Nexus November 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

CONNECTING THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

Designed by The Gatehouse Design and Print Agency

P6

P18

P30

contents

RGU in the community P6

P10

RGU launches fourth edition of Celebrating Women at RGU

RGU joins #GivingTuesday appeal to support talented students

P12

Built anywhere but belong nowhere: a conversation with Professor Gokay Deveci

professional focus P14 RGU professor’s community suffragette

series in high demand

P16

Streetsport wins gong at Aberdeen Sports Awards

innovation in learning and research P26

P28

P30

RGU cross-disciplinary team launch innovative self-management app research project

Accounting as a force for good - the subject of first RGU professorial lecture

Partnership working at the heart of RGU’s student experience offering

RGU student wins David Young Memorial Award P18

Senior academic’s book sets standard for community nursing P20

RGU Head of School honoured with prestigious fellowship P22

Aberdeen Weaver Incorporation announces 2017 awards for Gray’s students P24

While holding fast to intellectual integrity, we will always defend academic freedom

A WORD FROM

THE PRINCIPAL One of the features of recent political discourse has been a series of attacks on the integrity of higher education.

Some newspapers have conducted a campaign to suggest that universities are abusing their position by allowing lecturers to present arguments against Brexit in classes, and this has been seized upon by a small number of politicians.

One of these, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, notoriously recently wrote to university heads across the UK to ask for names of professors teaching European affairs and for the syllabi of their courses. I refused to provide any of this information.

Of course universities have a duty to pursue the truth, and in that context need to gather, assess and explain facts and arguments with the utmost integrity. It does not however mean that universities must give equal space to information they consider to be accurate and verifiable on the one hand, and information that they do not believe meets those standards on the other. Also, views as to what is verifiably true may vary, and it is desirable that universities should be places in which this can be argued out freely between the protagonists.

4/5

RGU, as an institution, does not have a view on Brexit, nor on any other political issue (though I would like to think we have a consensus supporting democracy and liberty). But members of its community do have views, and are not bound by any particular doctrine that might restrain them from expressing these views, provided they do so within the law and honestly and are open to hearing conflicting opinions and analyses.

While holding fast to intellectual integrity, we will always defend academic freedom.

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski

RGU is a great place to work. There is such a wide variety of people with a huge range of interests and backgrounds

RGU launches fourth edition of

Celebrating Women at rgu RGU is continuing to mark the important contribution of women at the university with the launch of the fourth edition of the ‘Celebrating Women at RGU’ publication series.

Launched by the university’s Gender Equality Champion and the Women’s Network, the new publication is part of a powerful series which raises the profile of women working at RGU. The latest edition celebrates the female staff at various career stages that work in a wide range of professional administrative departments across the university. It profiles eight representatives of the university’s staff, who reflect on their experiences and achievements of working life at RGU, and represents the wide range of roles undertaken to support the university’s strategy and operations.

6/7

Chloe

Bruce

, Care

er Pro

gramm

e Offi

cer

The ‘Celebrating Women at RGU’ publication series has been commended in the Scottish Parliament and has helped the university’s selection as a case study in supporting women’s careers by the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

RGU’s Principal, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, says: “A focus on equality in the university brings very powerful institutional benefits, including the creation of a RGU community that is effective and supportive.

“These publications continue to raise the profile of women across the university community at different points of their career journeys, and offer important evidence of women’s contribution to both RGU and the wider high education sector.

They have been rightly celebrated both within RGU and also the wider community, including the Scottish Parliament.

“The variety of departments represented in this fourth edition illustrates the range of skills required to support our teaching, learning and research.”

RGU first launched the series in 2016 with the first edition which celebrated women working across the university’s academic STEM disciplines. A second edition showcased the university’s involvement in the Aurora Leadership Development Programme, which was followed by a third publication celebrating women at different stages of their career journeys working in arts, business, law and social sciences disciplines.

The latest edition of Celebrating Women at RGU, along with the rest of the series, is available at www.rgu.ac.uk/ celebrating-women-at-rgu

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

I enjoy my work supporting both academic staff and students. However I also feel supported by my colleagues

Tori Latimer-Simpson, eLearning Advisor

I enjoy supporting academics across every school as it gives me the opportunity to learn about the breadth of excellent research being undertaken

Dr Emma Gillibrand, Research Strategy Manager

RGU is a great place to work.

There is such a wide variety of people with a huge range of interests and backgrounds

Suzanna Sim, International Officer

I really enjoy working at RGU; the university is modern and has moved with the times. The Garthdee campus is a beautiful location to work in

Jacqueline Maclean, Office Administrator

RGU has one of the best modern campus sites in Europe and it is a pleasure to work at Garthdee

Vicki Nairn, Vice-Principal for Corporate Operations

I like that each day is different and I love seeing students flourishing and succeeding because they have the support they need

Annette Davidson, Disability & Dyslexia Manager

I love the diversity of work. No two days are the same. The diversity of my role also includes the range of people I work with on a daily basis

Helen Castle, University Solicitor

Marie Airth, second year Architecture student was a recipient of a scholarship from last year’s #GivingTuesday fundraising efforts.

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

RGU joins

#Giving Tuesday

appeal to support talented students RGU is getting on board with this year’s #GivingTuesday charity campaign to widen access to higher education.

It will be the second year that the university will join the global appeal, which is led in the UK by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) to harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organisations to encourage philanthropy and celebrate generosity worldwide.

Through the RGU Foundation, the university’s philanthropic fundraising arm, RGU will be using the day on Tuesday, November 28 to help talented individuals from underrepresented backgrounds achieve their ambitions through higher education.

Last year’s campaign was a huge success for the university, which surpassed its fundraising target, leading to the creation of several bursaries for talented students.

The university is encouraging its community including alumni, staff, students and friends to get involved in this year’s campaign by making a donation of any size to continue to fund access bursaries and scholarships.

As an added incentive for the RGU community to make a difference, the Robertson Trust has committed to match every donation made to the university on the day.

In addition, to mark #GivingTuesday, anyone who opens an account with CAF to manage regular giving will be offered £100 to donate to a charity of their choice, including the RGU #GivingTuesday appeal.

Marie Airth, a second year Architecture student was awarded one of the scholarships from last year’s #GivingTuesday fundraising efforts.

RGU’s Principal, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, said: “Last year the generosity on #GivingTuesday was overwhelming. It was so pleasing to see the RGU community get behind the appeal and support our strategic aim to widen participation to higher education.

She said: “When I was told that I was being awarded a scholarship to study at RGU I could not believe that I was being offered such an amazing opportunity.

“The donations received last year have created opportunity and raised the aspirations of outstanding RGU students from diverse backgrounds.”

“As well as the financial support, the scholarship has provided mentoring, summer internships and a variety of workshops that have served to build self-confidence, my presentation skills and other qualities that will remain valuable to me throughout my life.

RGU #GivingTuesday donations can be made online on Tuesday, November 28 at www.rgu.ac.uk/givingtuesday, by

“It is a great feeling knowing that I will have this support throughout my time at university.”

View a video message from Marie

01224 262039 or RGU Foundation, West Lodge, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, AB10 7QB.

11/12

Do you think that current affordable housing design could be detrimental to Scottish tourism?

Yes, I do. We must stop building housing where the layout has been dictated by mass-house developers or road engineers, which has led to cul-de-sac formats where a lack of integration with landscape and surrounding neighbourhoods are becoming the norm. Unfortunately, these uninspiring housing developments are dotted around rural Scotland and the islands. These are the homes which can be built anywhere but belong nowhere.

This could have serious impact on Scotland’s tourism industry as visitors to the country do not come to see kit houses or so-called ‘affordable’ standard boxes; they come to see the landscape, its history, its natural beauty.

Why has the problem arisen?

At a time when the Scottish Government, the house building industry, economists, homebuyers, councils and renters are all concerned about whether we are building enough new homes in rural Scotland, it might seem odd to suggest the issue is ‘quality’ rather than quantity.

We need to bring forward sites that enable small developers and community groups to design, deliver and invest in good quality housing design and be brave enough to recalibrate the way we measure value. We think we know the cost of everything, but, as the saying goes, we know the value of nothing.

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

Built anywhere but belong nowhere a conversation with Professor Gokay Deveci This month, Nexus caught up with Professor Gokay Deveci from the Scott Sutherland School to discuss the implications of ‘ugly’ affordable housing on Scottish tourism.

Is there anything that can be done to remedy this?

How is RGU helping to address the problem?

The house providers and planning departments need to raise their ambitions and insist on good quality design. Why can’t the value of homes be measured on the quality of volume, space, light, character, detail and energy efficiency, none of which is taken into account in standard property valuations?

The Scott Sutherland School represents the most northerly provider of architecture education in the UK. The primary aim of the school is to make meaningful contributions to society - as architects - through our buildings and landscapes.

For example, final year students are currently working in collaboration with councils and community representatives from Aviemore and Orkney.

Most of Scotland’s housing stock has not been designed by architects - as a nation, we have left this important process to developers, leading to a housing market which believes it has reflected the tastes and aspirations of new buyers by delivering budget homes in high volumes.

Most houses appear more like an object on a landscape, as opposed to being part of the landscape. Good design must involve an understanding of the place at many levels - landscape, culture and identity. By protecting our local environment and enhancing places, we will see the economic benefit of good design.

This represents a unique opportunity for the university and students working together with the planning departments to produce positive proposals which may be incorporated into future plans for the region.

Finally, architecture is a physical manifestation of culture and identity, and housing is an important part of that. We need a new and emerging architecture in rural Scotland to regain the country’s sense of culture and to take an ethical stance towards creating homes with dignified and appropriate design.

13/14

RGU professor’s community suffragette series

A series of lectures and programme of activities, led by Professor Sarah Pedersen, which focus on the suffragettes in North-east Scotland is proving to be so popular that the project has expanded to take in additional dates and events.

Earlier this year, RGU received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop the project which primarily focuses on the correspondence and work of Caroline Phillips, a journalist and activist for women’s rights.

Since then, Sarah, Professor of Communication and Media, has carried out a number of engagements which support the project. Most recently she gave a talk at Aberdeen Central Library which coincided with the launch of an exhibition and short book based on Scottish suffragettes and the letters of Ms Phillips, secretary of the Aberdeen branch of the Women’s

16/17

Karen Shaw (left), and students fr from across om the Sch Aberdeen ool of Cre and Aberd ative and C eenshire w ultural Busi ho attende ness dress d the exhib ed as suffra ition launch gettes to w at RGU elcome pu p

ils

Social and Political Union, and reporter on the Aberdeen Daily Journal, a forerunner of the Press and Journal.

Participants at all the launch events received a copy of the edited collection of Caroline Phillips’ letters.

Demand was so high that the venue was changed to accommodate 100 attendees – double the originally intended audience. She will deliver an additional lecture at the library in February to cater for the 150 people still on the waiting list.

The project is part of Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology and will also form part of activities in 2018 which will mark the centenary of women gaining the vote in the UK. In connection with the centenary, Sarah is working with members of Aberdeen Women’s Alliance (AWA) to put on an event to mark International Women’s Day on March 3. It will further explore the correspondence and the wider issue of women’s right to vote. A similar event with AWA will also be held at Glasgow Women’s Library.

The Aberdeen lecture followed on from talks in Dunfermline and Orkney. Additional talks at Stonehaven and Inverurie and to Aberdeen WI have also been scheduled. Two exhibitions on the subject will tour Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire libraries.

Around 200 Higher History pupils from schools across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire attended a launch of the exhibition and book at RGU with a follow up event taking place at Peterhead Academy.

“Many people do not realise how active the campaign for women’s suffrage was in the North-east of Scotland. It is the aim of this project to raise public awareness of the activities of the suffragettes in the area and the unique collection of suffrage correspondence held in the city,” said Sarah, who also wrote The Scottish Suffragettes and the Press, which was published in summer 2017.

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

Streetsport wins gong at Aberdeen Sports Awards RGU’s Streetsport initiative, which delivers free doorstop activities and programmes across Aberdeen, has been named as Community Sports Project of the Year at the annual Aberdeen Sport Awards.

The charity, run by the trust of legendary footballer Denis Law, was also recognised elsewhere in the ceremony, where Nexen won Business Partner of the Year for their support of Streetsport.

Streetsport’s efforts are aimed at preventing youth crime and antisocial behaviour, by giving young people engaging activities to take part in or intervening and diverting those who have already become involved in such behaviour.

This latest award follows in the footsteps of a prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and an award from the Scottish Football Association – both of which were earned earlier this year.

The man behind the project, Streetsport’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark Williams, believes these awards recognise the hard work of the many volunteers who work every night of the week to provide the opportunities that make the programme what it is.

He said: “They really are the backbone of Streetsport and these awards go some way to reflect the hard work they’ve done over the years and especially this year.

“Our main aim is to empower young people to be confident, capable, independent and responsible citizens within their own communities and the programme really is excelling just now – leading the way in innovative community engagement.

“There has also been so much support from across the RGU departments, towards the Trust and Streetsport, which has helped us get to where we are today. It continues to be a shining example of the impact this university can have on the community when working together and the rewards it can lead to.

“It’s not often you get to look over your shoulder and see the impact you’re making, but we get to do that every day when we look in the faces of the young people we work with. To be recognised with another award like this is absolutely the icing on the cake.”

ham Thom of the Denis

s (centre) and Gra Streetsport’s Mark William

Law Legacy Trust (right)

Our main aim is to empower young people to be confident, capable, independent and responsible citizens 16/17

RGU graduate James Valentine and GHA’s chief executive Neil Clapperton

18/19

RGU student wins David

Young Memorial Award A quantity surveying graduate of RGU has been awarded an annual prize in memory of a former chairman of Grampian Housing Association.

James Valentine, who graduated from RGU in July and now lives and works in Edinburgh, was presented with the David Young Memorial Prize at a prizegiving ceremony at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment.

Sponsored by Grampian Housing Association, the prize is in memory of its former chairman and board member David Young, who passed away in 2013.

The prize is awarded annually to the student who completes the best surveying integrative studies project.

James received his prize from GHA’s chief executive Neil Clapperton at the ceremony, which was held at the university’s Garthdee campus.

“He was awarded the prize in recognition of his continued improvement that led to excellence.”

Neil Clapperton said: “I was delighted to attend the prizegiving ceremony to present the award to James, who is a very deserving recipient.

“Grampian Housing Association is proud to support this award, which is presented each year in memory of our former colleague David Young.

“David was a professional surveyor who always encouraged staff and helped them realise their potential, while continuously improving services for our tenants.”

Course leader Dr Michael Dignan said: “James has improved every year and this continued into his final year, where he really found his feet and excelled. This culminated in an excellent piece of project work in his final semester.

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

What we wanted to create was a user-friendly and accessible book that can take readers through the changing face of nursing in the community

Dr Heather Bain, Academic Strategic Lead: Academic Programmes in the School of Nursing and Midwifery

Senior academic’s book sets standard for community nursing A nursing lecturer from RGU has responded to new healthcare guidelines and policies in the newest edition of her key textbook.

Dr Heather Bain, Academic Strategic Lead: Academic Programmes in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, has just released the second edition of ‘A Textbook of Community Nursing’, co-edited with Sue Chilton, senior lecturer from the University of Gloucestershire.

The book is a comprehensive and evidence-based introduction to nursing in the community, covering the full range of professional topics for community nurses, such as professional approaches to care, public health, eHealth, therapeutic relationships and the role of community nursing in mental health.

This release of a second edition is in response to the book’s ongoing success, which has seen it become widely used in undergraduate and postgraduate education across the UK. This edition acknowledges that changes to policy have seen more healthcare be delivered in or closer to a person’s home.

It also adopts a stronger focus on evidence-based practice, with each chapter being underpinned by strong evidence and relevant exercises, activities, case studies and examples to illustrate practical application of theory.

Speaking about the latest edition, Dr Bain said: “This textbook is essential for all pre-registration nursing students, those on specialist community nursing courses and also any qualifies nurses entering community practice for the first time.

“What we wanted to create was a user-friendly and accessible book that can take readers through the changing face of nursing in the community, acknowledging the range of settings in which nurses promote optimum health and wellbeing – whether with individuals, families or communities.

“As part of this, there are four areas which are addressed in the book: birth to death; vulnerability and resilience; assessment and intervention; and leadership and autonomy.

“RGU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery has a wellestablished reputation for supporting our students throughout their development and preparing healthcare workers throughout the region for further steps in their careers with essential and professional skills.”

20/21

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

RGU Head of School honoured with prestigious fellowship

A senior physiotherapy expert at RGU has been awarded a prestigious honour by a national society.

Liz Hancock, Head of RGU’s School of Health Sciences, has been selected to receive a Fellowship of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), the professional body and trade union for physiotherapists across the United Kingdom.

physiotherapy Masters level programme, which was the first in the UK to receive recognition from the CSP and the Commission for Accreditation of Physiotherapy Education (CAPTE).

Fellowship is the highest award that the society can make to individuals, and Liz is being recognised for her outstanding contribution to the development of the profession in Scotland through her leadership of the CSP Scottish Board and her continuing innovation in physiotherapy education.

Liz would then lead the creation and innovation of RGU’s Doctoral qualifying programme in physiotherapy, another first in the UK, which enabled the university to retain accreditation by CAPTE.

Liz has a longstanding commitment to the Scottish Board, having joined in 2002 as an education representative and being elected to the position of Chair from 2007 to 2016.

During her tenure, she reviewed and restructured the Board to ensure its membership was inclusive of all sectors and reflected the physiotherapy across Scotland. The impact of her work has been increased effectiveness, a closer relationship with the Scottish Government and a thriving Board with active young members continuing to promote and develop the profession into the future.

Over the course of her time as a leader in physiotherapy at RGU and Head of the School of Health Sciences, Liz’s efforts were fundamental in developing the first pre-registration

22/23

Under her leadership, the School of Health Sciences has grown into a leading multi-discipline department and its physiotherapy courses have recently been ranked as number 1 in the UK University Times Subject Ranking 2018.

Speaking on her fellowship, Liz said: “I am delighted and flattered to have been awarded this honour by CSP, a body I have had a long and productive relationship with.

“I would like to thank all my colleagues for their support, dedication and commitment over the years, without which I could not have reached the levels I have in my career.”

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

Aberdeen Weaver Incorporation announces 2017 awards for Gray’s students

A historic North-East trade body has hosted an award presentation in honour of the talented students at Gray’s School of Art.

The Weaver Incorporation, one of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen, has been presenting their annual Career Enhancement Awards at Trinity Hall since 1987.

Each year, the award is given to an outstanding student on the Fashion & Textiles degree course at Gray’s and it reflects the commitment of the Weaver Incorporation towards supporting the development of skills and helping students prepare for a career in textiles.

The 2017 prize was won by Katrina Lindsay, with Mantile Veisaite receiving the runners-up award, at a ceremony hosted

by Deacon George Henderson.

Katrina, who is now in the final year of her degree, was presented by Deacon Henderson with the J Gray Kilgour Medal, a certificate of excellence and £600. While third year student Mantile took home a certificate of commendation and the runners-up prize of £300.

24/25

The awards, which are judged on the basis of a submitted portfolio and an interview, go towards helping the students fund an opportunity that will help them in starting their career – for example, to purchase a piece of equipment and materials, a study trip or a specialised workshop.

Katrina (24), whose portfolio of work ‘waste not, want not’ focused on the repurposing of discarded everyday objects, is thrilled to have won this year’s main prize.

“It was surprising and exciting to win the career enhancement award for my work because everyone who was put forward for the award, their work was to a very high standard with some really interesting concepts, so the competition was close. It is also really satisfying and humbling that other people appreciate and enjoy your work and realise the effort that is required to create it.

Gray’s

stude

nts M

antile

Veisait e

and K atrina

Linds

ay wit

h Dea

con G

eorge

Hend

“Something old to something new was the main concept behind my project. I tried to convey a narrative through the materials used in my garments and samples, this was to illustrate the potential use of everyday household items that would normally be discarded.

“The inspiration for this project derived from organisms such as mushrooms and lichens which are often found growing on rotten wood, creating new life from past life, natured way of repurposing rather than creating waste.

“My designs are conceptual pieces and intended to encourage the viewer to take a closer look, question as to what materials have been used and to touch and interact with the pieces and consider what ‘rubbish’ really is.”

erson

who h

osted

the aw

ards

It was surprising and exciting to win the career enhancement award for my work

RGU cross-disciplinary team launch launch

innovative selfmanagement app research project Researchers from RGU have begun work on a new international study about back pain and the use of an innovative selfmanagement app.

A cross-disciplinary team, from the Schools of Health Sciences and Computing Science & Digital Media, are recruiting volunteers from the north-east, aged 18 or over, to test an early version of the selfBACK support system, which focusses on increasing physical activity in people with low back pain.

Volunteers will be asked to use the app for a four-week period and provide feedback on their experiences to the study team, which will be used to help the app’s further development.

This work is being undertaken as part of an international effort by a consortium of back pain researches, led by Professor PJ Mork from the Norwegian University of Science & Technology and funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

Dr Kay Cooper, a physiotherapy expert from the School of Health Sciences, said: “Low back pain affects up to 90% of people at some time in their lives and is the leading cause of disability throughout the world. Self-management is a key part

26/27

Dr Ka

y Coo

per fr

om RG

U’s Sc

hools

of He

alth S

cience

s

of dealing with low back pain and involves exercise, being physically active and knowing how to cope with setbacks.

“It can be difficult to do this on your own, so the selfBACK system is designed to be interactive, with users being monitored and provided with feedback and motivational messages via a wristband.”

Speaking about the study, Dr Cooper added: “All of us at RGU are passionate about leading and taking part in innovative research that will lead to tangible benefits to society.

“We look forward to taking the feedback from our volunteers and using it, alongside our European colleagues, to go forward and design the selfBACK system to further address the needs of those living with low back pain.”

They should not be receiving any current treatments for their pain and should not have had surgery on their low back in the past.

The research would involve two visits to RGU’s Garthdee Campus, using the app for a period of four weeks and completing questionnaires at the beginning and end of the process. There will also be an invitation to take part in a further optional interview.

If anyone is interested in finding out more, or taking part, please contact Dr Kay Cooper on (01224) 262 677 or k.cooper@rgu.ac.uk

To be eligible for the study, participants must be over 18 years old, have suffered low back pain for more than 6 weeks, be able to walk independently and own an android smartphone.

INNOVATION IN LEARNING AND RESEARCH

INNOVATION IN LEARNING AND RESEARCH

Accounting as a force for good - the

subject of first RGU professorial lecture Professor Louise Crawford, Director of Research at Aberdeen Business School, will explore how politics and power can influence accounting practice, in the context of globalisation, when she delivers the opening professorial lecture in RGU’s latest series.

Louise is one of a number of the university’s leading academics from various disciplines who will discuss a range of topics and research in the 2017/18 Professorial Lecture series, which take place at RGU’s Garthdee campus.

Professor Crawford, a Chartered Accountant, trained with KPMG and became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland after completing her PhD at the University of Edinburgh.

Her lecture, ‘Accounting: Politics, Practice and Emancipatory Potential’, will explore the extent to which civil society campaigning for transparency in the extractive sector has been successful in mobilising emancipatory accounting change across the globe, in pursuit of improving the lives of citizens in resource-rich countries.

In her role at RGU, Louise works to build the university’s research capacity and capability in accounting, finance, management and organisational studies.

Louise is co-leading a research team across several universities researching transparency reporting by European extractive companies. View the findings of the research, which are being used as an evidence base for communications with government.

The team have secured funding and support to extend their research to the EU context, ahead of the 2018 EU consultation relating to European transparency legislation.

“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to present my research and share my optimism for accounting’s potential to raise global standards of transparency and contribute towards achieving common good for many communities in civil society,” she said.

Professor Crawford’s lecture will take place in the Sir Ian Wood Building on Wednesday, November 29 at 6pm and will be followed by refreshments. It is free to attend and open to everyone. Anyone who would like to attend should email professorial.lectures@rgu.ac.uk Find out more about the 2017/18 series of professorial lectures.

28/29

RGU and RGU:Union both strive to offer the very best university experience by working in partnership with our student body to create a vibrant learning community

INNOVATION IN LEARNING AND RESEARCH

Partnership working at the heart of

RGU’s student experience offering

Innovation in learning is a priority for RGU. The university’s partnership approach forms a key part of its student learning experience, offering students a strong identity and opportunities to shape their learning.

Nexus hears from Sarah Millar, Student School Officer for the School of Creative and Cultural Business, who, along with her peers, represents the student community and works with the university to continually enhance the learning experience.

Can you tell us a bit about the partnership approach at RGU?

How are you enjoying your role as a student officer for the School of Creative and Cultural Business?

RGU and RGU:Union both strive to offer the very best university experience by working in partnership with our student body to create a vibrant learning community.

Individually, and collectively, students to help shape and change the student learning experience within the university.

Feedback and communication amongst staff and students forms a key element of this. It allows for improvement of the student experience and ensures the student’s voice is heard in order to make RGU the engaging and enjoyable place it is today.

So far my experience as student school officer has been amazing. As a student school officer I really enjoy representing the students of the school and ensure their voice is heard by inputting into key meetings such as institutional led reviews, estate meetings and a variety of engagements with staff, student reps and our head of school.

What is the role of a student school officer?

There are student officers for each school. We represent the views of students, bridge the communication between students, RGU and the Union, and work on projects to make things better for students. We attend class representative meetings, participate in forums and university committees, and regularly communicate with staff and students. We are also responsible for making improvements to university life through enhancement themes by working on projects with staff and the heads of school, to push forward ideas for change that will improve the student experience.

What enhancement project are you currently working on?

This year this is key to my enhancement project, which is aligned with the Quality Assurance Agency’s 2017-2020 enhancement theme of ‘improving the student experience’.

The aims of my project are to improve feedback from student to staff and student to student, and then working with the university and RGU:Union to ensure students learn about the improvements and changes made.

30/31

7 dec

RGU LGBT+ Staff Network Rainbow Film Night - Holding the Man Sir Ian Wood Building RGU will host a screening of ‘Holding the Man’ (15) as part of the monthly RGU LGBT+ Staff Network Rainbow Film Nights, which aims to promote equality and diversity among staff, students, alumni and the local community.

A look at

RGU events 28 Nov

Sir Ian Wood Building

RGU #givingtuesday Garthdee Campus

14 dec

Professor Louise Crawford will deliver a lecture which will explore how politics and power influence accounting practice, in the context of globalisation.

Carol Service Sir Ian Wood Building The university will hold its annual carol service for staff, students and the community. The service will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies kindly sponsored by Aramark.

Professorial lecture: ‘Accounting: Politics, Practice and Emancipatory Potential’ Sir Ian Wood Building

5&6 dec

Mental Health Movie Monthly Star Wars: The Force Awakens

RGU will host a screening of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (12A) as part of Mental Health Movie Monthly, which will include refreshments and a discussion.

RGU is joing the global #giving tuesday campaign to widen access to wider education.

29 Nov

11 dec

18 dec

Staff Christmas Celebration Garthdee House The Principal will hold a Christmas celebration for staff with festive drinks and nibbles, providing an opportunity for colleagues to catch up ahead of the festive break.

Winter Graduation Beach Ballroom The university will hold its winter graduations over two days in December at the Beach Ballroom.

19 dec

Business Christmas Reception Garthdee House The Principal will host a festive celebration for members of the business and civic community.