RGU Nexus February 2018 by Robert Gordon University

FEBRUARY 2018

CONNECTING THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

contents RGU in the community P6 Dundee the source of inspiration for talented Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion student

P8 Nexus caught up with RGU

communications officer, Jonnie Milne, to find out about the launch of the brand new university podcast

P10 The 2018 National Student Survey launches at RGU

P12 Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lecturer is shining STAR for his students

P14 RGU Scholar heading to the Gold Coast to represent Scotland at table tennis

professional focus Stewart Milne Group to Create Access Scholarship at RGU P16 Getting to know POD P18 Decision to enrol on Graduate Apprenticeship was a life-changing one for Olta P20

innovation in learning and research P24 RGU Academic wins 3rd spot

Aberdeen Business School joins elite group of business schools around the world to be accredited by global body P22

in International design competition

P26 Nexus sat down with Professor of Built

Environment Visualisation, Richard Laing, to have a chat about his ongoing work and research in the development of smart cities

P28 Paul achieves iSchool

first for Scottish universities

P30 Psychologists explore the experience of exercising in public P32 RGU launches crisis communications

diploma with the CIPR

A WORD FROM

THE PRINCIPAL

In late February 34 UK academics signed a letter to the Times newspaper in which they set out what they described as a mission statement for a good Brexit. They have also established a website called ‘Briefings for Brexit’. In this they have disputed the assertion which they say has widespread currency that those supporting Brexit have ‘low levels of education and intellect’. It it probably true that the 34 academics are in a small minority in the UK higher education community. Last September an anonymous writer in the Guardian newspaper told how she or he had disclosed their support for Brexit to academic colleagues, and had subsequently been treated like a pariah. For me, important conclusions flow from this. As some will know, I am a strong opponent of Brexit and believe that it will significantly damage this country. But I also would contend that every strong belief needs to be challenged, and that universities are places where such challenge should be seen as part of our intellectual engagement with the issues of the day. To further this objective, we will shortly set up a centre for thought leadership, in which we will seek to lead debate and analysis on topics that are of concern to society. All colleagues will be able to engage with this project, and in doing so reinforce the position of this university as an innovator and a leader.

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski

Dundee the source of inspiration

for talented Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion student

Tilly Longworth

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

An aspiring young fashion designer from Gray’s School of Art is making waves with her edgy clothing range,inspired by the city of Dundee and the Mid Craigieestate where she grew up.

Tilly’s designs, which are already proving popular and being sold through her Instagram page, will get the first public viewing at the Gray’s Interim Exhibition, which opens on Thursday, February 8.

Tilly Longworth (23) left Braeview Academy at 15 to pursue her creative dream which had been sparked by her uncle, Stephen Bird, a local artist and ceramicist.

“Growing up I was always in the studio with my uncle and that’s where I think I got the inspiration to go into fashion and textiles,” Tilly said.

After two years studying art and design at Dundee College and another two years studying textiles, Tilly applied for Gray’s School of Art, where she is now in her final year of the Fashion and Textiles Degree.

“My brand idea came last summer when I was in London, I started looking at estates and the people who live on them. I looked into the London grime scene, because this is what everyone was listening to and the musicians fashion was hugely popular.

In her 3rd year, Tilly was awarded the Cross Trust Scholarship, a charitable body which gives grants to young Scots who are of merit. With the grant, Tilly undertook a research project in London and began looking into the grime subculture and the fashion being worn by local youths and decided to develop her own brand, playing with some of the big design names and putting her own Scottish twist on them. Some of her designs focus on well-known names within Dundee, such as the ‘Evening Tullygraph’ and ‘Tilly Whizz’, a play on the local paper and the Beano’s Billy Whizz – a character created by her cartoonist Uncle Vic Neill.

“I then thought that I could do this, but with a Dundee twist. I went round different estates in my area and took inspiration from landmarks and the street and youth culture which is so abundant in my area and used this to create my range of clothing.” Tilly is now looking ahead to life after graduation and is hoping to expand her range of locally inspired clothing and secure a studio space in her hometown. “Ideally I would like to get myself a space in the WASPS studio, where I can get access to all the kit I need. I’m also looking to explore new ideas and maybe focus on other cities in Scotland, like Glasgow, where there will be different and interesting local cultures to get creative with.”

In her 3rd year, Tilly was awarded the Cross Trust Scholarship, a charitable body which gives grants to young Scots who are of merit.

ie M Jonn ilne

Nexus caught up with RGU communications officer, Jonnie Milne, to find out about

the launch of the brand new university podcast 8

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

What can you tell us about this exciting new project? JM - So, the traditional news room is shrinking and the way that people interact with media and news has drastically changed over the last 10 years. The team at RGU has been looking for new and exciting ways to share stories from across our community, reaching and engaging with as many of our stakeholders as possible. Given the popularity of podcasts, we identified this platform as an avenue for us to explore. The new podcast is called RGU Talk, it’s a fortnightly podcast which will feature interviews with people from across the RGU community, students, academics, administrative and support staff, senior management, discussing all manner of topics from expert opinion, research and student and alumni success stories. When does RGU Talk launch and where can people listen? JM - The first episode, which features a chat with the Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, will launch on Thursday, March 1, and will be available for everyone to listen on SoundCloud, iTunes through Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and you will find all of this on the RGU website as well. Can anyone get involved? JM - If anyone is looking to get involved to suggest someone to feature, a topic they would like to hear about, or just get in touch in general, then they can contact me directly on podcast@rgu.ac.uk and I will look forward to hearing from people. A little bird tells us you may have some podcasting experience? JM – You have heard correctly. I have been involved in a number of podcasts over the years covering various topics. My sister and I had a pop culture podcast which reached No10 in the iTunes TV and Film charts. More recently I host a podcast called ‘Curious Tales’ which features myself performing classic ghost stories and it reached No1 in the iTunes Arts charts last year.

The 2018 National Student Survey

launches at RGU

Kerry Harrison, Student President for Education and Welfare, calls for all final year students to help build a picture of what it is like to study at RGU by taking part in the National Student Survey (NSS) and win one of five £100 vouchers. The 2018 National Student Survey launched for final year students on February 5th. The NSS is your opportunity to give your opinions on your whole experience studying at RGU which will help prospective students make the right choice of university and course. So, what is the NSS? The NSS is an annual survey of final year undergraduates in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. It is a high profile annual census of nearly half a million students across the UK, which gives students a powerful collective voice to help shape the future of their course and university. Why complete it - how are the results used? By taking part you can help ‘shape the future’ of the learning experience at RGU. Institutions and students’ unions use the anonymised data to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses to help effect change and bring about enhancements to improve the student experience. The NSS results are made publicly available to help prospective students make informed decisions of where and what to study. 10

What will the NSS ask you? The survey looks objectively at your entire time at RGU. The questions allow you to provide feedback on a range of topics relating to your learning experience, including what you thought about the academic support you received during your studies and how you felt about the organisation and management of your course. You will also be asked about your opinions on RGU’s Students’ Union (RGU:Union). How can you get involved? Keep an eye out for an invitation email from independent research company Ipsos MORI which will give you instructions on how to complete the NSS. It’s really important that you complete it as soon as possible so don’t hesitate once you get the email invitation. You can also stop in past Union Way where there will be computers or iPads set up for you to complete the survey or you can complete it from your own device at www. thestudentsurvey.com at any time. The success of the NSS depends on your feedback so please set aside a few minutes to get involved. All RGU students who enter the survey online by the closing date will be put forward for a prize draw and five students will win a £100 voucher of their choice. To find out more visit the NSS website via www.thestudentsurvey.com

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lecturer is

shining STAR for his students

David Blyth, who lectures in Contemporary Art Practice (CAP) at Gray’s, is a shining example of a lecturer who goes the extra mile to ensure his students’ have an experience to remember while under his supervision. An RGU alumnus who has been teaching at the art school for 13 years, David was recognised for his personal approach to teaching with a STAR Award, picking up the prize for best personal tutor at the ceremony which is organised by the RGU student body. “I was emailed to say I had won an award and I wasn’t aware of what award I’d actually won until we got to the ceremony”, David said. “I was astounded! I had obviously put a lot of work in over the year for no other reason than I wanted to do a good job. To have then been recognised by a number of students was an extraordinary honour, it really meant a lot to me.

“We are all artists here, it’s not the student and teacher dynamic. The way I look at is the students are on a journey – they have a starting point and a place they want and need to get to. I want to go with them on that journey, together. Some will go further than others but you just have to do your very best for each and every one of them.” David’s personal approach to pedagogy has been taken to the next level with a recent private art project, which he decided to use as an opportunity to involve his students. He successfully won a project to deliver a community arts service in Corby with a group of disadvantaged adults. On his second trip he was joined by six of his students. “I ended up working in the woodlands with a group of volunteers who are all vulnerable adults and I thought that this would be a fantastic opportunity for my students to get involved and take them down on a study trip. “The students were just incredible, they responded so well to the live scenario and the needs of the people we were working with. As much as it was supported by me, I felt comfortable and trusted the students to allow them to do it themselves. “It was clear that it meant something to the volunteers and it ended up that they were teaching us things about the woodland so it was a reciprocal, trusting relationship that we developed and this will have a lasting impact on the students and their practice.”

We are all artists here, it’s not the student and teacher dynamic. The way I look at is the students are on a journey – they have a starting point and a place they want and need to get to. I want to go with them on that journey, together. Some will go further than others but you just have to do your very best for each and every one of them. 13

RGU IN THE COMMUNITY

RGU Scholar heading to the Gold Coast

to represent Scotland at table tennis RGU Sport Scholar, Colin Dalgleish, will make his debut Commonwealth Games appearance in April 2018, where he will represent Scotland at table tennis on the Gold Coast of Australia.

Colin has won a number of awards for his sporting talent, including first place at the men’s singles of the Scottish U21 Championship in 2015, first in the men’s doubles of the Scottish Championship in 2016 and third place at the men’s singles of the Home Countries International in 2017.

Colin added: “I’m in my fourth year at RGU. I’m studying Accounting and Finance. I chose the university because of the industry experience you get during the third year placement. The Sports Scholarship helps me balance my academic studies and my sporting commitments.

“I’m very proud to be selected to represent Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games,” Colin said.

“The scholarship also provides me with a great deal of support through physiotherapy, financial support and letting me go to international competitions as well as strength and conditioning sessions and free access to the facilities at RGU Sport.”

“I don’t just feel like I’m representing Scotland, though. I’m representing RGU and North Ayrshire Table Tennis club as well. I can’t wait to get over there and start competing. “In preparation for the Commonwealth games, I’m trying to train five times a week in RGU Sport. I also do strength and conditioning sessions each week with my coach, John, as well as two cardio sessions a week. At the start of March, I’ll be heading off to Dusseldorf for an intense training camp for two weeks in preparation for the games.” Before his first year of university studies, Colin successfully applied for RGU’s Sport Scholarship programme and has been awarded the scholarship for each year of his studies. The Sport Scholarship is applicable to RGU students who have the potential to compete at a national level.

RGU’s Head of Sport, Hannah Leslie, commented: “We are so proud to see Colin’s hard work and dedication pay off. Throughout his studies he has worked extremely hard to reach his sporting goals, whilst also balancing his studies. We’ll be working with him further over the next few months to ensure he has all the support the needs. “It will be great to see Colin flying the flag for RGU athletes we wish him the best of luck.”

Colin

eis h

Dalgl

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

Stewart Milne Group

to Create Access Scholarship at RGU Stewart Milne Group has pledged Â£8,000 to create an access scholarship that will support an undergraduate student as part of RGU Giving Tuesday campaign.

The inaugural scholarship will be available from the start of the next academic year to a talented student from a group traditionally under-represented at RGU. Thanks to the independent 5-star housebuilder and timber systems manufacturer, a talented student, potentially from a deprived area, will be able to study at RGU’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, studying Construction Management, Surveying or Architectural Technology RGU’s Giving Tuesday appeal, part of a worldwide day of giving, supports a strategic aim of the university to extend access to learning and enable individuals from diverse and marginalised backgrounds to achieve their ambitions through higher education. Professor David McClean, Head of School Scott Sutherland School, said: “The Scott Sutherland School is indebted to Stewart Milne Group for this pledge, which demonstrates a commitment to educating building and design professionals of the future and allowing talented individuals the opportunity to realise their potential, whatever their material circumstance or background.” RGU has enjoyed a close relationship with Stewart Milne Group over the years. Stewart Milne was awarded an honorary

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in 2000, then in 2005 the organisation made a significant donation to help establish the state-of-the-art RGU: Sport facilities on campus. The company has also offered placements to RGU students from various schools over the years. Glenn Allison, chief executive of Stewart Milne Group said: “Providing access to quality higher education to those that have talent and aspiration, but may not have the means to recognise their full potential, is crucial to ensuring that the future workforce is armed with the skills needed to succeed. “It’s with great pride that we’re providing this transformative support as part of the RGU Giving Tuesday campaign. We’ll be looking forward to meeting and supporting the student selected to receive the scholarship throughout their degree.” Sarah Dingwall, Development Manager for the RGU Foundation, commented: “We were thrilled to receive the news that Stewart Milne Group would be establishing an access scholarship at RGU and are extremely grateful for their contribution. “This type of philanthropic support creates opportunity, raises aspirations and has a life-long impact for a talented RGU student.”

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

Getting to know

POD

Nexus sits down with Susan MacLennan, RGU’s Senior Organisational Development Specialist to find out more about the People and Organisational Development (POD) team. What’s POD all about? RGU’s People and Organisational Development (POD) Team sits within HR, and our purpose is to support the university’s strategic ambitions through enabling our staff to realise their full potential. We do this by developing people in order to build sustainable leadership capacity, and we work collaboratively to promote learning, development, creativity and resilience at individual, team, school and department level.

What sort of development opportunities are on offer? We offer a suite of both ILM accredited and non-accredited development programmes and activities, which include: • Pioneer: RGU Future Leaders’ Programme • Voyager: RGU Middle Managers’ Programme • Discoverer (under development): RGU First Line Managers’ Programme • Aurora: LFHE Women Only Leadership Programme • The RGU Manager: introductory management skills for those new to managing at RGU • RGU Skills4Success: a portfolio of staff development workshops • RGU Links: RGU Career Mentoring Programme • Coaching: one-to-one sessions with experienced Leadership Coaches Team development Facilitation and other bespoke development interventions, including the use of psychometric tools We can also offer consultancy about the most appropriate source of development for you and your staff, whether that is via our internal activity, or where to access training out-with the university, for example through our partnership with the North East Learning Collaborative. What’s the basis for the development activities? All our staff development activity is aligned with our long-term leadership and staff development strategy and RGU’s newly published strategic plan, and is informed by our analysis of EPR development and learning plans returned to us as part of the refreshed EPR process. How can staff get involved? We recommend that you discuss your specific development needs with your line manager as part of your ongoing Learning and Development Plan before booking an event to ensure that the development opportunity is the right one for you. If you would like any further information about how we can help you and your team, please look at our webpage or get in touch with us at HRStaffDev@rgu.ac.uk We look forward to working with you in 2018.

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

Decision to enrol on Graduate Apprentices

was a life-changing one f

Enrolling to do a Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) at RGU was a life changing decision for Olta Sema, a member of the Applications Solutions team in the ICT department at Aberdeenshire Council. Originally from Albania, Olta (29) grew up in Italy where she studied law and worked as a financial advisor for an insurance company. She moved to Aberdeen in 2013 and completed an HND in Administration and IT at the North East College before beginning her GA with Aberdeenshire Council last year, studying for her BSc in Computer Science. “When I saw the job advertised it immediately got my attention because it offered both a full-time job and a valuable degree in a field I like,” Olta said. “Had it not been for the GA programme, the natural step once I completed my HND would have been to continue on to the two-plus-two programme at RGU, studying towards a degree in business management.

“However during my time at college I enjoyed the IT subjects more than the admin ones and this is one of the reasons I chose the GA position. “I was excited by the opportunity to work while I study and I feel privileged to be part of the GA programme. This is definitely something I would recommend to others. It was an important decision for me to make because personally I think it has been life changing. “The experience so far has been amazing. The support we get from Aberdeenshire Council, our mentor and other colleagues has been fantastic. I’m constantly putting into practice what I’m learning and this has encouraged me to learn more. I have the opportunity to broaden my knowledge and gain the necessary experience that you can only get when you build products that go into production. “I realise the importance of having a sound theoretical backbone in the form of a degree but also the importance of having actual real-life experience, especially in such a practical field. Given this programme provides both it seems like the best possible start I could get for a career in the software industry.”

ship

for Olta

Olta Sema

PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

Aberdeen Business School joins elite gro

business schools aroun world to be accredited global body Aberdeen Business School (ABS) has been recognised for its worldwide excellence in teaching, research, curriculum development and student learning. ABS has been accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, and the largest business education network connecting students, educators and businesses worldwide. AACSB Accreditation inspires new ways of thinking within business education globally and as a result, has only been earned by less than 5% of the world’s business schools. Professor Elizabeth Gammie, Head of Aberdeen Business School, said: “We are delighted that Aberdeen Business School has achieved the accolade of AACSB accreditation and we are very proud to join the elite group of business schools around the world that have satisfied the rigorous and demanding quality standards.” Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International, added: “We congratulate Robert Gordon University and head of School Elizabeth Gammie on earning accreditation and applaud the entire Aberdeen Business School team – including the administration, faculty, directors, staff and students – for their roles in earning this respected honour.

“Aberdeen Business School’s commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of their dedication—not only to their students, alumni network, and greater business community, but to the higher education industry as a whole. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s business leaders, and the addition of Robert Gordon University to the network of AACSB-accredited business schools will have a lasting positive impact for their institution, both locally and globally.” AACSB accreditation provides a framework of 15 international standards against which business schools around the world assess the quality of their educational services. These standards ensure continuous improvement and provide focus for schools to deliver on their mission, innovate and drive impact. Accredited schools have successfully undergone a rigorous review process conducted by their peers in the business education community, ensuring that they have the resources, credentials and commitment needed to provide students with a first-rate, future-focused business education. ACSB-accredited business schools are committed to high-quality curriculum, faculty, research, innovation and engagement.

Professor Elizabeth Gammie

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INNOVATION IN LEARNING 23 AND RESEARCH

RGU Academic wins 3rd spot

in International design competition

INNOVATION IN LEARNING AND RESEARCH An academic from Scott Sutherland School has won third place in a prestigious design competition, which saw more than 1100 entries from across the globe. Theo Dounas, in partnership with Dr Davide Lombardi from Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University in China, were commended for their innovative project in the Yilong Futuristic City International Design Competition. The competition invited projects which would address emerging challenges within China, such as climate change, population migration, energy crisis, inheriting regional characters, all of which demand the development of an innovative and adaptive urban approach and more complex urban design. Entries were required to focus on the new relationship between the local typical Chinese landscape and the development required for the future city,

the connection between the nostalgia of traditional landscape vs modern way of living, with the foresight of globalization in local regional development. Theo and David’s project uses an algorithm to increase and manipulate urban density, looking at ways to develop future cities which could accommodate a natural landscape, regional culture, and diverse characteristics, while ensuring economic and financial development in China. “We want to provide an uncompromising vision of the future using, defining and buttressing our design strategies with computation,” Theo said.

“That paper was using cellular automata - a mathematical tool that can simulates well-ordered biological processes of growth - for the configuration of housing tower block with increased density at the level of the city. “Hence our design process was a huge experiment, or a series of experiments, in testing algorithmic and generative ideas, from the large scale of the district to the smaller of the city. “To have been recognised for our work at an international level within a very prestigious competition is a real honour and although our project is not yet the finished article, this award gives us real impetus to drive forward with our work.”

“The paper we had published earlier over the summer on speculative densities in Chinese cities has been used has starting point for building the strategy applied in the competition itself.

Nexus sat down with Professor of Built Environment Visualisation, Richard Laing, to have a chat about

his ongoing work and research in the development of smart cities Can you tell us a bit about your work / research relating to smart cities?

How is technology shaping the future of architecture and the built environment?

RL: Over a period of many years, we have been involved in research which has considered how computers, visualisation and IT might affect the ways in which we plan, design, use and interact within cities. This has included the use of computer games, online collaboration and the involvement of communities in our work, with the most recent work concerning mobility in Aberdeen and the Shire. The rapid development of technology to assist people to have a higher quality of life is exciting, and might signal a future which is brighter.

RL: The ways in which we design and use buildings and towns are already heavily influenced by technology, including the use of sensors and responsive technology in terms of energy, intelligent transport, buildings which can be flexible for different uses and communication. The advent of driverless vehicles will bring challenges in terms of road congestion, but could also bring real opportunities in terms of access. The potential impact of such technology on how we live, work and play is becoming apparent, and will form a major strand of our applied research in the coming years.

What kind of impact could this have locally and how could the general public benefit?

Are there any negative implications? Could new technology replace human jobs?

RL: Within Aberdeen, we have already seen the rollout of sophisticated and highly effective methods of improving traffic flow, which in turn reduces emissions and pollution. In the coming years, we will see this extending to the generation and use of energy across the city, and the general public will be much more able to monitor, control and influence how this might be of benefit to them personally. Smart cities are maybe facilitated by technology, and the overall aim is to improve quality of life.

RL: Yes. However, we should not presume that technology will herald a dystopian ‘Blade Runner’ future. Whilst it is likely that robotics will lead to the displacement of some tasks - we are already seeing this in terms of offsite manufacture - this is not new. For example, my Uncle Sam was a highly skilled typesetter, with his abilities in demand in newspapers from Vancouver to Scotland. Digital technology has over time meant that manual typesetting is now largely undertaken using computers, but this simply meant that Sam’s main skills - visual arrangement and visual design - became even more important. Technology will help us to automate repetitive tasks, but the human mind and creativity - in all senses of the word - will always be needed.

INNOVATION IN LEARNING AND RESEARCH

Paul achieves iSchool

first for Scottish universities

Dr Paul Cleverley, Associate lecturer at RGU’s School of Creative and Cultural Business, has been named runner-up in the 2018 iSchools Doctoral Dissertation Awards. This represents the first time that a Scottish university has been recognised in the global awards which celebrate outstanding work in the information field. Nominations are solicited from all members of the global iSchools organisation and judged by a selection panel drawn from leading international schools. The award committee said: “Dr Cleverley’s dissertation ‘Re-examining and re-conceptualising enterprise search and discovery capability: Towards a model for the factors and generative mechanisms for search task outcomes’ utilised a mixed-methods longitudinal case study with over 220 participants to develop a socio-technical framework for enterprise search engine information needs, search modalities and the factors impacting the search outcomes.

“The combination of the different empirical methods with the theoretical perspectives of the cultural and historical activity and complexity theories resulted in a sophisticated model, which achieved the runner-up position in the 2018 competition.” Dr Cleverley said: “Delighted my dissertation has received international recognition. A big thank you to my supervisors Professor Simon Burnett, Dr Laura Muir and all my colleagues in the Information Management department at RGU. A fantastic team.” This year’s winner was Dr Galen Panger of the University of California, Berkeley. Both honorees will receive their awards during iConference 2018 in Sheffield in March. The iSchools organization was founded in 2005 by a collective of Information Schools dedicated to advancing the information field in the 21st Century. It has since grown into a consortium of more than 80 universities and institutions spanning five continents. The organisation is incorporated as iSchools Inc. in Washington, DC.

Psychologists explore the

experience of exercising in public

Exercising in front of others can spur you on to achieve your goals – if you get past the nervousness of not fitting in – according to a new exploratory study into the social experience of exercise in public places. The research, conducted by psychologists from RGU and part-funded by the RGU Foundation, aimed to create a richer picture of how the social environment affects the psychology of exercise. Dr Francis Quinn, Lecturer in Psychology, explained the reasoning behind the study. He said: “If you go back 100 years, we got all the exercise we needed from walking around and working on our feet all day. Nowadays, when we have desk jobs, cars and suburbs, we need to make extra effort to keep fit. Making that effort in an otherwise full life can go against the natural tendency of the mind, as humans are wired to make thing easier for ourselves. “Psychologists have been studying exercise for decades and we understand some of these reasons, but not all. One gap in our knowledge is the effect of the social environment when exercising. Humans are social animals and the presence of others has a real influence on behaviour and experience – and that includes exercise. It’s important to look at the psychology of exercise to understand how to make it more encouraging and appealing, and the social environment can be part of that.” Dr Quinn and his colleagues Bryan McCann and Dr Gemma Stevens – from the School of Health Sciences and School of Applied Social Studies respectively – conducted a series of interviews with

27 current exercisers, both men and women, between 20 and 55 years old, who exercised at venues from gyms to pools and classes. They found that the presence of others can have a positive, negative or mixed effect on different people. Some negative effects included discomfort at not fitting in with other exercisers at the venue, as well as competition for resources like space and equipment. Other effects were positive, such as gaining confidence from seeing others similar to you doing well, learning from watching others and increasing pace or intensity to keep up with others. Some experienced a community spirit and made pacts to go with friends, which helped maintain attendance. They also found that different exercise settings have different cultures and suggest that it is important that an individual finds the one that matches them best. Dr Quinn said: “Thinking ahead to the future, more research might allow a sort of ‘price comparison website’, where you answer a questionnaire and are matched with the exercise setting (which may not be a gym) that has the right atmosphere for your preferences. “At the same time, gyms themselves could harness the psychology of exercise to raise enjoyment, community support, confidence and motivation amongst their users, which would improve the experience of and adherence to exercise across the population.”

RGU launches

crisis communications diploma with the CIPR

RGU has joined forces with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) to launch a Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications. The CIPR is the leading body for PR professionals, dedicated to raising standards in the sector and championing professionalism in the industry. With 10,000 members from all sectors, the CIPR is the largest membership association for PR professionals in Europe, and this most recent linkup with RGU strengthens a relationship which has been established over the last 10 years. The course, the only of its kind in Scotland, aims to provide participants with the tools, concepts, frameworks and confidence to navigate the exceptionally complex landscape of issues and crisis. Aimed at public relations professionals, the course, which is accredited by the CIPR, will explore the world of business and public sector, analysing the fundamentals of rapid response and data gathering, cultural and unconscious bias, human psychology and emotions, and crisis preparedness.

Izzy Crawford, from the School of Creative and Cultural Business and course leader for the new Specialist Diploma, commented: “This exciting new qualification will offer professionals from all walks of life a fast and affordable way to gain vital skills in crisis communications. “The world is an unpredictable place but there are steps you can take to be better prepared and this course is designed to share that knowledge. “At RGU we have extremely close links with industry and our courses are often tailored to the specific needs of industry. We look forward to working closely with our partners at the CIPR to deliver this exciting new course.” Alastair McCapra, Chief Executive of the CIPR, added: “A crisis can blow up at any time. An organisation can be engulfed so quickly that it is more important than ever to have suitably qualified public relations professionals in place. “The CIPR’s globally renowned qualifications equip students with the skills and confidence to deliver strategic value for clients and businesses. I’m delighted that students at Robert Gordon University will be able to benefit from the course from September this year.”

A look at

RGU events

14 March

A look at RGU events

1&2 March

SMART Inspection and Monitoring Solutions for the Energy Sector Sir Ian Wood Building

March

RGU LGBT+ Staff Network Rainbow Film Nights - Weekend

21 March

March

26 March

Sir Ian Wood Building

The RSA Research Students Showcase will provide an opportunity to get a glimpse of what the group’s doctoral researchers are working on via visual art exhibitions/ presentations, poster presentations and prototype demonstrations.

Aberdeen Business School

Mental Health Movie Monthly – Black Swan Sir Ian Wood Building RGU will host a free screening of ‘Black Swan’ (15), as part of Mental Health Movie Monthly. The film starts at 5.30pm (with an intermission where Papa John’s Pizza and Subway sandwiches will be served) and will be followed by questions and discussion. Doors open at 5pm with refreshments available.

RSA Research Students Showcase Sir Ian Wood Building

CIPR Specialist Diploma (Crisis Communications) Launch

An event to mark the launch of the CIPR Specialist Diploma (Crisis Communications). Specialist Diploma designed for any professional who has a responsibility for crisis management and business recovery strategies, as well as those looking to specialise in crisis communication as a career.

RGU will host a free screening of ‘Weekend’’ (15) as part of the monthly RGU LGBT+ Staff Network Rainbow Film Nights.

Sir Ian Wood Building This is a unique opportunity to hear from a group of highly experienced business leaders who will share their knowledge and opinions about some of the important issues facing the industry.

This event is intended for academic and industry professionals of energy sector working in the area of operations and maintenance. This seminar invites academics and industry professionals to share their knowledge and experiences of inspection and monitoring solutions and related best practices that can be used across the energy sector.

The 2018 RGU BP Vice President Series – Dave Lynch

Professorial Lecture – Nirmalie Wiratunga

March

Sir Ian Wood Building A professorial lecture delivered by Professor Nirmalie Wiratunga, Professor of Intelligent Systems Research at Robert Gordon University.