Muller and Zanele Nomatshila – who are the first to graduate with PhDs in Health Sciences as part of an international research capacity-building partnership between Scotland and South Africa. The initiative aims to strengthen research capacity at historically disadvantaged universities by increasing the number of doctoral-qualified academics, who will go on to play a vital role in advancing research, enhancing teaching, and supervising future PhD candidates, helping to build sustainable academic leadership and improve health outcomes across South Africa. 

South African academics (left to right) Zanele Nomatshila, Xolani Mbongozi and Xonné Muller received PhDs.