Robert Gordon University

Robert Gordon University (RGU) has its roots in the mid-18th century when it was originally founded as Robert Gordon's Hospital. This institution was created with the aim of providing education and a fair start in life for disadvantaged children. The focus was on offering basic education, preparing children for apprenticeships, and providing the poor with food and accommodation.

The hospital was established by Robert Gordon, a successful merchant who made his fortune in Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland) and returned to Aberdeen around 1720. After his death in 1731, Gordon left his entire fortune to fund the creation of the hospital. It took nearly 20 years for the hospital's buildings to be completed, and the first boys were admitted in 1750. The aim was not to provide advanced education but to equip the boys with a practical start in life, whether through trade or merchant work.

Over the years, as the Industrial Revolution transformed Scotland, the demand for technical and vocational education grew. The establishment of institutions such as the Aberdeen Mechanic's Institution in 1824 provided evening classes in subjects like physics, chemistry, and mathematics. These educational initiatives helped meet the needs of the growing working-class population in Aberdeen, offering them opportunities for practical education and skill-building.

In 1910, the institution evolved into Robert Gordon's Technical College, and later became Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology in 1965. The institute began offering degree-level courses and conducting more research. In 1992, it achieved university status, becoming Robert Gordon University. Unlike many other UK universities created after the 1992 government reforms, Robert Gordon University was never a polytechnic and remains one of Scotland's leading institutions for technical and vocational education.

Today, RGU is known for its strong emphasis on employability, research, and practical learning. The university continues to uphold its founding principle of providing high-quality education to prepare students for real-world careers, particularly in fields such as business, health, engineering, and the arts.

Robert Gordon University

Robert Gordon University

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