A former TRU student who was active with the student union and board of governors was recently awarded a scholarship worth $100,000 to obtain a PhD in Scotland.

Andrew Bratton was awarded three years tuition as well as a living stipend to attend Strathclyde University in Glasgow. He recently finished a master’s degree in management from University of Edinburgh.

His research for his master’s degree was in human resources and environmental sustainability.

“How can you change a culture so staff start thinking about sustainability and environmental management in the workplace?” Bratton said of his research challenge.

Bratton is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Canada. He moved here with his parents when his father, John, came to Thompson Rivers University from England to teach sociology.

Bratton was a representative on the board of governors and was elected to TRU’s student union. He graduated in 2007.

For his PhD program, Bratton said he intends to compare management cultures in three cities that have highlighted environmental sustainability as a goal: Vancouver, Glasgow and Copenhagen.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has a stated goal of making Vancouver the greenest city in North America.

“It sounds great and people are paying lip service,” Bratton said. “(But) what role is human resources playing?”

Bratton credited part of his success in academia to his liberal arts background at a small university.

“Arts degrees are seen as a place where students end up when they don’t know what to take…. It really doesn’t matter what your degree is in. You’re learning writing, critical thinking and research skills.”