This morning Sir Ian Diamond, principal of Aberdeen University, gave a fascinating presentation to Aberdeenshire Council. I knew the university was some 500 years old, but did you know it has 14,500 students, with 51% being women. Of that number, 2373 are from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. There are 3000 staff.

Sir Ian was bursting with pride about the university’s achievements. He highlighted among other things that the university is offering scholarships to Syrian refugees.

He was not afraid of being controversial, referring to the Scottish Government’s falling funding for further education (that prompted some uncomfortable reactions from SNP councillors), and voicing support for continuing membership of the EU. He said that the university would be impacted very much by the UK voting to leave the EU, citing how it would negatively hit EU research funding.