Edinburgh Napier hosted a wide-ranging visit across a number of departments and teams by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly.

The Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC spent yesterday (Wednesday) morning at the Sighthill campus as part of a 10-day programme of events organised by the Presbytery of Edinburgh.

He was welcomed to the University by Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal & Vice Chancellor, and toured the purpose-built simulation and clinical skills centre where student nurses, midwives, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers develop their skills in an authentic environment.

Lord Wallace met School of Health & Social Care students and the staff who run the centre, which includes practice areas ranging from community and critical care to general wards and birth environments.

He also met Professor Gary Hutchison, Dean of Applied Sciences, and the Sighthill-based School’s Dr Liz Aston, who is Director of the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, whose work helps police meet the challenges of the 21^st century.

Lord Wallace also chatted to representatives of the University’s Chaplaincy Service, the Wellbeing and Inclusion team who work to make students feel safe, supported and healthy, and the Student Futures team who support their professional development and prepare them for the world of work.

Professor Andrea Nolan said: “It was an absolute pleasure and delight to host Lord and Lady Wallace. The visit gave them a flavour of what we do at Edinburgh Napier – they saw our modern teaching facilities and heard about the real world applications of our research, while also getting to meet the teams whose pastoral and support work underpins our progress as a university. I hope they found the visit interesting and informative.”

Lord Wallace, a QC and former MP and MSP, who went to university, trained as a lawyer and sat in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, said he was grateful to the Presbytery for putting together a comprehensive programme which allowed him to engage with a range of people who reflect his interests.

The 10-day programme will see Lord Wallace visiting churches, hospitals, universities and a prison.