Donor Story - Professor Ed Sweeney

Ed’s journey started at Aston in 2014, when he joined as Professor of Logistics and Systems. Previously he worked and lectured in over 70 countries in Europe, North America and Asia, and has held visiting professorships and other part-time positions at several institutions worldwide. He recently departed Aston to take up a senior post at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.?

We caught up with Ed and he shared advice for someone starting on their University journey, the importance of education for social mobility and why he and his wife have chosen to remember Aston in their Will.??

You are passionate about widening participation, why??

I was the first person in my family to attend university. My late father had a strong belief in the importance of education in a social mobility context. He and his forebears did not get the chance of a university education and placed a strong premium on his children being afforded these opportunities. Nonetheless, there was always a sense that we somehow didn't belong in the somewhat rarefied environment of higher education! It is delightful at Aston to see students from a range of backgrounds feeling such a strong sense of belonging to the University community. Seeing students grow intellectually and develop professionally during their time at university is hugely rewarding for academic and professional services staff.??

Education is about the intellectual development of individuals, aiming to nurture the ability to think deeply and critically about phenomena. In this context, it provides individuals with the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to contribute to economic and societal well-being. More importantly, it holds the key to transforming the life chances of individuals.??

Why do you think universities should have strong links with businesses? What benefits have you seen from this??

This is key. World class university education should be based on both academic excellence and practical relevance. The former comes from research and scholarship (i.e. "research informed teaching"). The latter comes from the development of close links with business, industry, professional bodies, policy makers and other external stakeholders. In this way, education is both research-informed and practice-informed. This makes a huge difference in terms of, for example, graduate employability. Strong links with business also helps to shape the research agenda and to ensure that research outputs are truly impactful.??

What advice would you give to someone starting their University journey??

Engage with your course programme and modules - you will get as much out of the experience as you are prepared to put in. But remember that your time at university is about much more than just your course programme. Get involved in clubs and societies, and in any extra-curricular activities that align with your interests (academic and otherwise). The network that you build through engagement with your programme and more widely will stand you in good stead.?

Why did you and your wife decide to leave a gift to Aston in your Will??

Joyce and I felt that it was important to give something back - however modest. If this can support deserving students to avail of high quality educational opportunities that would otherwise have been closed to them then we are happy. There are myriad exciting opportunities for supply chain graduates across a range of industries internationally. We know that these supply chain professionals will, in time, contribute massively to the greater good.??

After 8 years, you are leaving your position at Aston. What are your proudest moments of your time here??

Too many to mention! But all involved the achievements of our students, alumni and staff colleagues. Getting external recognition for the excellent work of students is particularly rewarding. One example that is on my mind is our recent PhD graduate (Evanthia Thanou) who won the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) James Cooper Memorial Cup for the best doctoral thesis in the supply chain field in the UK or Ireland for 2020/21. I myself won this award when I completed my PhD so it means a lot to me. Evanthia is now a lecturer in Aston's Engineering Systems & Supply Chain Management (ESSCM) department.??

What are your plans for the next 8 years???

I was thrilled to be afforded the opportunity to take on a senior academic role here at Heriot-Watt University late last year. Like many Irish people, Joyce and I have strong family and cultural connections here in Scotland. That was certainly a factor in our decision to relocate north of the border. I have longstanding connections here at the University and look forward to making a contribution to the development of the University's supply chain and logistics activity, and more widely across our focal domains. Heriot-Watt has a proud history of working closely with business and industry, as well as in relation to helping students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential. We believe that everyone has the ability to succeed and encourage engagement from everyone including those who might question if university is for them. Over the next eight years and beyond, I will work to encourage this engagement in whatever way I can.??

Anything else you’d like to add??

I've probably already said too much!?

?Everyone can leave a legacy. It’s easy to do, and any gift – large or small – will have a tremendous impact. To find out more about leaving a gift in your Will and our free Will writing service, go to https://www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/giving/remembering-aston??

Thanks to the generosity of Aston’s alumni and friends, we can make a real difference to students’ lives. Find out more about the difference you make go to: https://www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/giving/make-a-difference? ?