QMU student - Gavin BaxterAn Events Management student from Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, has graduated with flying colours after winning a new university scholarship to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in the events and tourism sector.

Gavin Baxter, 27, was awarded the scholarship by QMU, which is geared towards LGBT studies in the tourism and events industry.

With its specialisms in tourism and events, QMU has teamed-up with US-based TravelAdvocates to offer the scholarship to up to two students a year over the next three years.

The TravelAdvocates LGBT Studies Travel and Research Scholarship helps QMU students carry out their own independent research into the current LGBT issues affecting the tourism and events sector. Gavin used his Scholarship to help fund his final dissertation project, which focused on what motivated people to attend this year’s Edinburgh Pride Festival, including post-Brexit political factors.

Whilst a student at QMU, Gavin also got the opportunity to work and travel in the USA and Canada via the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation, including working as a Conference Coordinator at The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Conference in Washington D.C.

Gavin graduated with a BA (Hons) Events Management at QMU’s recent graduation ceremony in Edinburgh and is now working as a Conference Host for Crowne Plaza Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre and hopes to develop his career in the events industry by continuing to travel internationally and work on large scale major events in the future.

Commenting on his scholarship success and QMU experience, Gavin said: “This scholarship has been a fantastic addition to the awards that are given by QMU and their sponsors. It doesn’t just give you the chance to enhance your studies for your coursework, but it gives you the opportunity to meet inspirational and fantastic people that can help you within your career.

“I recently spoke to the sponsor from TravelAdvocates to express my sincere thanks and I really encourage future students and recipients of this award to make good use of it as it can do wonderful things for your education and career.

“QMU has changed my life. From being the shy individual and being scared to express my passion for the events industry, the lecturers, Students’ Union and fellow students have helped me come out of my shell and celebrate the amazing opportunities that have come my way in the past two years.”

The TravelAdvocates LGBT Studies Travel and Research Scholarship is the first LGBT scholarship funded at QMU. As a University of ideas and influence, QMU is continuing to seek further opportunities to fund scholarships that support both LGBT and other minority groups who wish to pursue these studies in the future.

Film Showcase 2017Students from Queen Margaret University (QMU) are preparing to put their creative talents in the spotlight as part of the University’s annual Film & Media Degree Show at Edinburgh’s Flimhouse, Lothian Road, on Monday 10th July from 8.30pm.

The showcase event will present work from QMU’s second, third and fourth year Film and Media students, including a wonderfully varied selection of short dramas, documentaries and music videos.

Nine short films made by QMU’s Film and Media students have made it through to this year’s line-up, covering a diverse range of subjects and genres, including documentaries on artists and local activists, the story of an immigrant escaping to a better life and dramas about racial tension, mother and daughter relationships and winning the lottery.

Graham Drysdale, Lecturer in Screenwriting, Digital Filmmaking and Media Production at QMU, said: “We’re really grateful to Edinburgh’s Filmhouse for providing our students with a platform to showcase their creative talents once again this year.

“Our Film and Media Degree Show is always a highlight in the QMU calendar as it provides a platform for us to celebrate creativity, as well as allowing students to unveil films they have worked on over the last year. It’s important to our students to see their work on the big screen. There’s nothing like hearing and seeing an audience respond to your film in the way you hoped when you first conceived of the idea.”

Special prizes will be awarded to the best films on the night.

Many of the films have been generously supported through QMU’s ‘Become a Producer Initiative’. Donations from the University’s friends and graduates provide much needed production expenses for QMU’s talented student filmmakers, allowing them to purchase costumes, hire equipment or travel to film on location. Supporters are credited at the end of all films.

A limited number of free tickets for the event are available for QMU students and staff online at https://mgrant18.wixsite.com/qmuscreening2017. For more information, email: mgrant1@qmu.ac.uk

Additional public tickets can be purchased from Edinburgh’s Filmhouse by calling 0131 228 2688 or online at www.filmhousecinema.com

EICC Portraits 1 SA : EICC Chief Executive Marshall Dallas with Napier University Dean James O'Kane. Pictures by Photographer Stewart Attwood T. 07850 449108 E. stewart.attwood@yahoo.co.uk      photography@stewartattwood.com                    . All images © Stewart Attwood Photography 2017. All other rights are reserved. Use in any other context is expressly prohibited without prior permission. No Syndication of Images by any third party or legal action will be taken.– Master’s degree by Edinburgh Napier University and EICC offers cutting-edge industry experience to candidates

– MSc positioned to take advantage of fast-growing UK Events sector which now totals over £40 billion

– 12 to 15 students in first year of degree which starts in September

Edinburgh, 21st June 2017 – Edinburgh Napier University and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) have launched the UK’s first MSc in Business Events, a degree only currently available at undergraduate level across the UK, with the first intake of candidates commencing study this September.

The Master’s degree has been developed by Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) – Scotland’s top university for hospitality, tourism and events management, in partnership with the EICC, Scotland’s leading conference venue, which will be providing work placements for the MSc students as well as delivering guest lectures as part of the course at ENU’s Craiglockhart Campus.

Professor James O’Kane, Dean of Business School, Edinburgh Napier University, said: “This new award in conjunction with EICC offers students a unique opportunity to study for a Master’s degree in a leading Business School for Tourism and gain experience working with an award-winning, world-class partner. The collaboration of the Business School and EICC has enabled the creation of a novel programme that will produce employment ready graduates with skills and experience aligned to the strategic challenges of the Tourism sector, nationally and internationally.”

Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive of the EICC, said: “The business events industry is a fast-growing segment of Scotland and the UK’s economy and it’s more important than ever in 2017 that we keep ahead of global competition. There is a great feeling of collective confidence today that this Master’s qualification can be a real differentiator for the students who undertake it and today’s announcement represents the first step in an ongoing partnership with Edinburgh Napier University. Being a business which creates a platform for innovation and progression, we are thrilled to be working in collaboration with Napier on this initiative to produce amazing talent.”

For further information on this press release contact Jack Mathieson, Media & Communications Officer, on 0131 455 6251

Pictured above (L-R); James O’Kane of Edinburgh Napier University and Marshall Dallas of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). Pic by Stewart Attwood.