Professor Eleanor Shaw has been appointed as the new head of the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow
Professor Shaw (pictured above) will take up her new role on 7 August and joins the University of Glasgow from Strathclyde University, where she is an associate principal.
An entrepreneurial leader with more than 25 years’ experience working with entrepreneurs, her research has informed the design and delivery of entrepreneurial education and influenced entrepreneurial policy. It has also helped guide the development of successful growth interventions that have supported the scale-up of numerous Scottish ventures. She was awarded an OBE in 2022 in recognition of her services to entrepreneurship and education.
Shaw is a senior leader within the higher education sector and is passionate about using her knowledge, expertise and networks to unlock entrepreneurial potential across Scotland’s economy. She holds an MA and a PhD from the University of Glasgow.
She currently sits on the executive team of the University of Strathclyde and on the boards of the Beatson Cancer Charity, Enable Scotland, the Chartered Association of Business Schools and the Small Business Charter. She also sits on the People, Talent & Leadership Committee of the ScaleUp Institute and the STER Academic Advisory Group.
Her research on entrepreneurial growth, ecosystems and diversity has attracted funding of more than £300 million from Research Councils, private sector, Enterprise Agencies and international partners.
“I am delighted to be joining the Adam Smith Business School. It would be exciting at any time and is particularly so during this year of tercentenary celebrations in honour of Smith’s life, work and influence”, said Shaw. “As a double graduate of the University of Glasgow, I am looking forward to coming ‘home’, to connecting with familiar people and getting to know new colleagues, as well as building on the great work achieved by the school under the leadership of Professor John Finch.
“To be part of a world-changing university committed to ambition and excellence, curiosity and discovery, integrity and truth, as well as to creating an inclusive community within which world-changing ideas, innovations and learning can thrive, is exciting.
“I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the school, the College of Social Sciences and the university more broadly and to the collective contributions we can make to a better future through excellence in scholarship, research and engagement with local, national, and international communities.”
Principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli also commented on the appointment: “I am delighted to welcome Professor Shaw as the new head of the Adam Smith Business School. I know she will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this role, particularly in fostering entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for our students and colleagues to work together with industry.
“Professor Shaw joins the university at a very exciting time for the school as we continue with our Adam Smith tercentenary programme and as the school continues to improve its standing in the world rankings. We will also shortly look forward to the completion of our new Adam Smith Business School and PGT Hub, currently under construction as part of our significant campus development.”
Professor Sara Carter, vice-principal and head of the College of Social Sciences, added: “The Adam Smith Business School is an internationally renowned, triple-accredited business school prized for its world-class research and teaching programmes that attract students and staff from across the world.
“Eleanor is a highly experienced business school leader and her expertise in entrepreneurship will support the university’s world-changing innovation agenda.”
The University of Glasgow moved up six places in this year’s Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, released on 1 June, to become the 13th best institution of its kind in the world.
