Here are details of the Universities where I have worked and studied:
Lancashire Polytechnic (1985-1992)
University of Central Lancashire (1992-)
UCLAN started life as the Institute for the Diffusion of Advanced Knowledge in 1828 in Preston, Lancashire. Today it’s one of the UK’s largest universities with a staff and student community approaching 42,000. It has an employment-focused course portfolio with over 350 undergraduate programmes, nearly 200+ postgraduate courses and a rich array of CPD courses.
Alan Gillies studied for a PhD in Computer Science at Lancashire Polytechnic (1985-1992).
He returned to UCLAN as Reader In Business Information Management in 1993 and then Professor of Information Management in 1994. Since his departure in 2010, he has continued to work with the Health Informatics team. He created UCLAN’s first online Masters Programme in 1998, a programme that continues to this day, under the course leadership of a graduate of the course, who gained a distinction on the programme and whose dissertation was supervised by Alan. Alan holds an Honorary Professorship in recognition of his past and ongoing contribution.
University of Oxford (1980-84; 1993-1998; 2010)
The University of Oxford, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating university globally, with teaching evidence dating back to 1096. It experienced significant growth after 1167 when English students were prohibited from attending the University of Paris, leading to the rapid expansion of Oxford. This growth also contributed to the establishment of the University of Cambridge in 1209 by academics fleeing Oxford.
The University of Oxford comprises 43 constituent colleges, including 36 semi-autonomous colleges, four permanent private halls, and three societies (which are university departments without their own royal charters). Additionally, the University features various academic departments organised into four divisions, facilitating a broad range of research and educational activities.
Alan studied Chemistry at The Queen’s College Oxford from 1980 to 1984, completing a Part II Thesis on Intermolecular Forces with Prof Brian Smith.
He returned to Oxford, twice. In the 1990s, he was a part-time lecturer in the Department of Postgraduate Medical Education from 1993 to 1998 and then returned for a short-term research position in 2010 to work on his book Theological Perspectives of an Information Scientist.
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (1997-)
Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMF Cluj) is located in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania. It is the oldest medical education institution in Transylvania. Established in 1919 as part of Superior Dacia University, it honours the renowned scientist Iuliu Hațieganu. The university boasts over 6,000 national and international students, 2,400 resident physicians, and more than 1,100 faculty members and researchers. Classified by the Romanian Ministry of Education as an “advanced research and education university,” UMF Cluj is recognized for its significant contributions to medical research and education.
Higher education in Cluj has roots dating back to 1581, with medicine playing a crucial role in its academic development. In 1775, the Medical-Surgical School was founded, led by Ioan Piuariu-Molnar, the first licensed Romanian doctor. This institution evolved into the Medical-Surgical High School in 1816. The Hungarian Faculty of Medicine was later established in 1872 at Franz Joseph University, and between 1888 and 1901, its clinics and institutes were constructed on what is now known as Clinics Street. These developments laid the foundation for what would become UMF Cluj, continuing a long-standing tradition of medical excellence in the region.
Alan first met Professor Andrei Achimas from the university in 1995 and has worked with the University ever since. He collaborated on nine EU curriculum development and related educational projects with UMF-Cluj and other European partners. In 2001, he was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa and in 2006 he presented the University’s most prestigious lecture, the Aula Magna.
International University of Applied Sciences (2021-)
With over 150,000 students enrolled, IU Group, the holding company behind IU International University of Applied Sciences, is Germany’s largest private university group. IU provides a well-diversified mix of online degree courses, part-time studies and on-campus learning.
The IU is a pioneer in delivering high-quality education, leveraging technology and innovation to meet the changing needs of students.
Today, the IU’s vertically-integrated education platform offers the largest portfolio of bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in Europe with more than 250 accredited courses in German and English. They cooperate with more than 15,000 enterprises and actively support them in their people development including in high-demand areas such as business administration, data & artificial intelligence and technology.
In 2023, the British London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) as well as the Canadian University of Fredericton (UFred) were acquired by IU Group and joined their path of revolutionising online education. In 2024, the IU Copilot School featuring Microsoft was founded, giving people access to essential AI skills.
Alan was appointed to the position of Professor of Healthcare Management at the IU in 2021. Since then, in addition to teaching students across the world, he has helped the IU develop new programmes including programmes with partner institutions in the UK and Canada
