Nexusonline
September 2013
Designed and Activated by: The Gatehouse - Design & Print Consultancy at RGU
A word from the Principal
I-Tech Award
Summer graduation
Hannah Miley graduates Kilimanjaro
New student presidents
Laurie Power
Edward Shearer
Staff graduations
Construction skills warning
Getting to know the student presidents
RGU SeaEnergy KTP News in brief
Emma Gibb
Honorary awards
Events
A word from the Principal
Harnessing the RGU community For many of us in RGU this academic year brings something new. Some of us, myself included, have just moved to Garthdee, and for all of us the new Riverside East building adds a new dimension to the university’s life. It is important that we harness this, in the best way possible, to help develop RGU as a very special place. Universities are communities. All staff and students are members of this community and make a contribution to it. It is therefore important for all of us to be aware of each other, to respect each other, and to gather something from each other’s skills, knowledge and experience. To be able to do this effectively, we need to meet and exchange views and insights.
The first event in this agenda will be an open meeting for all staff, which we are planning to hold on 26 September at 3.30 pm. More on that shortly. At this meeting I hope to set out the initiatives and issues that I am currently working on with other colleagues, and to hear from you about your hopes, concerns and ideas. It would be wonderful if many of you could attend this event. In the meantime, I hope and trust that the new academic year will be stimulating and successful for the entire RGU community. It is a great privilege for me to share in the life of this university with you.
One of my priorities for this coming year is to find and offer opportunities for such exchanges - some in a more social, and others in a more academic setting. We can benefit from debates, from presentations and demonstrations, and from open discussions - as well as from informal conversations. We need to encourage all colleagues, whatever their specific role, to offer ideas and advice on the future of RGU, within the overall structure of our strategy. Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski
RGU researchers scoop I-Tech Award RGU researchers have scooped a prestigious award for their innovative work to help students improve their performance in clinical settings. Fiona Culligan, Caroline Wood, Gavin Innes and Peter Baker received an I-Tech Award from JISC Regional Support Centre Scotland which aims to help learning providers improve performance and efficiency through the use of technology. Their project entitled, ‘Using digital video recordings of simulations for selfevaluation,’ assessed the use of digital footage of clinical simulations. The research won the Learning and Teaching category at the I-Tech Awards and was described by judges as “a really innovative and scalable way of allowing large numbers of students to view videos of their own performance.” In 2011, Lecturer Fiona Culligan teamed up with Caroline Wood, Senior Lecturer for Clinical Skills Development, to investigate if videoing the students during their clinical simulation scenarios and its use as feedback had a positive or negative effect upon their perceptions of their own performance. Fiona said: “We’re all very proud that our project has been recognised at the I-Tech Awards. A lot of work has gone in to the research and it’s great to have established a representative data set which highlights that students do place a value on viewing their video footage.”
More than 120 students took part in the research which involved participation in a clinical simulation, recorded using the Scotia Medical Observations and Training System (SMOTS), followed by immediate faceto-face feedback from their lecturer. Previously, nursing students received immediate verbal feedback from lecturers following their clinical simulation. However, it was found that participants were often anxious and found it difficult to engage in discussion. Although the simulations were recorded in the past, students didn’t always have the opportunity to view their footage due to the large number of students involved. With the help of Gavin Innes, eLearning Adviser and Peter Baker, Clinical Skills Centre Technical Services Officer, the video footage was uploaded to RGU’s Media Library and made available on the Virtual Learning Environment “CampusMoodle” for each student to access their own footage privately. Students were then invited to complete an online questionnaire and attend a focus group. The research team found: •µµA total of 70% of students viewed their digital footage •µµMore than 91% of students thought that viewing the video footage and feedback had enhanced their learning experience and 85% want to view future simulation footage
•µµViewing the digital footage of the simulation at a later date improved students’ perception of their performance Fiona added: “As a result of large nursing cohorts, time spent on clinical simulation scenarios can be limited especially for students receiving face-
to-face feedback from lecturers. “However, the video footage adds significant value to their learning experience and to improve upon this we also wish to pursue the possibility of allowing students to use footage within their e-portfolios in order to reflect and demonstrate their learning.”
For more information about the project click here.
Celebrating the summer graduations
More than 2,500 students graduated with degrees and professional qualifications from RGU during its summer ceremonies held over four days in July, in subjects ranging from journalism to nursing and computing science to mechanical engineering. The sun shone for the class of 2013 who celebrated their academic achievements with friends, family and members of the RGU community at His Majesty’s Theatre. Ferdinand Von Prondzynski, Principal of RGU, said: “Graduation is a special and significant day for all involved; it celebrates the achievement of years of hard work and marks the crucial progression from student to graduate a member of the RGU community of alumni.”
Angela Barclay, 35, graduated with a BSc in Surveying. “Completing my degree is a massive achievement. I would say to anyone in a similar situation to just go for it. Granted it was very difficult and stressful at times but if you have the determination and drive you can achieve anything.”
Anissa Merrakech, 23, graduated with a degree in Applied Social Sciences. “I’ve got a very big smile on my face because I have gained an invaluable amount of knowledge and skills during my studies, which has assisted me tremendously in the shaping of the person I am today.”
Ronnie Mill, 45, fulfilled a long held dream when he graduated with a BSc in Computer Network Management and Design. “The experience of studying and achieving the degree has given me a renewed confidence and a good qualification, enabling me to compete for jobs in these difficult times.”
Here are a handful of quotes from some of the students who graduated this summer. Jessica Lawson, 22, graduated with a degree in PR and Communications. “Graduating is an amazing feeling. The past four years of education have shaped me hugely in many ways.”
Swimmer’s stroke of success
She has won her fair share of sporting titles including Commonwealth gold but RGU’s Hannah Miley is celebrating her latest success after graduating this summer and reflects on her time at university. The north-east swimmer successfully combined her university studies with an intensive training programme which has seen her win World, European and British titles. Hannah, who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and London 2012 Olympics, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Sports and Exercise Science. She said: “I’m really excited to have finished my studies at RGU, it’s a significant milestone for me and to graduate with a bachelor’s degree is a very proud achievement. “I can’t thank RGU enough for the support it has given me since I enrolled in 2008 – I’ve been able to enjoy the best of both worlds by completing my studies while also pursuing my swimming career. I owe it to RGU for supporting me to a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games as well as competing in three Olympic finals in London.”
Hannah, who studied at the School of Health Sciences, is also an RGU:SPORT Scholar and has benefitted from a tailor-made package of support from RGU which allowed her to combine her studies with the demands of training and competing against the best swimmers in the world. Hannah said: “The scholarship scheme has been very helpful and meant I could cover the costs of attending university which allowed me to focus completely on studying and my training. The university also ensured I didn’t have to take exams if I was at training camps and I was able to sit them at a later date, sometimes in different parts of the world like the Canary Islands. “It was always very easy to contact my lecturers by email or Skype to discuss any support I needed which helped me keep on top of my studies. I was also given extensions for my coursework so I could finish them within a time I could manage while I was competing in the pool.” Hannah was attracted to study at RGU because of its strong reputation as well as the state-of-the-art swimming pool and training facilities at RGU:SPORT in the heart of the university’s Garthdee campus. “The facilities at RGU:SPORT were
a huge attraction for me and to have them right next to where my classes were made the decision very easy,” Hannah said. “I wanted to study at a university close to home so I could still be trained by my dad and RGU ticked all the right boxes.” Hannah, who is trained by her father Patrick, is the reigning European 400m individual medley champion in both long course and short course formats. She represented Scotland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, winning a gold medal in the 400m individual medley. Hannah also represented Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 200m and 400m individual medley swimming events and achieved fifth place in the 400m individual medley final at London 2012. “Studying at RGU has been a fantastic experience and I have loved being a student at such a great university. The support I received allowed me to maximise my performance and has contributed to my success in and out of the pool. I plan to maintain strong links with the university in the future and even though I’ve completed my studies I’ll still be a familiar face on campus as I continue my training programme at RGU:SPORT.”
RGU announces honorary awards
The university awarded four honorary degrees at its summer graduation ceremonies. Respected professionals from various disciplines were selected for their outstanding contributions to their field.
Dr Alistair Fraser, Vice President of Health at Royal Dutch Shell, was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science (Hons DSc) for his expertise in occupational health. Spanning an impressive medical career, Dr Fraser graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine from The University of Aberdeen in 1982 and has since worked in a number of influential positions. In 1985 he took up a post with Aberdeen Industrial Doctors where he developed a structured offshore medical response for Madagascar before enrolling himself on the Aberdeen Surgical Training Scheme. He has since worked in a variety of global medical and occupational health roles with Shell UK Exploration and Production (E&P) before being appointed as Vice-President for Health in Royal Dutch Shell in 2012. In this role he is accountable for the strategic direction and delivery of health in Shell globally.
Sir Frank Chapman was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech) for 38 years of service to the industry.
Scottish singer Julie Fowlis was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Music for her contribution to Scottish music.
Credited for masterminding one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies to global prominence, Sir Frank started his career by graduating with a first class honours degree from Queen Mary College, London University in 1974. After initially joining BP, Sir Frank spent 18 years working for Royal Dutch Shell before moving to British Gas (now known as BG Group) as Managing Director of Exploration and Production (E&P). In 1997 Sir Frank joined the main plc board before being appointed to president of BG International in 1999 and then chief executive of the new BG Group plc in 2000.
Despite initially being terrified of singing solo, Julie has led the traditional Flower of Scotland anthem in front of the Tartan Army at Hampden Park, performed in front of a 500millionstrong television audience at the closing ceremony of the Ryder Cup and has just returned from supporting Runrig on their 40th anniversary tour.
Sir Frank stepped down as chief executive and board member in December 2012, continuing to act as an advisor to the new chief executive until he retired in June. He was knighted in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to the oil and gas industry.
She has gone on to win numerous awards including best Gaelic singer at the Scots Traditional Music Awards and the Horizon award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In October 2008 she was given the title of Scotland’s Gaelic Ambassador by the Scottish Government and was the first solo artist to appear on BBC2 music show Later… With Jools Holland.
Dr Tony Hayward, Chief Executive of Genel Energy plc, was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech) for his service to the oil and gas industry. Mr Hayward started his career in Aberdeen with BP after graduating with a PhD from the Edinburgh School of Geosciences and quickly rose through a variety of technical and commercial roles in Europe, Asia and South America. He then became Group Vice-President for exploration and production (E&P) in 1997 before joining the upstream executive committee in 1999. In 2000 he became group treasurer and CEO for E&P in 2003 and in 2007 Tony was appointed to Group Chief Executive of BP. He left BP in 2010 following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and co-founded Vallares PLC which quickly raised in excess of $2bn to create a new oil and gas company. In September 2011 it merged with the privately owned Turkish oil firm Genel to create Genel Energy.
RGU’s Fiona masters marketing
Madeleine masters project management
experience this time was different however as she followed most of the course via distance learning while working full-time and having a young daughter at home.
the second time round. “I really feel that working and studying at the same time is a huge achievement. It requires a lot of commitment but can be hugely rewarding and enjoyable.
“I did the first two years working fulltime, which was tough enough, but by the time I reached the dissertation stage I had had a baby girl plus my full-time job so this added a whole new pressure to the mix,” she said.
RGU’s B2B Marketing Officer Fiona Jardine graduated with an MSc International Marketing Management from the university on Wednesday July 10. Fiona’s first degree is in languages and literature and she has always enjoyed education so decided to further her study in an area which interested her the most – marketing. She said: “When I first became employed at Aberdeen Business School as a Study Abroad Administrator, I really felt I was in the right place to take advantage of the opportunity of further study. “Marketing was the area which interested me the most so I applied for the MSc International Marketing Management. The global aspect of the course is what appealed to me the most but I’ve really enjoyed the mix of theoretical and practical modules the course offers.” Fiona’s student
“At times I felt really guilty about the amount of time I had to spend away from her to study but I knew it was only for a short time and I had come too far to quit. “Apart from an enhanced understanding of business, which I value, I appreciate my family in a different way having done this. It would have been impossible without their support. I think you do need that behind you. “I’m delighted that I managed to complete the course but I feel family has to be a priority for the next few years. Fiona added: “I’m really pleased that I was offered a job in the university’s Marketing Department at the end of last year, which is exactly what I wanted, so I really feel it has helped me get onto the career path I want to follow.”
Madeleine Marcella graduated with her second degree from RGU and was watched proudly from across the stage by her mum, Dean of Aberdeen Business School, Professor Rita Marcella. Madeleine graduated with an MSc in Project Management on Wednesday July 10. The 25-year-old studied project management through distance learning because she felt it would compliment the skills gained in her first RGU degree – a First Class Honours in Corporate Communication. Madeleine has been working at RGU since 2009 – first as a Marketing Officer then moving into a teaching position at Aberdeen Business School where she teaches on the BA (Hons) Fashion Management course. She said: “It feels every bit as good, if not even a bit better, to be graduating
“As I work here, I’ve attended graduation every year since my own four years ago and for me it is the absolute highlight of the university calendar. “It’s been a really valuable and rewarding experience.” One of the highlights for Madeleine was the dissertation as it gave her an opportunity to focus on an area which really interests her. “My masters research looked at an area where there is a real gap in literature; the transferability of project management to more creative industries where I looked at fashion as a case and interviewed a range of fashion managers from the north east of Scotland representing fashion events, fashion retail and fashion design,” she said. She continued: “This project was really interesting and I enjoyed every minute of it. It also proved to be an invaluable networking opportunity with local experts in the fashion sector.” Madeleine has applied to start her PhD at RGU and will be looking at fashion communication online, through blogs and social media platforms.
More than sixty lecturers from across the university have been recognised for their high standard of teaching and outstanding contribution to the student experience. For the fourth year in a row, RGU students voted for their favourite members of academic staff who have gone above and beyond their roles as lecturers. Nominations from students have included different learning styles and teaching methods, to additional out of hours support, guidance and help with personal problems. The hundreds of nominations were then graded by staff at the Student Association who created a shortlist and categorised the nominations into: Continued Excellence; Award of Excellence; Certificate of Excellence; and Certificate of Recognition. An award ceremony was held at the RGU:Union at the end of the last semester where the lecturers collected their various awards and certificates. Callum Martin, the 2012/13 Student President for Education and Welfare who organised the awards, said: “These nominations are in recognition of the high level of service our lecturers have provided throughout the academic year. “Reading each nomination and hearing the amazing stories about how our lecturers have
gone above and beyond fills me with pride and is a reminder of how lucky we are to engage with such a fantastic bunch of academics. “I hope that the awards act as a reminder to us all of the great and very unique partnership that we have here at RGU between staff and student.” The categories: Continued Excellence – Awarded to previous winners of the I Love My Lecturer Awards who have continued to receive stand-out nominations for their fantastic work. Award for Excellence – This award is presented to members of staff who have shown an outstanding commitment to the student experience in terms of both learning and pastoral care. Certificate of Excellence – This certificate is awarded to members of staff who stood out during the nomination process. They go the extra mile when dealing with their students and the certificate is a means of recognising their wonderful contribution to the student experience. Certificate of Recognition – This certificate is awarded to members of staff deemed worthy of a nomination by one or more students. The members of staff have maintained superb engagement with the student body. Turn to the next page for a list of the academics who won the 2012/13 awards and for some of the quotes taken from the student nominations. Continued on next page.
“A knowledgeable and articulate lecturer who is committed to being supportive and friendly to his students.”
“His way of teaching is so relatable. It isn’t like being lectured, he is interactive, he uses pop culture, he knows how to get the class involved, laughing, caring, yet he still teaches us. I have had him as a lecturer for three years now and I feel like I have learnt the most from his classes because he does keep me interested.”
Continued Excellence
Certificate of Recognition
Eoin Cowie Robert Halsall Alex Mackay Eric Ogilvie-Brown Amy Wareing Charlie Weir
Dave Adams Michael Agnew Hatem Ahriz Peter Atorough Kirstine Collins Roderick Daniel Eimear Dolan Audrey Fryer Nicola Furrie Carmen Fyfe Bob Gammie Kate Goodhand Hayley Green Paul Green Sha Jihan Tong Jlao Linda Kirkham Susan Lawrie Carole Lyons Gerry McGee Tony Morse Simon Officer Elliot Pirie Brian Ratcliffe Fiona Smith Elaine Stewart John Still Lynda Storey Linda Strangward Langes Supramaniam Daniel Turner Allan Watson
Award of Excellence “She has created solid connections with the students, making her arguably our most accessable lecturer should we ever have a problem or concern.”
Quotes from I Love My Lecturer Awards nominations
“He is very down to earth and understanding.Very passionate about his work and his students.”
“He was engaging with all of the students, he spent his own time in the evenings to provide us with weekly workshops and provided plenty of additional material to help us grasp the subject.”
“His charm and charisma puts students at ease and encourages further creative thinking.” “Her teaching style has such a personal connection with us that it really makes a bigger impact.”
“She is the most empathetic and spirit lifting lecturer I have ever had.”
“Her lectures are always interesting, funny and light-hearted and I always leave the classroom feeling as though I have gained a thorough understanding of the topic that she has taught.”
“As well as being highly passionate about his topics, he goes the extra mile when supporting students indiviually. “
Amar Bennadji Ahmed Beloucif Valerie Bremner Cameron Campbell Daniel Doolan David Gibbons-Wood John Karlberg Graeme McRobbie Annette Murray Peter Reid Jonathan Scott Jill Smith
Certificate of Excellence Craig Anderson Gil Barton Alison Brown Izzy Crawford Angela Duvollet Bukola Faturroti Morag Hamilton David Henderson Philip Burge Simon Leeman Kirstin Parkes Nicola Youngson Chris Yuill
RGU Student Association names three new presidents Three new student presidents have recently been appointed to the Student Association at Robert Gordon University (RGU). Paul Greene, 24, has taken up the reins of Student President for Communication and Democracy, while Steven Mills, 25, has occupied the role of President for Education and Welfare, and Patrick Maughan, 23, has been appointed as President for Sport and Physical Activity. Paul, who has recently graduated with an undergraduate degree in Management and Marketing, says his passion for politics and representing people led him to run for the position, which will see the Glasgow lad act as the key spokesperson for students and the media, as well as promote the democratic processes of the Student Association. “I will ensure the students are well represented in all decision making processes and act as a voice for the student body. I will also work hard to ensure that we have the facilities in place to grow our student population and to make sure our students have the best possible experience at RGU.” Paul’s campaign aims include protecting the student services, supporting the growth of student societies, promoting greater representation to encourage students to shape policy and to promote the
student media platforms in order to increase its reach among the community. Third year Law and Management undergraduate, Steven, is no stranger to representing the student body having founded and chaired the award winning RGU:LGBT+, RGU’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* society. Originally from Arbroath, Steven believes his knowledge of the Student Association’s aims from previously sitting on its executive board, coupled with the skills he has developed from his degree as well as his confident and caring nature, will stand him in good stead for his role. “My role is two pronged in that I will be working closely with the university’s class representatives to ensure our courses are tailored to student requirements while looking out for the wellbeing of the student population.” Steven aims to develop a mental health campaign for the university to ensure people with mental health issues are looked after by ensuring facilities are in place. He also wants to promote a sexual health campaign, appoint a liberation officer and develop RGU’s diverse culture. Patrick, an experienced athlete who has recently graduated with an honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science, has been involved with sport for most of his life so securing the role as
President of Sport and Physical Activity felt like a natural progression. “The experience I have gained from working in high level sport as well as the participation side, and having been involved in RGU’s sports clubs for the last four years means that I have a lot of relevant knowledge which I can apply to my role in promoting sport among the student population.” Patrick’s main aims are to encourage more students to get involved with sport and physical activity, promote a healthy lifestyle, increase the number of volunteers for sports clubs and to develop a RGU sports league for badminton, football, volleyball and netball. The three presidents took up their posts at the beginning of August and were elected by their peers who voted online and across the University campus during RGU: Union’s election week in March.
Getting to know the new student presidents
Paul Greene Student President for Communication and Democracy Originally from Glasgow, Paul came to RGU four years ago to study for an undergraduate degree in Management with Marketing at Aberdeen Business School. Having recently graduated in July, Paul is looking forward to representing the student population while continuing with university life for another year as he embarks on his new role as Student President for Communication and Democracy. Why did you decide to study at RGU? I wanted to study away from home and RGU’s connection with the industry really appealed to me as it offers brilliant work placements which help to secure graduate positions.
Why did you want to run for Student President? I have a passion for politics and representing people so felt this role was a natural fit for me. I also had a fantastic time studying at RGU and want to ensure every student also has a great experience. What is your greatest achievement? Can I have more than one? It either has to be renovating a school in Malawi, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity or being elected into this post. What are your hobbies? I have a passion for music and spend a lot of my spare time playing the guitar and dj’ing at clubs. I also like to read, watch documentaries and spend quite a bit of time political rambling. What five words would your friends or family use to best describe you? Funny, political, activist, ginger and ‘Weegie’ (whatever that means…).
Steven Mills Student President for Education and Welfare Originally from Arbroath, Steven Mills came to Aberdeen six years ago to study for an undergraduate degree in Law and Management at Aberdeen Business School. He spent the first few years of his degree juggling his studies with campaigning for student welfare and founding award winning student societies. After completing the third year of his degree, he decided to have a break from studying to take up the position of Student President for Welfare and Education, ensuring the student population is well looked after. Why did you decide to study at RGU? I knew what course I wanted to do but I didn’t want to go to far from home. RGU was also listed as the best place to study law and also had the highest employability rating which really appealed to me.
What are the best bits about being a RGU student? The students - we have such a diverse culture here and I have met such incredible people from all walks of life. Also RGU has a fantastic Student Association which is great to be part of. What is your greatest achievement? Establishing the RGU: LGBT+ society and winning RGU’s Best Society of the Year after only six months of starting it. We were also nominated for two National Union of Students (NUS) awards (Event of the Year and Society of the Year) and I was voted the NUS Student of the Year which I’m all extremely proud of. What are your hobbies? I do lots of charitable fundraising and volunteering. For example I’m a ‘Big Kid’ for Befriend a Child. I also help to organise events for various charities. I have a passion for music and play the tenor saxophone. What is your signature dish to cook (if any!)? Pot Noodle with a side of Micro Chips
Patrick Maughan Student President for Sport and Exercise Science Patrick Maughan (or Paddy M) has spent the last four years studying for an undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science at RGU’s Faculty of Health and Social Care. Having just graduated in July, Paddy wasn’t quite ready to leave student life behind him just yet and wanted to apply his passion for all things sporty to a role where he could make a difference to the health and wellbeing of the student population. Why did you decide to study at RGU? After taking two years out following secondary school to play rugby overseas, I still wanted to continue my involvement in sport and study sport science at university level. Being a local lad and having been away from home for two years, I wanted to stay in Aberdeen and chose RGU due to the opportunities I felt the course could provide.
What is your greatest achievement? Being elected President of Sport and Physical Activity. It was a nerve wracking week but it’s a great feeling to be voted in to the position by your peers. Outside of university, playing rugby with and against some guys who have gone on to be some of the best players in the world is my greatest achievement. Any tips for fresher’s who are about to embark on university life? Say yes to as much as you can! It’s a short four years and it will fly past. You have the opportunity While at university to do things that you may never get to experience again. And Join a sports club! Where do you see yourself in five years time? I would like to work in the strength and conditioning field, possibly somewhere down south. Who would be your favourite dinner party guest and why? The character ‘Thad Castle’ from Blue Mountain State. The dinner party would definitely be interesting and the drinks afterwards would be beyond interesting! Other than that Billy Connolly, he’s a genius.
RGU students climb high for charity and raise over £58,000 RGU:RAG decided it was time to set a new challenge in 2013 so this summer, 21 students set off to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the largest mountain in Africa and the world’s largest free standing mountain at a towering 19,341 ft above sea level.
•µµTrekking on day one involved a slow and steady climb through the rainforest, before reaching Machame Hut for the first nights camp.
The challenge was in aid of Childreach International - a global charity which works with local communities to help improve children’s access to healthcare, education, and child rights and protection in six countries around the world.
•µµDay three brought around acclimatisation day, gaining altitude by trekking to Lava tower for lunch before dropping back down to Barranco camp for the evening.
Prior to the climb, RGU students managed to raise more than £58,000 through a number of fundraisers such as quiz nights, bag packs and other sponsored events. RGU:RAG was also awarded ‘Recruiter of the year’ by Childreach International for the largest number of participants recruited for an event. In order to see where their fundraising efforts go, the students visited a Childreach supported school and met the local children in the Moshi region of Tanzania prior to the ascent up the mountain. The climb, which led students from the Machame Gate towards the Uhuru Peak, was a gruelling four days accent and two days descent of long trekking.
•µµDay two was a continued ascent to Shira Hut, scrambling up steep ridges and pathways before reaching the night camp.
•µµDay four saw students brave the Barranco wall, climbing and scrambling up to reach Karnaga Valley for lunch and then Barafu Camp in the late afternoon for an early dinner, before the summit. •µµDay five was a midnight wake up call to begin the final assent to Uhuru Peak, with a chilly walk through the night reaching the peak to watch the sunrise. Following what was a test of mental and physical endurance, an incredible 18 of the 21 RGU students managed to reach the Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa at dawn on June, 24. After the return to Barafu camp and a short rest, the descent began down to Mweka Hut for the last night on the mountain. Day six saw a final walk through the forest reaching Mweka Gate to sign the register and depart to the hotel.
This life changing achievement had a huge impact on the personal development of each student but also on supporting children in the developing world. RGU:RAG is looking forward to offering more of these opportunities to RGU students in future.
RGU construction expert warns of ‘skills time bomb’
Rob Leslie from the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment has hit the headlines after warning of a ‘skills time bomb’ waiting to explode if the industry does not start looking to the future. The construction expert, who is a former Chair of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in Scotland, believes that a workforce rapidly approaching retirement age combined with a lack of recruitment due to the recession will see the construction industry staring into a skills void in the coming years. Rob, who clocked up 40 years of industry experience before becoming a full-time lecturer at RGU in 2010, said: “In the 1960s and 1970s there was a boom in employment in the construction industry with a big focus on building social housing and major infrastructure projects but over the years, and as a result of the cyclical nature of construction, this has become less and less. The result being that there are a lot of people who came into the industry at that time now approaching retirement age and there just aren’t enough skilled workers to fill that gap. “While the recession has hit the industry extremely hard there is still an annual recruitment rate of construction managers in the UK of over 3,000 according to the latest market research by the Construction Skills Network. The amount of managers that are required, compared with the
amount of people retiring and leaving the industry, means there is a skills shortage in that particular role which will only increase in the near future.” The latest figures from the UK Employment and Skills Almanac 2011 show that in 2010 44% of employees in the construction industry were aged 45 and above - almost a 10% increase from 2002. Meanwhile the number of employees aged 24 and under in the industry, fell from over 13% in 2002 to 9% in 2010. “There is a clear trend emerging from those figures,” Rob said. “It shows an ageing workforce, which is not being balanced by the recruitment of younger employees. It is a skills time bomb which will explode as we emerge from recession.” A report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) released earlier this month also suggests that Scotland’s construction industry may be turning the corner after an extremely difficult few years, with an increase in the number of new projects being reported. Rob is currently spearheading the launch of RGU’s new Construction Management course aimed at commencing in September 2014, which has been developed in consultation with the industry. The revised course also takes cognisance of the new education framework prepared by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) which identifies the skills needed to equip the construction
managers of the future. “We have been engaging with the industry as to what they need and want from graduates, so we can tailor the course to be as relevant as possible to the current marketplace,” he said. “It is hoped that the first graduates from this course will be completing the degree in 2018 so we are encouraging employers to think about what they will require at that point.” He also strongly believes that companies should be working harder to build more links with students while they are at college or university, offering paid placements on a level with other part-time jobs but giving them vital industry experience. “You can’t beat hands-on experience,” he said. “It would give the students a feel for the environment they will be working in and an opportunity to enhance and apply their academic learning. This must result in a dual benefit to employers and students alike and is certainly a lot more useful than a similar level of job in an entirely unrelated sector. “I appreciate that small and medium size businesses (SMEs) are just trying to keep their heads above water at the moment, and I understand and sympathise with that. However, as we move ever closer to the supermarket model where a handful of players control the market - the top 150
construction companies now account for over 80% of the UK workload - the SMEs need to start thinking ahead to what will happen when skills are lost by people leaving the industry to join other sectors, more staff start to retire and there aren’t the people with the required skills to step into the gap.”
SeaEnergy and RGU lead innovation and cost reduction in the offshore wind industry
New windfarm planning software being developed by SeaEnergy and RGU could significantly help the UK cement its role as a world leader in offshore wind energy. Energy services specialist SeaEnergy and RGU have jointly launched a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to develop an operational and economic model to drive down costs associated with developing and maintaining offshore wind assets by developing life cycle cost of operations and maintenance (O&M) strategies. Aberdeen Business School’s Sean Huff is the lead academic on the project, which is supported by the Technology Strategy Board. He will work with SeaEnergy’s director of operations, Mike Comerford, to oversee the development of the modelling.
Sean Huff said: “This RGU-SeaEnergy partnership is an outstanding opportunity to play an integral part in spurring innovation and driving down costs for the offshore wind industry in the UK. “We’re looking forward to applying RGU’s exceptionally diverse resources on this project.” John Aldersey-Williams, CEO of SeaEnergy, said: “SeaEnergy is delighted to begin working in partnership with RGU to develop this innovative O&M model which will lead the way on cost reduction for the offshore wind industry.”
RGU student has artistic flair for architecture
A talented student has come second in an international competition aimed at showcasing the artistic skill involved in architecture. Emma Gibb saw her design of a boat building workshop on the River Clyde singled out from 250 entries from students and practicing architects across the world, in the Eyeline competition run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Journal. Searching for the best representations of a building design or concept through visual means, the judging panel included Turner-nominated artist and Royal Academician Cornelia Parker; Narinder Sagoo, youngest partner in innovative architecture practice Foster & Partners; RIBAJ editor Hugh Pearman; and architect, academic and noted penman Alan Dunlop, who is a professor at RGU. Emma’s large scale sectional perspectives of the boat-building centre in Glasgow, caught the eye of the judges for their hand-drawn, crafted execution, with Narinder Sagoo calling them ‘incredible in their skill of resolution’. Cornelia Parker meanwhile, who has exhibited all over the world and has work on display in the Tate Museum, said: “The thing about Emma’s work is that there’s an intrinsic confidence to it.
She has taken on board her educational influences, but is now developing her own mature style.” Emma said: “It came as a complete shock to me when I found out I had come second in the competition - I was overwhelmed when I heard it was out of 250 people and that some were practicing architects from all over the world. It makes all the hard work over the last few years worthwhile and it’s brilliant to have something you love doing recognised.” The former Gordon Schools pupil said that hand drawing was an important part of demonstrating the quality and craft reflected in the boat building process due to the depth of thought and level of detail required. “For me, drawing was the reason I wanted to do architecture,” Emma added. “I wanted to pursue a career in which I could draw, as art was such a big part of my life.” Professor Dunlop, who taught Emma at RGU and so abstained from judging her work in the competition, said: “Emma is an exceptional student. She is a particularly good artist and craftsperson, and of course this competition was looking for someone who can draw which suited her skills perfectly.
“To come second in a field of 250 entries from all over the world is a fantastic achievement. I’m delighted for her and I’m delighted for the school, as it shows how talented our students are.” Emma has just returned from London where she attended the RIBA Journal Eyeline party to meet the judges and other entrants, and has secured a job with Annie Kenyon Architects in Aberdeenshire following her graduation. “The practice focuses on creating a sense of place and protecting and preserving Aberdeenshire and Scotland’s heritage,” Emma said. “It will give me a lot of invaluable experience in managing and designing projects for the future.”
RGU lecturer appointed to Energy Institute Council
One of RGU’s senior lecturers has been elected as a member of the Energy Institute (EI) Council. Laurie Power, who teaches at the School of Engineering, has been appointed onto the professional body’s council, which supports over 16,000 individuals and 250 companies across 100 countries in delivering good practice and professionalism in the energy industry. The Energy Institute is licensed by the Engineering Council (UK) to offer Chartered, Incorporated and Engineering Technician status to engineers; the Science Council to award Chartered Scientist status; and is also licensed by the Society for the Environment to award Chartered Environmentalist status. Joining RGU in 1979 to lecture in materials engineering, Laurie soon became involved in the design, development and delivery of postgraduate courses and more recently, in courses for corporate clients around the world. Originally from Portsmouth, he graduated from the University of Sheffield with a Masters in Metallurgy and is a Chartered Engineer, a European Engineer and a Fellow of the Energy Institute. His early career saw
him based at a large manufacturing plant in central Scotland, after which he moved into teaching at Kirkwall Grammar School in Orkney. He has been active for more than a decade in the Energy Institute as a member of the Accreditation Panel, and has led accreditation visits to universities in the UK as well as in India and Trinidad. He also reviews applications for membership and engineering chartership as a member of the Individual Candidate Panel. He said: “I’m delighted to have been elected onto the Energy Institute Council and look forward to working alongside my new colleagues. “As a member of the Energy Institute’s Accreditation Panel and the Individual Candidate Panel, I have been closely involved in the organisation for some years already. It has been intriguing to take part in accreditations, to exchange ideas with academic and industrial organisations and to promote the professionalism of engineers.” He added: “The EI is a friendly, lively and responsive organisation with a wide-reaching influence, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to contribute, based on many years of experience, as a member of Council.”
Louise Kingham OBE FEI, Chief Executive, Energy Institute, said: “Laurie has been an EI member for over 15 years and I am pleased to welcome him to the EI’s Council having been elected by the membership. The EI Council is its Board of Trustees which is charged with governing the EI and setting the strategic direction of the organisation. “RGU is one of the EI’s Learning Affiliates, providing accredited courses in oil and gas engineering, and I look forward to working with Laurie in continuing to support the professionalism and quality of energy education in the sector.”
RGU research project checks all the right boxes A RGU research project has seen a talented computing student produce an application designed to speed up a key process for a leading oil and gas company. Working as part of the Smart Information Systems research group at RGU, Computing Science student Edward Shearer developed an application to complement completions, commissioning and technology provider qedi’s existing suite of software called GoTechnology®. The group, which is part of the university’s Institute of Innovation, Design and Sustainability (IDEAS), sees computer scientists at RGU collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams to apply the latest sensing, modelling and analytic approaches to real-world scenarios. Edward, who won a Carnegie Trust scholarship to support the project, focused on how to make the assignment of inspection checklists for engineering equipment more efficient, by analysing the results of similar assignment decisions. In the industry, checklists are used to show that equipment is safe to use in a production environment and require expertise specific to the engineering project to ensure appropriate checklists, out of hundreds of different variations, are assigned to that equipment.
The former Cults Academy pupil explained: “As similar equipment is assigned similar checklists it meant that I could automate this process, allowing an engineer to choose the appropriate checklist from a much smaller pool of possibilities as opposed to the entire list which could include over 400 different options. “The recommendation is done using a technique known as case-based reasoning (CBR), a branch of computer artificial intelligence used to find solutions to problems based on the solutions of previous similar problems.” Reader in Computing at RGU and member of the IDEAS institute, Nirmalie Wiratunga, supervised the project. She said: “A key principle of the research done through IDEAS is social relevance and our work is aimed at providing benefit to science, industry and the wider public. “The work that Edward undertook falls into the area of case-based reasoning for which RGU has built up a worldleading track record and is something we will continue to develop.” Edward, who wants to go into software development when he graduates next year, also completed his placement year at qedi, during which he had responsibility for developing and maintaining the company’s
GoTechnology® suite of applications. “Throughout the placement I was able to apply what I had learned during my course to a real-world situation, particularly from my programming and database modules but also from the professional development modules,” he said. “My experience of the Computing Science course at RGU so far is that it is highly engaging, challenging, rewarding, and based on my placement experience, hugely relevant to working in real-world situations.”
News in Brief
ABS research published online
Local school receives library shelves
RGU Pharmacy masters successfully reaccredited
RGU strengthens research links with Malaysia
Recent research conducted by Dr Robert Smith (Rob), Reader in Entrepreneurship at ABS and a leadership lecturer for Scottish Institute for Policing (SIPR) Iain MacLeod, a Research Assistant at ABS, has been published online.
Aberdeen Business School’s Georgina Scott Sutherland Library has donated its no-longer-needed shelves to Northfield Academy and the school’s Head Teacher has expressed his gratitude for the kind gesture.
RGU Master of Pharmacy course has been successfully reaccredited by the UK’s independent regulator for pharmacists.
A team of research students from Southeast Asia are working in Aberdeen this summer as part of an international placement programme with RGU.
The research paper, which explores policing in schools, is called ‘Campus Officer, Past Present and Future’ and has been published on The Conversation UK – a new journalism project featuring content from academics. The published article can be found here.
In a letter he wrote to Michelle Anderson, Director of The Library Services at RGU, he said: “I am writing to extend a huge thank you from pupils and staff of Northfield Academy for the donation of the Georgina Scott Sutherland Library shelves. The new shelving looks fantastic and makes the whole library area larger and brighter.”
The university’s MPharm degree has been reaccredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council for the full period of six years with no conditions or recommendations. The course was also commended on its strength in ‘Continuing the development of Interprofessional Education.’ Head of the School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences at RGU, Professor Donald Cairns, welcomed the achievement and praised staff for their hard work during the assessment. “This is a fantastic outcome for us to do so well in a very important process,” he said. “The teaching and support staff for Pharmacy at RGU can be proud of this achievement as we have gained the highest level of recognition for one of our most popular courses.”
Four students from the School of Pharmacy at the International Medical University (IMU) in Malaysia arrived in August to undertake their three-month research projects.
Director of IHWR, Professor Cherry Wainwright, visited IMU in 2011 to establish research collaborations between the two institutions and is pleased to see the first research team start work at RGU. She said: “The link with IMU is very important as it allows us to contribute towards ground breaking research in Southeast Asia and strengthens our global links. We hope the successful outcome of the projects will lead to further collaborations so we can investigate ways in which RGU students could undertake similar research placements in Malaysia.”
Events
RGU: SPORT energizes the OE2013 Energy Festival 3 September to 6 September Energy Festival, Belmont Street Marking the 40th anniversary of Offshore Europe, this September Aberdeen residents and visitors alike will be able to experience the OE13 Energy Festival. RGU: SPORT will be in the Academy Courtyard challenging you to a rowing challenge to produce as much power as you can within a minute. Can you equal the power of an Olympian?
Fresher’s Week 21 to 29 September RGU:Union and Garthdee campus RGU’s Student Association is holding a series of events running throughout Fresher’s Week. The events range from a sports day to the annual Fresher’s fair to BBQs and nights out on the town, plus many more activities. For more information click here. Offshore Eu
rope
Non-medical Prescribing Conference
Non-Medical Prescribing Conference 12 September Faculty of Health & Social Care NHS Grampian and RGU are holding their fourth non-medical prescribing conference in September 2013. The conference provides a learning and networking opportunity for all nonmedical prescribers within Grampian. Speakers include Dr Deirdre O’Brian, Consultant Microbiologist at NHS Grampian, and Professor Jim Ferguson, Clinical Lead at the Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare.
CQI North of Scotland Practitioner Workshop 1 October Aberdeen Business School For its inaugural event of 2013/2014, the Chartered Quality Institute North of Scotland Branch invites all regional members to a practitioner focused workshop. This event is an opportunity for Quality Practitioners to discuss projects and business challenges in an open forum environment. Feedback and support will be provided by a panel of experts and academics as well as valued input from fellow practitioners. Attendees will have the option to enter the awards for the Wood Group/RGU/ CQI Practitioner of the Year which will be launched at the event.
Fresher’s W
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