21 Oct Interview with Steve Olivier, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Robert Gordon University (RGU), Scotland
Scotland’s tertiary education system has long been regarded as a model of excellence. In 2025, the sector is navigating a pivotal moment as it balances sweeping funding reforms, rising operational costs and pressure to align with the UK’s industrial and skills agenda. What continues to set Scotland’s tertiary education sector apart on the world stage in 2025?
Scotland’s excellence in higher education is part of a long legacy of innovation and invention, deeply rooted in our universities. At Robert Gordon University (RGU), we value innovation and foster a strong spirit of entrepreneurship, actively helping students become entrepreneurs themselves. A key strength of the Scottish system is its diversity — from small specialist institutions to globally ranked universities, each with pockets of excellence. It is also inclusive and welcoming, celebrating cultural differences and building close communities.
Like many places, we face funding challenges and some universities are restructuring. These cycles come and go, but the sector’s impact remains profound — driving the Scottish economy, supporting local communities and extending its influence internationally. Scotland is not only a wonderful place to work, but also a world-class place to study.
RGU has evolved into one of Scotland’s most industry-focused, innovation-driven universities, with a legacy stretching back to 1750. How would you define RGU’s ethos in 2025 and how have you refined its mission and focus areas during your leadership?
University leaders often claim their institutions are unique, but RGU truly is. Our stunning mile-long campus runs alongside the River Dee and a very distinctive feature is that it includes a fishing license on a premier salmon river. Having worked and travelled globally, including at the University of Cape Town, I can say this is the most beautiful campus I have seen. While some universities have artificial “lazy rivers,” we have the real thing. RGU stands out for its exceptional graduate employability — in the recent past we have ranked top in Scotland and third in the UK for graduate employability, with around 97% of our graduates in employment or further study 15 months after graduation.
Our strong industry links span far beyond energy and most courses include placements that often lead directly to jobs. The University is ranked second in Scotland and in the UK’s top 10 for Graduate Prospects – on Track. We are third in Scotland for teaching quality and in recent years have been ranked in the UK’s top 10 for satisfaction with teaching.
We were awarded Scottish University of the Year, 2021. With subjects ranging from sciences to our renowned art school, there is something for everyone. What sets us apart is the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere — unmatched anywhere else I have worked.
How closely does RGU collaborate with the private sector in Aberdeen to shape its academic offerings and what is your vision for the university’s role in the local economy?
While we have international reach, RGU is deeply rooted in our region, with a clear aim to support the local economy and social good. We work closely with businesses through research, innovation and knowledge exchange and bring industry experts into our teaching. Our partnerships extend to schools and, notably, to North East Scotland College, offering over 50 pathways for advanced entry to university. We also collaborate with professional bodies to ensure our courses gain national and international accreditation wherever possible.
RGU is driving innovation across multiple domains, from AI-powered healthcare diagnostics to water monitoring tech. How would you assess RGU’s R&D strengths in 2025 and what recent efforts are raising its profile as a leader in applied research?
Our research is highly applied, tackling major global challenges through interdisciplinarity and inclusivity — research is open to all, not just academics. Despite tough times, our board has approved significant investment in research. We are addressing issues like food insecurity, developing natural-product-based solutions for safe drinking water and using augmented reality to aid Parkinson’s rehabilitation.
Entrepreneurship is also central — our startup accelerator has produced over 130 new ventures, supporting early-stage entrepreneurs locally and beyond. Initiatives like our Women in Business program help aspiring entrepreneurs with parental responsibilities, a model now attracting interest from other universities. We also support rural Scotland, including Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, by building entrepreneurial ecosystems to create jobs and attract investment.
Our Entrepreneur in Residence is working with staff in our cutting-edge Digital Innovation Lab, which uses game engines to combine computing, data science, architecture and visualization. We have built a highly realistic model of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to simulate climate change impacts, rainfall patterns and building energy use. With 65–70% of young entrants expressing an interest in starting their own businesses, we embed entrepreneurship across our curriculum — from computing to nursing to fine art.
What role will the new digital innovation lab play as a collaborative hub for students, staff and industry? How will it help the university stay ahead in digital innovation?
We aim to stay ahead of the curve in digital innovation, using technology to deliver real societal impact. Since COVID-19, digital adoption has accelerated — lecture recording is now standard and our focus is on using AI not just to police assessments but to enhance learning. We invest in tools that connect people, like the Collaborative Online International Learning program, building international learning communities. From fine art to business, computing to pharmacy, we use discipline-specific technologies, including in the green energy sector, to keep digital innovation at the heart of what we do.
RGU is a frontrunner in aligning with Scotland’s 2030 net-zero ambitions, playing a lead role in the North Sea Energy Transition Hub. How is RGU helping Aberdeen tap into its green energy potential and why is sustainability being embedded across every academic discipline?
We work on two levels — nationally and locally. Nationally, through our Energy Transition Institute, we influence policy across Scotland and the UK, producing reports on the shift to green energy and its impact on jobs. We are also a lead partner in the National Energy Skills Accelerator, helping people retrain for new energy industries.
On campus, we ranked in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (301–400) and featured in all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our biodiversity project, Waterside Farm, has regenerated reed beds, bringing back otters and cranes and significantly reduced carbon impact. We also invest in sustainable practices on our campus, including LED lighting, electric vehicles and promoting alternative forms of transport, as well as exploring other opportunities to deploy renewable technologies on campus — embedding sustainability into the university’s core.
RGU is expanding its international footprint with new education partnerships and a sharp focus on transnational PhD and dual-degree programs. How is RGU elevating its brand in key markets like the US to meet its target of a 20% increase in international student intake by 2027?
We have big international ambitions, driven by the cultural diversity that enriches our campus. With students from 152 countries, local and international students alike value the global mix. Our goal is to create responsible global citizens with curious minds. We focus on priority countries, including ties to the US — notably our partnership with Augusta University in Georgia — and several programs allowing students to study with us.
Embracing “Brand Scotland,” we even have our own registered RGU tartan, which future graduates can proudly wear at ceremonies. We have an international college on campus that helps students transition into Scottish higher education through preparatory programs, some of which offer credit towards degrees. Recently, we welcomed the US Consul General and are strengthening ties with the US, one of the world’s top higher education systems alongside the UK. Currently, most US students choose St. Andrews or Edinburgh, but I want to raise Aberdeen’s profile — it is a welcoming, friendly city and a true hidden gem.
Student and staff exchanges are key, with staff exchanges often paving the way for student mobility through personal recommendations. I admire the US credit accumulation and transfer system, which the UK could use more. Virtual study across institutions, like earning credits simultaneously at RGU and Augusta University, is a promising idea I am keen to explore with US partners. This collaboration could expand into entrepreneurship education and targeted upskilling and reskilling programs.
Since becoming Principal in 2020, you’ve led RGU through an ambitious chapter of growth, from record graduate employability to major campus transformation and international expansion. What accomplishments best define your leadership at RGU?
Our Roadmap to 2030 sets a clear goal: to become the UK’s leading work-integrated university, known for strong industry partnerships. To achieve this, we are evolving our curriculum to meet future economic needs with more flexible learning and deeper workplace integration. We are also aligning research, innovation and entrepreneurship to create stronger business synergies, while diversifying student recruitment both in the UK and internationally.
What I am most proud of is our university’s culture and values. Two key ones are curiosity — inspiring both staff and students to stay curious about the world’s challenges — and respectfulness, encouraging open, respectful debate. We also emphasize kindness, a value that is often underrated but essential to how we treat each other here.
What is your final message for the readers of USA Today?
RGU is a great university set in a stunning location. We offer degrees designed to prepare you for the world of work, with a strong spirit of curiosity. Our graduates are highly employable and both the university and Scotland provide a warm, welcoming environment.