The University was delighted to welcome back over 80 alumni to the Paisley Campus on Thursday 24 August to celebrate the ground-breaking Land Economics programme.
It was wonderful to have representation from the class of 1972 right up to 1997 in the Brough Hall (now known as Chancellor’s Hall), to recount memories of academic staff, field trips and friendships formed whilst studying on the Land Economics course.
The history of the Land Economics degree traces back to the 1960s when Paisley College of Technology introduced a part-time course in 1966, focusing on the examinations of the General Practice Section of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (R.I.C.S).
Two years later in 1968, the full-time Diploma in Land Economics commenced, meriting full exemption from all written examinations of the R.I.C.S. The full-time Diploma in Land Economics was essential to the success of the BSc Land Economics Degree, and we were pleased to have representation from the Land Economics class of 1972 and 1973 on the night. It was very fitting that we celebrated in the place – known then as the Brough Hall – where the class of 1972 received their Diplomas.
Due to the success of the Diploma in Land Economics, a submission was made to the Council for National Academic Awards for approval of a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Land Economics, which was approved during the academic session of 1972 – 1973. We were joined by by Ian Lochhead from the first cohort on the Land Economics Degree, representing the class.
The degree marked a milestone for Scotland as the first-of-its-kind to specialise in Land Economics; a testament to the University’s unwavering commitment to academic rigour and innovation.
As one of three estate management courses in Scotland, and the only one with a ‘sandwich element’, the degree programme had a distinctive offering. The degree was initially designed as a four-year ‘thin sandwich’ course, incorporating a six-month professional placement. However, in 1974, a one-year professional placement was introduced. This change provided students with the valuable opportunity to acquire hands-on experience and practical insights, bridging the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application – a principle that remains integral to the University’s approach today in shaping world-ready graduates.
The Land Economics degree earned an esteemed reputation, and garnered profound respect from surveying firms across the UK. By 1987, the Land Economics course emerged as the largest source of graduates for general practice surveying in Scotland. And in 1993, the Land Economics department became the first in Scotland to gain ‘accredited centre’ status from the R.I.C.S.
By 1994, the University had secured third place out of 28 universities in the R.I.C.S Assessment of Professional Competence test for graduates. This ranking was particularly noteworthy as it surpassed even those UK universities that were widely regarded as leaders in the field of Land Economics at the time.
The ethos of the Land Economics course – to provide graduates with a robust foundation in theoretical principles for adeptly navigating evolving economic landscapes in the modern world – is reflected in the esteemed alumni gathered on the night, and to the many numbers of graduates that have left our doors and went on to cultivate fulfilling and rewarding careers both in the UK and overseas.
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