Nexusonline
OCTOBER 2014 CONNECTING THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
Designed and Activated by: The Gatehouse - Design & Print Consultancy at RGU
A Word From The Principal
Health and Wellbeing Strategy
You Are What You Eat
Right Click Reloaded
Energy After The Oil & Gas Institute Referendrum Director appointed
Rgu: Union Bike Hire Scheme Launch
Saipem
ABS Creativity Workshop
News In Brief
Events
SPE RGU Student Chapter Award
Fit For The Future Fayre
Freshers Week Round Up
Northern Star Business Awards
My Career Toolkit
A word from the Principal Over the past two years RGU has re-examined its strategic intentions and ambitions, and has adopted a new strategic framework that includes the general plan contained in ‘A Clear Future for a Leading University in a New Era’, and the strategic priorities identified in oil and gas, health and wellbeing, big data, arts and creative industries, employability, and our role in the region. This framework recognises and celebrates what the university has achieved over many years, and charts a course that will allow us to be recognised globally for our excellence in key areas of focus. To place all this within a planning environment that will keep our priorities in view and allow us to assess how we are progressing year by year, we are now also proposing to adopt a university business plan. This will draw together the key strategic strands and set targets for us to achieve over the planning period. We will also use the business plan to ensure that our actions are sound, that they will provide us with a sustainable and robust financial model, and that colleagues are encouraged to develop enterprise and initiative. Of course universities are not businesses. We are a not-for-profit organisation with both charitable status and intentions, and our work is designed to support our students and give value to the local, regional, national and global community. None of that will change. But we intend to behave in a businesslike manner in order to ensure that this university, and its staff and students, will thrive into the future and lead the way in advancing knowledge.
I attended a meeting recently with a number of academics from different institutions. The discussion turned to whether individual universities could have their own ‘ethos’. The consensus amongst a number of those present was that, on the whole, they could not. The academic profession more generally could and did - an ethos of independent critical inquiry and learning - but individual universities should not. I confess I dissented from this conclusion. I agree of course that we must all be committed to independent critical inquiry, but beyond that we can tackle it in various ways and engage with the wider society according to our own strategies and outlook. RGU has for some time emphasised its capacity to work closely with employers and others to ensure that our students leave us ready for their professional lives; and our research is often directed specifically at social or economic needs. In an academic world in which it has become increasingly important to be distinctive, and to demonstrate excellence in one’s chosen priorities, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski
RGU outlines plans for new remote healthcare research centre RGU has outlined plans for a new research centre for remote healthcare as part of a new Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
a new Centre for Remote Healthcare Research and the continued development of RGU:Wellness, which offers a number of benefits to companies.
The centre is a key component of the university’s new strategy which was launched at RGU’s Garthdee campus last month.
“Working with partners, including the IRHC, NHS Grampian, the Scottish Royal Colleges and Oil & Gas UK’s Health Committee, we aim to influence and inform the competence levels recognised as essential for medics and other healthcare professionals in the workplace.”
The centre will be of particular interest to the oil and gas industry and also to others concerned with healthcare in inaccessible places. The Health and Wellbeing Strategy aims to maintain and enhance the university’s existing strengths, and ensure that all graduates in relevant courses continue to prioritise patient safety and person-centred compassionate care in their practice. RGU’s Principal, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, hosted the launch with support from university colleagues and distinguished guests. Professor von Prondzynski said: “RGU enjoys a long-established reputation for producing graduates with fit-forpurpose skills and knowledge, highly regarded by employers in the health and social care sectors. “Our ambition is to play a leading role, in the UK and internationally, in developing health care for those in the workplace by ensuring that the health needs of workers are met by practitioners who have the relevant knowledge and skills. “The strategy will outline a number of key areas we will focus on including
Professor Valerie Maehle, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Care, has overseen the development of the university’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy with her colleagues. She said: “We’re delighted to share our plans for the Centre for Remote Healthcare Research and the development of RGU:Wellness as part of our ambitious Health and Wellbeing Strategy. “It will ensure that our existing high quality of provision, particularly in relation to practice-focused activity and interprofessional working, is maintained and enhanced through further innovation in teaching and learning. “We aim to lead the way in developing learning experiences that will equip healthcare practitioners with the required competencies to operate in a range of remote environments. This work will shape the educational landscape, ultimately enhancing clinical assessment, decision-making, the use of telehealth and other related skills in remote environments.
“Using a range of innovative teaching and learning practices, the centre will also define the competence levels recognised as essential for offshore medics and other healthcare practitioners working in remote and hostile environments in the UK oil and gas sector and internationally.” The guest speaker at the strategy launch was RGU visiting Professor James Ferguson who is Clinical Lead at the Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare (SCTT), and Consultant Surgeon in Emergency Medicine at NHS Grampian. The event marked the progress of RGU’s Healthy University initiative which takes a strategic, whole systems approach to improving the health and wellbeing of staff and students across campus. Also outlined in the strategy is the continued development of RGU:Wellness which is a specialist service that provides a unique and effective offering for companies primarily, but not exclusively, in the energy sector.
RGU’s Principal, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, and Professor Valerie Maehle, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Care
to support effective treatment and assessment of fitness for work.
Elizabeth Hancock, Head of RGU’s School of Health Sciences, has worked with colleagues to develop RGU:Wellness from its initial stages to the full range of health and fitness services it now offers.
“It encompasses expertise in health improvement, ergonomics, nutrition advice, personal training and stress reduction to constitute a definitive workforce health programme.
She said: “Combining our specialist facilities and the professional knowledge of our academic staff, RGU:Wellness can provide a specialist diagnostic and fitness testing service
“Strong links with our colleagues at RGU: SPORT further enhance the effectiveness of these interventions through the provision of individually tailored fitness and self-management programmes.”
Delegates were also welcome to attend a Public Health seminar which followed immediately after the launch, entitled “The Future is Now: Health Challenges in a Shrinking World.” Guest speakers at the event included Professor Richard Parish, National Pharmacy & Public Health Forum Chair, Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England, Dr Steve Boorman, Chief Medical Advisor at Capita PIP Assessment Services, and Malcolm Wright OBE, Chief Executive of NHS Education for Scotland.