Our Year 2016, Abertay University

Our Year 2016

Welcome to Our Year 2016, a new retrospective of achievement at Abertay University.

In this annual publication, we glance back at some of landmarks of the last 12 months and look forward at some of the waypoints we will meet on our journey through 2017. I am pleased to be able to tell you that the University had an outstanding year in 2016. Some of the highlights were: • Being rated the highest ranked modern university in

Scotland in the Times/Sunday Times University Guide 2017 • The introduction of an innovative approach to

assessment and feedback, with all assessment

managed electronically, and sector-leading turnaround times •

The first cohort of students studying our accelerated degrees, in which the students graduate in three years rather than four, successfully “accelerated” by undertaking studies over the summer

•

The only university outside North America to be listed in the Princeton Review for the top 25 computer games programmes

•

A strong outcome in the National Student Survey, with improved scores in every category, and with the ‘overall student satisfaction’ score of 88% the highest of any modern university in Scotland

•

The first Scottish university to be awarded the Race Equality Charter Mark

•

Shortlisted for the Times Higher Education University of the Year Award

I hope you enjoy Our Year 2016.

Professor Nigel Seaton Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Inspiration and Innovation CHINA GAMES DEAL OFFERS PERFECT START Abertay University signed a partnership deal with Chinese media company, Perfect World.

The agreement, signed early in December, will see Chinese students taught in Perfect World’s new digital arts school in Beijing and offers graduates a route to studying at Abertay.

Principal Nigel Seaton travelled to the UK-China Creative Innovators Forum in Shanghai to seal the new partnership.

The deal combines the integrated delivery of a preparatory fivemonth programme with access to Abertay’s MProf Games Development programme in Dundee.

STUDENT TEAM MAKES LONDON PITCH A team of five business students were offered the chance to work with telecoms giant BT after winning an ‘Apprentice-style’ competition.

The business and management group were chosen from 120 students who took part in the three-day Innovation for Global Growth (IGG) event held by Abertay’s Dundee Business School in February.

IGG put the students into small teams and challenged them to come up with solutions to real business problems set by organisations from a range of business sectors including food-and-drink, banking, textiles and telecoms.

The students then had to pitch their solutions back to the managers of the businesses face to face.

The winning students travelled to London in June to present their idea to top-level directors at BT.

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JINGS, CRIVENS, HELP MA BOAB...

ABERTAY GOT A ‘BRAW’ NEW MEMBER OF STAFF! Abertay got on board with one of the biggest – and most unique - family events Dundee has ever seen.

The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail took place over the summer with thousands of people following the trail in a bid to find – and get selfies with – all 70 of the figures.

After the 10-week trail, the statues were auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Archie Foundation’s appeal to create a new twin operating theatre at the Tayside Children’s Hospital at Ninewells. An amazing £883,000 was raised at the excitingly tense event at Dundee Rep. Abertay couldn’t miss out on all the fun, bringing ‘Silicon Wullie’ home to the University, where he has since stood proudly in the main reception area of the Kydd Building, delighting staff, students and visitors alike.

RUGBY GLORY FOR EMILIA An Abertay student led her country to rugby world glory.

Emilia Kristiansson skippered the Swedish team as they won the Rugby World Sevens Series open tournament in Dubai in November.

The 22-year-old, who is in Abertay’s elite athlete development programme, put in a great performance and even scored twice.

Emilia also captains the Abertay women’s rugby team.

Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in Sweden and Emilia and her team are ambassadors for the game.

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Sparkling students, staff and alumni MARATHON RUNNER SETS HOT PACE Ever fancied running the equivalent of six marathons back-to-back in 50 degree heat through the Sahara Desert? No? Well, one of Abertay’s students did!

Louise Johnstone took part in the gruelling Marathon des Sables, known as ‘the toughest footrace on earth’.

Louise ran to raise money for the Dundee Association for Mental Health (DAMH), which provides support to people recovering from mental health difficulties, and campaigns to break down the stigma surrounding mental health.

ENGINEERS CONNECT WITH AWARD Two Abertay Civil Engineering students were selected to be Interconnect Champions.

Interconnect is a network for women studying science, engineering and technology set up by Equate Scotland.

It gives female students who are studying similar subjects the opportunity to meet as well as network with female professionals and build industry links.

Abertay Civil Engineering students Itziar Ferreira Cores and Aleksandra Tomczyk were chosen as Interconnect Champions for the network in October alongside just eight other women across Scotland.

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WAITON Vs McNEISH The annual end of year debate between sociology lecturers Dr Stuart Waiton and Dr Wallace McNeish really caught fire.

A packed lecture theatre of more than 350 modern studies students from across Dundee attended the December event, a Brexit-themed debate.

Waiton argued ‘Brexit was a democratic victory for the people against the elite’ while McNeish presented against the motion.

The stormy debate captivated the sixth year modern studies pupils and a live stream on the Abertay Facebook page reached over 400,000 timelines across the world. In the end the students judged McNeish was the winner.

GEARING UP FOR SCHOLARSHIPS The second year of Abertay’s annual Tour de Tay Cycle Challenge took place in September.

Over 150 participants including students, staff, alumni and friends of the University cycled the 50 mile journey around the scenic banks of the River Tay, setting off from Newport.

An enthusiastic crew of volunteers cheered on the cyclists on the day.

The challenge raised £4,120 towards the Expanding Horizons Scholarship Fund which provides opportunities for local students to study and work abroad and for international students to attend Abertay.

NATALIE’S CYBER SUCCESS Abertay lecturer Dr Natalie Coull won the Outstanding Women in Cyber Award.

Natalie, a lecturer in Computer Security in the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games, was awarded the accolade at the inaugural Scottish Cyber Awards, in November.

Natalie said: “I’m very humbled to have won the Outstanding Woman in Cyber award. While we are still very much in the minority in the cyber security field, there are lots of really talented and hard-working women in the industry who are making a fantastic contribution to the organisations that they work with.”

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Graduations

In July, the Caird Hall was packed as the achievements of upwards of 900 students were celebrated.

The biggest event in the University calendar, the Summer Graduation attracted around 3,000 family and friends of the graduates – from all over the world.

Degrees were conferred by Principal Nigel Seaton, in subjects as diverse as Biomedical Science, Computer Games Technology, Ethical Hacking and Sport and Exercise Science.

The ceremonies included the award of Honorary Degrees to celebrated Scots chef Nick Nairn, social scientist and commentator Professor Laurie Taylor and leading experimental psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman.

And, in November’s Winter Graduation Ceremony, Judy Murray was awarded an honorary doctorate in education for her services to sport and for her ongoing initiatives to improve accessibility to tennis.

Former table tennis champion and author Matthew Syed was also honoured alongside computer games music composer Rob Hubbard.

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“I love what Abertay stands for. I love the innovation. It’s cool, modern and thinks outside the box, and I really like that.”

Judy Murray Annual Review

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The year ahead SECURI-TAY LEADS THE WAY The sixth Abertay University Securi-Tay conference will see cyber security experts from across the UK provide lectures for the next generation of ethical hackers.

Organised by students from Abertay’s Ethical Hacking Society, the event on February 24 will attract more than 350 students and professionals with an array of big names from the online security business expected to attend.

The conference will feature talks and workshops from respected speakers as well as students from the Ethical Hacking Society.

William Goard of the organising committee said: “Securi-Tay promises to provide a fantastic, worthwhile experience for everyone, new to the scene and conference veterans alike.

“It’s a chance for students to meet with top industry professionals in their own environment in a more informal way than going for a job interview.”

RESEARCH AND TEACHING TO BE BOOSTED BY INVESTMENT Research and teaching from the School of Science, Engineering and Technology will be boosted by a £3.5 million investment to key science laboratories.

The school’s ongoing work to develop an environmental management system for the Tanzanian mining sector and biogas production from agricultural and food and drink processing industries in Rwanda are just two of the projects that will benefit this year.

The upgrade to the science labs will see cladding added to the exterior of the building and also improvements made to energy efficiency.

Internally, the project will create several hundred square metres of modern, up-to-date teaching and research accommodation.

The new science labs are expected to be complete later this year.

CONFERENCE ON MISSING PEOPLE This summer Abertay will host the 3rd International Conference on Missing Children and Adults.

The University is the lead institution in Scotland for missing person research and one of just a handful of institutions across the world active in this area.

A multi-disciplinary event, the conference will involve those who work in academia, policing, government and non-governmental organisations.

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Abertay academic staff will participate and both undergraduate and postgraduate students will be directly involved in putting together and delivering the conference.

Dr Penny Woolnough of the Division of Psychology – a lecturer in Forensic Psychology and a National Crime Agency Expert Advisor - is leading the organisation of the event.

20 years of games at Abertay Abertay’s 2017 will be defined by a major programme of celebrations to mark 20 years of computer games courses.

This year marks two decades since Abertay University became the first in the world to offer degree level qualifications in the discipline.

Since 1997 Abertay’s computer games offering has grown in tandem with investment in teaching and infrastructure facilities to ensure our graduates have the best education on the market, emphasising strong engagement with the industry.

Kicking off with the Global Game Jam event in January, the University will go on to host a catalogue of events, exhibitions, trade shows, interviews and design sessions over the course of the year.

A massively enhanced Digital Graduate Show will be complemented by exciting developments for Dare to be Digital to provide a package of content for

students, staff, industry experts and the public.

Professor Gregor White, Head of School of Arts, Media and Computer Games, said the anniversary would act as an opportunity to show how far games education had come since it was pioneered at Abertay.

He added: “Our computer games developers now learn in a melting pot of art, science and technology in a way that is constantly evolving in tandem with the industry.

“Looking back at the numerous achievements of our students, alumni and academic staff since the 1990s puts into perspective the massive contribution Abertay has made, not just to the UK scene, but to gaming culture across the planet.

“As we continue to produce games creators to the elite standard currently offered on all our courses then who knows where the next 20 years may take us.”

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