Nexusonline
SEPTEMBER 2016 CONNECTING THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
Designed and Activated by: The Gatehouse - Design & Print Consultancy at RGU
A Word from the Principal
Wuhan Polytechnic University MoU
QAA Quality Mark
Indonesia Marine Energy Funding
Radiology Research Prize
Japanese Summer School
Street Art Festival
RGU LGBT+
Royal Pharmaceutical Society Recognition
New Short Course Launched
Soroptimist Award
CHAP Internship
Unique Health Module Launch Main Event
US Nursing Summer School
Events
Energy Ventures Prize
NIB
A word from the Principal A warm welcome to the new academic year! It is tempting, at this time of year, to focus on the challenges we face. We still do not know what the real impact of Brexit will be, and in particular whether it will affect our participation in important programmes such as Erasmus and Horizon 2020. We know that public sector funding will be challenging over the period ahead. And of course we have just undergone our own restructuring and related changes. However, RGU is a university that finds special strength at such times, and this is what we must focus on now. We are about to undertake a review of our institutional strategy, and also our vision and our values. In doing so we must be prepared to exploit the opportunities that arise for us. For example, we know we can benefit significantly from the development of the North-East of Scotland facilitated by the Aberdeen City Region Deal; we have a new team, under the leadership of David Ashall, securing progress internationally (including student recruitment); we are about to refresh our commercialisation drive. All of these developments have the capacity to advance the interests and success of the university. In RGU nobody is more important than everyone else. Every colleague, and indeed every student, is a flag bearer for the university and has a stake in its development. As we undertake our planning, everyone has the right to be heard, just as everyone will be needed to help secure RGU’s success. I look forward to an exciting year, with innovation and change, but also with an enduring sense of who we are and what contribution we want to make. I look forward to working with all of you.
Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski
RGU to collaborate on education programmes in China The MoU will also explore articulation agreements between RGU and Wuhan Polytechnic University where students can split their study between the two institutions for specific undergraduate programmes such as accounting and finance, media, tourism, business management, engineering and architecture. RGU’s Principal, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, said: “I am delighted that RGU will be collaborating on education programmes with Wuhan Polytechnic University, which is an influential institution with an international outlook. “International relations are very important for universities and we look forward to building a strong strategic link with Wuhan Polytechnic University which will benefit both universities academically and in our respective research programmes as well as our student experience offerings.” A senior delegation from Wuhan Polytechnic University with RGU representatives
RGU is building on its overseas links as it forms a strategic partnership with a university in China.
RGU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Wuhan Polytechnic University under which they will collaborate on higher education programmes.
The agreement will see the two universities explore the collaborative development of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral (PhD) programmes as well as research projects.
The MoU was signed when a senior delegation from Wuhan Polytechnic University visited RGU where they met with key staff from each of RGU’s faculties to discuss collaborative opportunities and toured the campus.
RGU researchers win funds to establish marine energy centre in SE Asia Researchers at RGU have won £165,760 in funding from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Prosperity Fund to support the establishment of a South East Asia Marine Energy Centre (SEAMEC) in Indonesia. Dr Alan Owen and Dr Leuserina Garniati from the university’s Centre for Understanding Sustainability in Practice (CUSP) worked with UK and Indonesian academic, business, and NGO partners to secure the funding. Through SEAMEC, which has the support of both industry and academia, the project looks to create a multinational, multi-stakeholder platform to drive policy and capacity building within the region as part of a long-term, comprehensive marine renewable energy programme within South East Asia. Dr Owen said: “The establishment of a marine energy centre in South East Asia will be a huge boost towards accelerating the development of an internationally connected, sustainable and commercially viable marine energy industry across the region. “I would point towards the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney as an example of the kind of model we are trying to create in South East Asia, but with the emphasis on capacity building, socio-economic outputs and developing policy and strategy rather than technical outputs.” Dr Garniati added: “We also hope that SEA-
The establishment of a marine energy centre in South East Asia will be a huge boost...
The team from CUSP on a visit to Indonesia
MEC will play a significant role in opening up knowledge exchange between renewable energy expertise in the northern and southern hemispheres to identify new materials, methods and fabrication processes appropriate for a very different marine environment. “Given the many and varied challenges posed by extending marine energy technologies into the region and the huge untapped marine energy potential therein, SEAMEC is a necessary platform to ensure equal opportunity in
collaborating with business, academia and governments in one of the most economically exciting regions of the world.” Since its inception in 2009, the CUSP team has won over £1.58 million in multi donor funding bids including those from the Department for International Development (DFID) Rapid Response Fund, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Prosperity Fund, and British Council Newton Fund to undertake sustainable energy applied research and ca-
pacity building in Europe and South East Asia. From these, CUSP has produced strategic briefs and policy recommendations, and has utilised many of the findings to enrich the materials in its postgraduate teaching.
Radiology research prize for RGU lecturer
I feel honoured to have been awarded the Beth Whittaker Memorial prize, but this is very much a team success.
Radiography lecturer Amy Wareing
A RGU lecturer has been awarded a prestigious research prize at the United Kingdom Radiological Congress (UKRC).
of Radiographers. Over 200 posters were displayed at the conference from national and international researchers.
Amy Wareing, a radiography lecturer at RGU’s School of Health Sciences, was awarded the Beth Whittaker prize at the conference which took place in Liverpool in June.
Miss Wareing’s winning poster was entitled ‘Health improvement and health promotion education of undergraduate radiographers in a Scottish Higher Education Institute’. It was produced as part of her PhD study at the University of Lancaster.
The prize is awarded to the best poster presentation where the lead author is a radiographer in membership of the Society
The award was instigated at the behest of Beth Whittaker’s husband, Professor Leslie
Whittaker, who in memory of his wife, donated a sum of money to the Society to provide an annual award supporting radiography. For practical reasons, the nature of the award changed over time and is now awarded for the best poster at the annual conference. Miss Wareing said: “I feel honoured to have been awarded the Beth Whittaker Memorial prize, but this is very much a team success. The whole team inputs into the projects we
publish, including our fantastic students and I wish to thank all who have helped make this work such a success.” Miss Wareing collected the award at the Society and College of Radiographers presidential inauguration ceremony in London in July.
Supporting the RGU LGBT+ community Hamish Walker, Faculty of Design and Technology Project Officer, and chair of the RGU LGBT+ staff network, talks to Nexus about the support for the LGBT+ community at RGU. Last year RGU took part in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index for the first time. This national benchmarking tool is used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT equality in the workplace. The university scored 32 points and ranked 346 out of 415 organisations. The list recorded 12 universities in the top 100 most inclusive employers, it was clear that more can be done by universities for LGBT staff and students. The RGU LGBT+ Staff Network was established by staff in 2014. The aim was to provide all LGBT+ staff with a forum to meet, share information, support each other and to raise the awareness of the LGBT+ staff community on campus. The network continues to meet regularly on campus once a month and arranges monthly social events. Recent social events include a bowling night, Halloween party, fireworks night and an LGBT history month dinner. The network has also
developed partnerships with local LGBT+ staff networks to raise the awareness of sexual orientation and gender equality. RGU also has a LGBT+ student society which provides a support structure for the LGBT+ student community. This year the society plans to organise regular social events to encourage a sense of community, alongside educational and awareness campaigns to tackle stigma towards LGBT+ people. For more information please contact lgbtsociety@rguunion.co.uk In 2016, LGBT rights in Scotland are amongst some of the most progressive in Europe. Three Scottish political party leaders identify as LGBT and in sport there are more openly gay athletes competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games than ever before. However there are still cases of casual homophobia in the media with antigay twitter trolls suggesting that Tom Daley’s failure to qualify for the 10m platform at Rio was a direct result of his sexual orientation. I grew up in a very different Scotland in the late 90s. Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, stated that a local authority “shall not intentionally promote
Chris Cowie, chair of the LBGT+ Student Society with Hamish Walker (centre) and RGU LGBT+ Staff network member Clare Parks
homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality”. During my time at Secondary School it was not even discussed, I can remember that some pupils were victims of homophobic bullying and looking back now teachers were not equipped to deal with that form of bullying. There were no ‘out’ LGBT role models in sport or popular culture that I could relate to. It
wasn’t until I went to university that I felt I could ‘come out’.
Find out more about the RGU LGBT+ Staff Network
As we start a new academic year at RGU, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome all staff and students to a community where everyone can feel welcome and accepted without exception.
You can also find out more by contacting the network via lgbtstaffnetwork@rgu.ac.uk
RGU students recognised for their expertise
...I benefited from the excellent links between the university and industry.
RGU scholars Euan Lorimer and Sylwia Jewiak
Two RGU scholars have been recognised for their expertise with the award of the Energy Ventures Prize. Euan Lorimer and Sylwia Jewiak, who graduated in July with first class BA (Hons) degrees in International Business Management and Management respectively, have been honoured by the leading private equity firm. The Energy Ventures Prize, awarded to the Aberdeen Business School students producing the
best theses, is part of a relationship between the firm and the university which stretches back to 2011. Other initiatives include the annual Investment Den workshop for MBA students, and support for the intern programme as well as financial contributions through the prize. This year’s winners demonstrated their acumen. Euan’s thesis explored the role of organisational core values and culture in driving internationalisation of small-medium enterprises through a case study of TRAC Oil & Gas Ltd.
Sylwia’s thesis investigated the effectiveness of the business plan in small technology firms in Aberdeen as well as the business plan relationship to company’s performance. Euan said: “It's extremely rewarding to have all the hard work that went into my research project recognised, and it's something that I wasn't expecting.” Sylwia said: “Winning the award was unexpected but I feel proud of my achievements and motivated to
work even harder for my success. It made the countless weeks of work worthwhile and I feel incredibly happy to be recognised by Energy Ventures. I enjoyed working on my thesis and was really interested in the topic, therefore I am glad that my passion for business planning was noticed by such a successful organisation.” The presentation was made by Karem Kobayashi of Energy Ventures, an RGU graduate who initially joined the firm on an internship three years ago as part of
her MBA programme and went on to secure a permanent position. Karem said: “We are delighted to once again be supporting the brightest young minds at RGU. As a company we rely on innovation and forward thinking, something the prize is designed to recognise. “As a former RGU student myself, one of several now employed by Energy Ventures, I benefited from the excellent links between the university and industry. The prize is one example of the partnerships which exist and we’re proud to play our part.”
QAA Quality Mark for RGU The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) awarded RGU for the quality of its student experience and academic standard following its review in March and April 2016. A team of QAA reviewers visited the university and judged that it has effective arrangements for securing academic standards and enhancing the student learning experience. The positive review identified a number of examples of good practice. These include: • The proactive approach RGU takes to establishing strong relationships with employers and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies for the benefit of students. These relationships complement the curriculum, are recognised and valued by staff and students, and provide diverse opportunities for students to gain workrelated experience. Of particular note is RGU's Talent Exchange initiative, which aims to widen work-related experience opportunities by connecting local businesses and organisations, specifically small and medium sized enterprises, with students and staff. • The commitment to engage with students in a partnership, together with the effective student representation arrangements provide considerable opportunity for students to influence policy and practice. Students are recognised and rewarded for these activities through Student Contribution and
We place students and their graduate prospects at the top of our priorities... Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Involvement Awards and the university's credit-bearing Extracurricular Award. The review also highlighted that RGU has a strong commitment to widening access, demonstrated by proactive outreach strategies specifically designed to support non-traditional students in accessing the university. The Principal of Robert Gordon University, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, said: ‘I am delighted that RGU has performed well in this important review. It demonstrates that our staff show strong dedication in developing
and delivering a high quality educational agenda and student experience offering, as well as a commitment to widening access to university. ‘We place students and their graduate prospects at the top of our priorities, ensuring they achieve an industry-recognised qualification, as well as a high skill set, so we warmly welcome being acknowledged for our engagement with employers. ‘We value our student feedback and work closely with the student body to ensure we offer a university experience which meets
their expectations so it is great that this partnership has been recognised by the QAA.’ A successful review means that Robert Gordon University can display the QAA Quality Mark, indicating to UK and international students that the University meets national requirements for standards and quality.
Gray's graduate leads Aberdeen's first street art festival A Gray’s School of Art graduate led the transformation of Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens (UTG) into a kaleidoscope of colour and creativity. Karl Porter, who graduated from Gray’s last year, is involved in delivering the ‘Release the Pressure’ debut graffiti and street art festival in UTG, which has been spearheaded by Aberdeen Inspired under its Summer of Art campaign, in partnership with Karl’s company UV Arts and Aberdeen City Council. The festival saw a group of local and international street artists take over the arches within the greenspace last month – and gave the public the chance to get involved by watching the street art happen. Karl said the not-for-profit event aimed to provide an outlet for young people to channel their energies in a positive and creative way. He said: “This is a really exciting event which I’m privileged to
have the opportunity to bring to Aberdeen. Having built up such a large network of artists and contacts throughout my time, and with my reputation within the scene, I launched our festival and aimed to create cultural connections between artists and cities, delivering an urban intervention, taking over derelict sites and challenging our use of space and place. “I have been painting graffiti or street art for more than 15 years, as a rebellious teenager growing up in Northern Ireland where the politics of space determine your geographical surroundings. As an artist I wanted to have a piece of art in every part of the city - graffiti allowed me to create collaborations across the religious divide and meet new people from different areas of the city.” The Release the Pressure street art festival is the latest initiative taking place under Aberdeen Inspired’s Summer of Art banner. It follows on from the ongoing Play Me, I’m Yours and Painted Doors projects, both of which have been warmly received by the public.
Japanese students graduate from summer school at RGU Fifteen Masters students from nine different universities across Japan have just completed a four week summer school entitled ‘Ocean Energy – An International Dimension’ at RGU. The students are part of the Nippon Foundation Marine Pioneers of the Future Scholarship Programme. The four week programme included modules on marine engineering, oil and gas and offshore renewables, as well as industrial site visits to companies such as ROVOP in Aberdeen and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney. The students also had the opportunity to experience Scottish culture with visits to Edinburgh, local castles and a distillery. They also attended a dinner in honour of the Mayor of Nagasaki with the Lord Provost at the Town House. The summer programme concluded with the students presenting the projects they had worked on over the four week period to an industry and academic panel followed by a graduation ceremony to celebrate their achievements. The Nippon Foundation is a social innovation grant organisation which
The Japanese students with senior representatives from RGU
is leading the effort to enhance capacity building in offshore engineering in Japan. RGU was delighted to be chosen by the Nippon Foundation to host the students this summer and the hope is that this will be the start of a longstanding relationship. Head of the Office of Marine Development Capacity Building at the Nippon Foundation, Masanori Yoshida, said: “We are pleased to establish the summer programme in cooperation with RGU and dispatch
15 passionate Japanese students as the first fellows. “Scotland has taken the initiative in the offshore oil and gas and marine renewable energy sectors, while RGU has collaborated with industry for many decades and developed its advantage in these sectors. “I hope that the students can learn a lot of things from the programme and that we can further strengthen our relationship in the future.”
Following the summer school success, Donella Beaton, Head of Business Development for RGU, has been invited by the Nippon Foundation to travel to Tokyo in October to present at a symposium and explore opportunities for RGU to further develop its relationship both with the Nippon Foundation and more widely in Japan. Donella said: “It was a real privilege to host the summer school at RGU which has been a huge success. We look forward to building on
our relationship with the Nippon Foundation and continue to support the development of Japan’s offshore engineering capacity.” In addition to the summer school, the university has been strengthening its ties with Japan and has welcomed a number of delegations in the last fortnight including a group of Japanese academics from Nagoya University discussing integrated health and social care, and a delegation from Kobe City exploring opportunities for collaboration and learning in the subsea and health sectors.
New short course for professionals launched at RGU
The course is ideal for individuals working full-time within a related role who wish to extend their skills and knowledge... Short course students with Ken Russell, Associate Dean of ABS
RGU will launch a new short course on Optimisation in Production Processes in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS). This initiative has been built in response to the turbulent, challenging and highly competitive landscape that the economy now faces. The 12-week training course will introduce participants to process improvement and lean principles and tools which will make businesses more streamlined. It places strong emphasis on practice-based learning, enabling individuals to apply their new knowledge immediately to the work environment.
Delivered by RGU staff, the course aims to provide an understanding of the concept of process improvement in a manufacturing context and to develop the ability to critically evaluate production processes and select an appropriate analysis strategy, as well as to improve the production process through the application of a range of analytic tools. Ken Russell, Associate Dean at RGU’s Aberdeen Business School, said: “The drivers and need for improvements in manufacturing have probably never been greater. Engaging in this exciting new RGU partnership with SMAS will equip delegates with not just the techniques but also address the mindset shifts to succeed.”
Jamie Sansom, Continuous Improvement Practitioner at SMAS said: “This course is aimed at those who are at the beginning of the journey and want some exposure to the tools and thinking behind efficiency, lean and continuous improvement. Over the 12 weeks, you and a group of your peers will be taken through the training required to undertake an improvement project touching on lean manufacturing, production planning and measuring, Six Sigma tool box and quality systems.”
ensures delegates have the opportunity to ask questions and receive thorough answers, drawing upon the presenters’ experience.
The course, which was launched last month, is delivered via Blended Learning; a mix of face-to-face attendance and online learning fully supported by experienced academic staff. The workshop style of this programme
The course is ideal for individuals working fulltime within a related role who wish to extend their skills and knowledge about production techniques, supply chain practices and terminology.
Participants learn how these different areas impact business by applying the methods taught to issues experienced by the companies taking part in the programme. Upon completion of this course, participants will gain practical skills for use in the identification, analysis and optimisation of manufacturing processes.
RGU Pharmacy experts receive Royal Pharmaceutical Society recognition
Professor Donald Cairns
Professor Derek Stewart
Two leading pharmacy experts at RGU have been recognised by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for their work to advance the field. Professor Donald Cairns and Professor Derek Stewart from RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences have both been designated as Fellows of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Fellowship is the highest recognition the organisation can bestow on its members and is awarded to those who have made an outstanding original contribution to the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge or attained distinction in the science, practice, profession or history of pharmacy.
Professor Cairns, who is the Head of RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, has been recognised for his contribution to science and Professor Stewart has been recognised for his contribution to the practice of pharmacy.
Professor Cairns said: “I am delighted and flattered to receive this recognition from my own Society. I have been a pharmacist for more than 30 years and to be recognised by my peers, for the award of Fellow, is very pleasing.”
Prof Cairns obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Strathclyde in 1980 and has spent his career in practice and research.
Professor Stewart registered as a pharmacist in 1988 and is currently professor of pharmacy practice and lead for health and social care practice research at RGU.
In 2006, he was appointed to the British Pharmacopoeia Commission and serves on an Expert Advisory Group of the Pharmacopoeia. In 2008, Prof Cairns was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
He led the development of pharmacist prescriber education in Scotland, and has contributed to the strategic development of the profession as a member of the Scottish Pharmacy Board, national committees and working groups.
He has published more than 100 peer reviewed papers and in 2011 was awarded the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust Award in recognition of his significant contribution. Professor Stewart said: “I’m very proud that my work has been recognised in this way by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and I am indebted to all those who have worked alongside and guided me throughout my career.
CHAP funds summer studentship at RGU A final year architecture student at RGU is spending three months researching low carbon affordable housing thanks to a summer studentship funded by The CHAP Group. Valentin Dolhan will use the studentship to investigate energy efficient housing under the supervision of RGU lecturer Professor Gokay Deveci, an internationally renowned expert in the field of sustainable housing with a wide range of experience in both private practice and academia. The studentship position is designed to focus on number of research themes which include investigating issues such as energy demand and low carbon use, material sourcing and use, social impact, and the challenges and opportunities of existing buildings; developing technical skills and tools for constructing new low carbon and low environmental impact buildings; and investigating potential legislative and planning restrictions and integrated solutions that focus on affordability and low carbon consumption. Professor Deveci said: “We are extremely grateful to CHAP for funding this summer studentship position over the past five years which has provided five individual students with a fantastic learning and research opportunity. “Low energy housing is an area of increasing interest and importance in Scotland and it is key that we continue to carry out valuable research to ensure the issue of sustainability is
Chap are constantly looking for ways in which we can improve the quality and sustainability of our housing... CHAP studentship L-R Douglas Thomson, Prof. Gokay Deveci and Valentin Dolhan
pushed further up the construction agenda in this country.” He added: “Valentin is extremely talented student who deserves this opportunity and I have no doubt that he will benefit greatly from the experience.” Valentin, who will be based at RGU’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, said: “I would like to voice my gratitude to the CHAP Group
for their generous funding in supporting such an opportunity which will benefit my understanding of the cutting edge technologies relating to sustainable lowenergy housing under the careful guidance and expertise of Professor Gokay Deveci.” Douglas Thomson, Joint Managing Director of Chap Group, said: “Chap are constantly looking for ways in which we can improve the quality and sustainability of our housing, and research initiatives such as this one between
Chap and RGU help us to gain a better understanding of the issues, how to address them, and incorporate the research findings in to our future homes.” Professor Deveci is involved in ongoing research into low-carbon housing and designed the first certified ‘PassivHaus’ housing scheme in Scotland.
RGU Dr part of volunteering group recognised for commitment to transforming lives A RGU academic is one of a group of women who has been recognised by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Adam, for their volunteering activity with woman and girls. The Soroptimist International Club (SI) were awarded the Gold award for volunteering. Dr Morag McFadyen, who is a teaching fellow at RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, has been an active member of the women’s service organisation for many years. The Aberdeen branch of the Soroptimist International Club meet twice a month and are involved in a variety of activities, including fundraising, providing practical support to local projects, lobbying and social activities. The award was in recognition of their work within Aberdeen City. Dr McFadyen said: “We are absolutely delighted that the work of the members of SI Aberdeen have been recognised for this award from the Lord Provost. “Soroptimists worldwide believe in working together to transform the lives of women and girls and it is fantastic to be recognised for the work we do. “Not everyone is aware of what Soroptimists do or what Soroptimisim is. We have a long
history of working with the local community in Aberdeen as well as highlighting issues relating to women and girls worldwide. “The Aberdeen Soroptimists were instrumental in launching the walkathon in the city. This was one of many activities to raise money for charity such as; collecting money before football matches at Pittodrie, renting the City Council’s charity shop for a week, plant sales coffee mornings and gourmet dinners. We have also worked hard to raise much needed funds for Tillydrone Vision which works with young people in Tillydrone in supporting some of the poorest communities in Uganda. “Whilst acts of service may involve raising money for worthy causes, it can also mean giving time to do voluntary work. A snapshot of the volunteering Aberdeen Soroptimist have performed over the years include manning the coffee bar at Roxburghe house (a specialist palliative care unit) and providing summer outings for young carers and regularly driving disabled people to and from their weekly club meetings.” Dr McFadyen has also visited Soroptimist International Los Gatos-Saratoga, California, USA. Find out more about the Soroptimist International Club
RGU launches new addiction and substance misuse module
includes a virtual classroom and discussion forums for students.
There is an increasing need for qualified and capable health and social care professionals... A unique health module at RGU is now open for applications for those who wish to advance their professional knowledge and skills in the field of addiction and substance misuse. Developed by a diverse group of health and social care professionals, the postgraduate module is suitable for registered nurses, midwives, health and social care professionals and other individuals who work with communities or with people with addiction and substance misuse issues, their families and/or carers. Titled: ‘Addiction and Substance Misuse in a Range of Contexts,’ the course starts at the Garthdee campus on Tuesday, September 27 and will be delivered through two study days at RGU as well as via an online module which
Scott Macpherson, a lecturer at RGU's School of Nursing and Midwifery, leads the module. He said: “There is an increasing need for qualified and capable health and social care professionals to engage with those who struggle with addiction or substance misuse issues. “The module has been developed using the skills and experiences of a large number of health professionals including nurses, social workers, third sector staff, academics as well as service users and people who are currently in recovery. “This makes the course unique as it draws together best practice from across the health and social care sectors along with lived experience and raises awareness of the human impact addiction can have on people. “Whilst it’s important that people can evidence that they’ll cope with Masters level study we don’t have any formal qualifications required to study the module. This allows for people with lived experience of addictions or with little or no formal qualifications to apply.” On successful completion of the course, the credits can be used within the Professional Studies Framework to gain academic award or towards an MSc in Advancing Nursing Practice.
US nursing exchange gives students transatlantic perspective We’re very lucky to have had the opportunity and I’m so glad to have made the trip.”
...really opened my eyes to how nursing works in other parts of the world.
The nursing exchange students
Nursing students from RGU and University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) have taken part in an international exchange programme this summer to learn more about their profession across the Atlantic Ocean. The transatlantic initiative between RGU and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville is in its third year and has been forged to
allow students to exchange clinical, academic and cultural experiences. American nursing students Lindsey Miles, Brenna McMackin, Maraya Futcher and Annie Darroch made their first visit to Scotland in July and are all in their final year of their studies. The students self-funded their trip to Aberdeen and during their time in the north-east they enjoyed a
programme of nursing, academic and social activities, led by students and staff at RGU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. Breanna said: “The exchange programme has been very insightful. We were given mentors within the hospital who provided us with great learning experiences. The nurses here have given us a lot of their time and have been beyond friendly.”
RGU nursing students Clare Mooney, Bethanay McGowan, Bronwyn Shekyls and Lyndsay Moore also spent two weeks in Knoxville Tennessee at the start of July where they shadowed medical and nursing professionals in hospitals and clinics in the area. Clare says: “The exchange to the United States was brilliant and really opened my eyes to how nursing works in other parts of the world.
Jackie Leith, Lecturer and USA coordinator at RGU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “It has been very positive to see this exchange programme develop over the last three years which benefits our students as well as those from the University of Tennessee. “The students involved have experienced a variety of clinical and community settings tailored to their particular nursing interests and it has been encouraging to hear their insights about the differences between Scotland and the US. “It is has been great to see our own students and clinical staff in a range of settings making such an effort to welcome and host our guests from the US. They have had a great time here in Scotland and we hope they will remember their time with us as their careers develop.”
news in brief Part Time Jobs Fair The Part Time Jobs Fair supports RGU students given the continued financial challenges that students face. The fair highlights the range of openings that are available to students in Aberdeen, and importantly the student feedback supports the value of this event. Will Ritchie, Careers Consultant Team Leader at RGU, says: “As well as supporting student finances, part-time work is an important way in which students can demonstrate work related skills to a future graduate employer. Research suggests that when hiring graduates, employers favour applicants who have real work experience.” RGU students can access the university’s online employability topics at www.rgu.ac.uk/ mycareertoolkit which is also where ‘Course Specific Careers Information’ is available which highlights the destinations of recent graduates. The Part-Time Jobs Fair will be held on Wednesday 28 September from 10.30am to 2.30pm in the entrance and amphitheatre of the Sir Ian Wood Building.
RGU engineering staff travel to China to share knowledge and expertise
“Also, engaging with cuttingedge research and scientists from the UK and China have allowed our academics to discover their strengths and how that could be matched for future collaborative work.”
RGU academics travelled to China to share their knowledge and expertise at a wind turbine workshop. Dr Ghazi Droubi, Dr Nadimul Faisal and Dr Yashwant Sinha, all from RGU’s School of Engineering were invited to participate at the China-UK Researcher Links Workshop on Multidisciplinary Issues of Wind Turbines in Cold Environments at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre (CARDC), Mianyang, China.
NEL and RGU develop data capture and analysis software to save oil and gas industry billions NEL is investing £400,000 to develop a state-of-the-art flow meter data capture and analysis system. The joint project between NEL, RGU and The Data Lab, a Scottish government funded innovation centre, will upgrade NEL’s data acquisition infrastructure system, enabling data across 30 years to be analysed for the first time.
Professor Iain Steel, Head of School of Engineering at RGU, said: “It was a great opportunity for RGU academics to establish new research links with other researchers who work on interdisciplinary areas of wind turbine and addressing future challenges. The combined data science expertise of RGU and NEL’s flow measurement capability will develop state-of-the-art data mining software tools to monitor ongoing performance and trends. These intelligent meter health checks will save operators billions of pounds per year from unnecessary calibrations, maintenance and shutdowns. Muir Porter, NEL’s Group Manager, said: “This is an industry-first that will deliver operators the ability to analyse data on very large complex data sets to better inform decisions
Dr Sinha gave a presentation called ‘A SMART knowledgebase for effectively maintaining wind turbines in multifarious environments’ while Dr Faisal spoke about residual strength characterisation of adhesively bonded joints in wind turbine application and Dr Droubi focussed on the effect of icing on vertical axis wind turbine VAWT performance.
that have huge potential for cost optimisation.” John McCall, Director of RGU’s Smart Data Technologies Centre, said: “Our data science knowledge, combined with NEL’s flow metrology expertise, creates the opportunity to analyse data in a novel way, enabling us to provide previously unobtainable insights. We will uncover hidden data trends and relationships that will help operators to better understand and predict the condition of their meters, allowing them to minimise operational costs and maximise well revenues.”
RGU graduate focuses on future with PolePod project An enterprising Gray’s graduate is looking to launch a new product with the help of a Kickstarter campaign. Andrew Davidson has designed an alternative to the selfie stick, a tiny, versatile camera mount called PolePod™. The product is a small sphere which can be fitted to a ski pole, walking pole or even a branch to convert it instantly into a selfie stick. Andrew, who graduated with a Product Design degree from RGU last year, has set up his own company called AS D-Zine Ltd. He said: “PolePod™ was devised as an alternative to a selfie stick as I wanted to film myself skiing, and didn’t see the point in carrying a flimsy extendable pole when I already had two sturdy ones in my hands. “PolePod™ can be fitted to your ski or walking pole and left there
for when you need it without restricting normal use. It can also be used on a less permanent basis - for example, attaching it to a branch or gate when out and about.” Andrew has had a number of successes since leaving university, being named as one of the winners of the Sports Innovation Challenge at the Sports Business Innovation Awards earlier this year for his first product Go~Iso - a device which can be fitted to an existing water bladder to instantly convert water into a formulated isotonic fluid. He was also selected for the second cohort of Elevator UK’s Accelerator programme which offers participants an intense 12-week entrepreneurial experience to test, research, develop, launch and refine a product or service-led business to become pitch and investor ready, as well as receiving additional support from the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE).
A look at RGU events Freshers’ Week 10 to 24 September 2016 Aberdeen city centre and Garthdee campus RGU:Union has organised over 100 events for this year’s freshers’ period which is taking place over two weeks. ABS Research Student Symposium 13 September 2016 Aberdeen Business School The ABS Research Student Symposium provides an opportunity for PhD researchers to showcase and discuss aspects of their research.
Part-time Jobs Fair 28 September 2016 Sir Ian Wood Building An excellent opportunity for students to network with local employers who are keen to recruit part-time staff. Pharmacy Fair 26 October 2016 Sir Ian Wood Building Organised by the Careers Centre in partnership with the School of Pharmacy, the Pharamcy Fair is as opportunity for students to meet with pharmacy recruiters to find out more about placement and pre-registration opportunities and what is required of a newly qualified.
Career Opportunities Fair 27 October 2016 RGU SPORT An annual calendar highlight at RGU, the Career Opportunities Fair provides students with an opportunity to network with graduate recruiters across a wide range of sectors to understand what talent they are looking for. Open Day October 2016 29 October 2016 Garthdee campus A chance for prospective undergraduate students to experience the university's campus learn more about the range of degree level courses.