Esh Border ConstructionRepresentatives from Esh Border Construction and Heriot-Watt University met this week to celebrate the beginning of an extensive refurbishment project at the prestigious higher education establishment.

Livingston-based Esh has been awarded the contract to completely transform the university’s Cameron Smail Library into a modern and welcoming learning environment for students, lecturers and support staff.

The £4m project will see Esh strip back the existing building, before constructing a new layout with replacement fixtures, fittings and decoration.

Beginning on the ground floor, the project will be completed over five phases across each level of the live site, which is still being utilised by students and staff as a 24/7 learning resource and place of study.

Works will also see the replacement of internal doors, the refurbishment of toilet facilities, and the addition of new windows, as well as new mechanical and electrical installations.

Esh Border Construction’s Regional Director for Scotland, Gerard McMahon said:

“The Cameron Smail library was a pioneering academic building when it was constructed over 40 years ago. It has since been used as a model for universities across the world and we are very proud to play such a pivotal role in securing its future as a modern state-of-the-art learning facility.

“Careful planning and preparation has been put in by our teams in full consultation with the team at Heriot-Watt and we are confident disruption will be kept to a minimum as we look to deliver a cost-effective, energy-efficient, modern facility.”

Professor John Sawkins, Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching, Heriot-Watt University said:

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Esh Border Construction on this refurbishment to turn our library into a modern, flexible and comfortable environment fit for a forward-looking ambitious university.

“Throughout the planning works we’ve been working closely with students, academic colleagues, library staff and consultants to get the best use of the space to provide access to a wide range of print and electronic resources and comfortable study space to support our students’ academic success.

“With improved space and technology, this construction project clearly demonstrates the University’s commitment to delivering the very best learning and teaching environment for all our students.”

Esh is delighted to work with architects Lewis and Hickey, quantity surveyors Turner Townsend, structural engineers Peter Brett Associates, mechanical and electrical engineers RSP and project managers WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff.

Matthew Fair, project architect with Lewis and Hickey said:
“Lewis and Hickey are pleased to be working with Esh Construction to fully refurbish the Cameron Smail Library at Heriot-Watt University. The scheme looks to update the existing facilities and considerably enhance the student experience of a key building within the campus.”

The Heriot-Watt projects follow a strong pipeline of work in the education sector for Esh Border Construction.

Labour is now the political party most trusted by voters in England to represent English interests, according to new research from Cardiff University and the University of Edinburgh, released today [Sunday 24th September].

The latest evidence is a marked departure from previous surveys which have suggested a lingering dissatisfaction among English voters with Labour’s response to the ‘English Question’.

The findings, taken from the latest Future of England survey, will be presented tomorrow, Monday 25th September, at a fringe meeting of the Labour Party’s Annual Conference in Brighton.

Almost a third of those surveyed (31%) identified the Labour Party as the party best positioned to stand up for England, compared to 24% who identified the Conservatives and just 9% who opted for UKIP. The Liberal Democrats scored the lowest of any major political party, with just 4%.

This is a significant change from previous findings, which saw UKIP as the most trusted defender of English interests in 2016, while in 2015 the Conservatives enjoyed a substantial lead in the aftermath of a general election campaign where the party successfully mobilised English sentiment over fears of the SNP holding the balance of power in a hung parliament.

Despite the introduction of ‘English Votes for English Laws’ (EVEL), a Conservative policy designed to protect exclusively English law-making from external influence, there is a perception among voters that the UK Conservative government is insufficiently committed to introducing change for England. A majority of respondents (54%) felt there has been very little or no progress in this area, compared to perceptions of an enhanced devolution settlement for Scotland. Accordingly, a sizeable proportion of respondents want to see further action to enhance England’s political voice.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Professor Richard Wyn Jones, Director of Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre, said:

“Just two years ago the Conservatives successfully played into fears of a Labour-SNP coalition deal to project themselves as the party best placed to defend English interests. Now the latest evidence suggests that the tables have turned, with Labour seen as most likely to give England its political voice. The challenge for the Labour Party is to capitalise on this trust and craft a popular, sustainable solution to these demands without losing its appeal across the UK as a whole”.

Professor Ailsa Henderson, Professor of Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, added:

“What’s clear is that despite the introduction of English Votes for English Laws, voters in England don’t think it has happened, with less than one percent thinking that the government has made a lot of progress on EVEL. It’s also clear that voters believe this is down to a lack of government commitment. Since this was the governing party’s main proposal for dealing with English governance, it’s perhaps not surprising that voters now believe another party is best able to stand up for England.”

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.

Retired and semi-retired individuals in Edinburgh with a passion for learning are set to benefit from a new agreement that will see them able to participate in University research projects.

Edinburgh Napier University has signed a partnership agreement with University of the Third Age (U3A) as a commitment to supporting the life-long learning passions of its members in the city.

The U3A in Edinburgh has more than 1900 members who meet regularly for various interest groups, activities and social opportunities as a means to learn from one another. The emphasis is not on qualifications, but for the sheer joy of discovery.

Through the partnership, University of the Third Age members will have the opportunity to actively participate in Edinburgh Napier academic research projects as well as engage with students through a pilot knowledge exchange mentoring initiative.

The University’s Special Collections will also serve to engage specific interest groups within University of the Third Age and support its members to indulge their passions for history, literature and culture.

The professional experience members have gained throughout their respective careers will also serve to support the aspirations of Edinburgh Napier University students.

Bruce Cowan, Chair of the Edinburgh Branch of the University of the Third Age said: “The members of Edinburgh University of the Third Age are looking forward to a long and mutually productive association with the staff and students of Edinburgh Napier University.”

Interest groups are very much at the core of the University of the Third Age framework and the Scottish Authors Interest Group recently visited the Robert Louis Stevenson Collection at Edinburgh Napier’s historic Merchiston Campus.

Sheila Smith, Leader of the Scottish Authors Interest Group, said: “We were totally bowled over at being allowed to handle some of the collection’s books, look at others, view photographs as well as share in the expertise of Edinburgh Napier’s academic knowledge and enthusiasm. I think we could have stayed all day.”

A collaborative exhibition project is planned as part of the Luminate Festival which seeks to explore and challenge popular perceptions of creativity in later life through a cross-generational artistic exchange of mediums, techniques, colour and tone.

Karen Goodman, Head of Development and External Relations said: “Here at Edinburgh Napier University we see great benefit in inviting others – passionate about learning and open to collaboration and sharing of ideas and experiences – who can bring insight to our students’ education journey, into the University family. Our partnership with U3A will certainly enhance that journey, but we hope that it will also give something back to members.”

A Building Research Establishment research scientist who progressed through the organisation to become group chief executive yesterday (Wednesday 28 June) received an honorary degree from Edinburgh Napier University.

The award comes as it emerged that Dr Peter Bonfield has also been appointed to a Government fire safety advisory panel set up to implement lessons from the Grenfell Tower blaze.

Dr Bonfield is passionate about the role science and engineering play in finding solutions to the challenges facing the built environment, with sustainability his main focus.

Originally a materials scientist with a PhD in wind energy and the design of turbine blades, he has helped build university centres of excellence which have raised more than £60m in research funding and created a strong BRE research base.

In May 2012 Dr Bonfield received the prestigious Peter Stone Award from the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to building engineering and the built environment.

A passionate cyclist and former national champion, he was also awarded an OBE for services to research and innovation in the construction industry in 2012.

Today he joined hundreds of Edinburgh Napier students at a ceremony in the Usher Hall to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering.

Dr Bonfield said: “I am so pleased and honoured to receive this award from a university that I have long admired for its pioneering, ambitious and impactful research and teaching that is so distinctive.

“It is a great pleasure to have this new association.”

The other Edinburgh Napier University honorary degree recipients at this week’s graduation celebrations are:
• Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Scientific Director of the Moredun Research Institute, receives an Honorary Doctorate of Science on Thursday June 29.
• Josh Littlejohn, social entrepreneur and co-founder of Social Bite, receives an Honorary Doctorate of Enterprise on Friday June 30
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “It is wonderful to see people who have made such a significant impact in the worlds of business, science and industry joining our celebrations.

“Their drive, talent and enthusiasm will inspire our students as they set out to make their own mark on the world.”

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.

t2-cover-imageFilm buffs and arts professionals will explore screen cultures as part of a special public symposium event being staged on the QMU campus, Thursday 22nd June, 9am-6.30pm.

The ‘Adaptation and Nation’ symposium will feature a variety of expert presentations and discussions around the topics of screen adaptation, cultural policy, cultural heritage, national identities, performance, costume and cultural tourism.

The event will begin to map out some conceptual approaches to the study of adaptation in national, post-national and transnational contexts. It will also encourage a multi-disciplinary approach to the question of screen adaptation and nation, incorporating analyses from discursive, industrial and textual perspectives.

The event finale will be a special screening of the film 1745, an untold story of slavery (www.1745film.com), which is in competition for Best Short Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2017.

Robert Munro, who’s completing his PhD ‘Screening Scotland’s Stories’ at QMU and is the event’s co-organiser, said: “The symposium will be an important event it its own right and will hopefully lead to a valuable collection of published essays.

“It is also intended that the symposium will be a starting point in a bigger project which would look at the adaptation industry more broadly, and also build a network of researchers interested in adaptation in national, post-national and transnational contexts.”

For further information and to register for tickets at only £30 per person, email Michael Stewart, E: MStewart@qmu.ac.uk, Robert Munro, E: RMunro@qmu.ac.uk or E: events@qmu.ac.uk

For more information and for a full event programme, visit: https://adaptationandnation.wordpress.com

Eurosales1Rising sales stars from across Europe went head to head in Edinburgh at a prestigious international competition.

Students from across the Continent, and a team from Kansas State University in the USA, came to Scotland to take part in the Salesforce European Sales Competition at Edinburgh Napier University.

More than 50 students from 20 universities in 11 different countries entered the event at the Craiglockhart campus, where they were assessed on their presentation, negotiation and interpersonal skills.

The host university, Aberdeen, Abertay and Dundee flew the flag for Scotland at the contest – part of the movement to take sales away from the spiv stereotype and put it at the heart of the higher education curriculum.

After two intense days of pitching to and negotiating with seasoned business professionals, Daisy Fagel from Euridis Business School in France emerged as the winner of the main Sales Role Play competition. Lanessa Aurand of Kansas State came second and Matthew Saunders of the University of Portsmouth was third.

There were five joint winners of the Sales SpeedSell competition which acted as a curtain raiser to the event, held last Wednesday and Thursday; Sarai Lambert (Euridis), Molly Young (Kansas State), Jacqueline Clawson (Kansas State) and the host university’s Giulia Hetzenauer and Tobia La Marca.

Edinburgh Napier’s Dr Tony Douglas, Director of the Competition, the fourth European Sales Competition to be held, said: “ESC 2017 gave students the chance to demonstrate their presentation, active listening, questioning, negotiating and closing skills.

“It is very likely that students will receive job offers from one of the many sponsors in attendance, and it was also a great opportunity to showcase our Craiglockhart campus, which was an ideal venue for such a large competition.”

He added: “The prestigious event will be followed next year with a UK Sales Competition now that more and more UK-based Universities are starting to take sales seriously as part of their Business School curriculum.”

The first of the European Sales Competitions – which put students’ skills under the microscope by role playing the pressures of real-life business situations – was organised in Brussels in June 2015 with the aim of addressing a lack of structured sales training and exposing participants to cross-cultural differences.

Last week’s competition in Edinburgh was sponsored by cloud computing company Salesforce.

Oracle, Gartner, Hudson, Eastern Western Motor Group, Textron and the Association of Professional Sales also supported the event, which aims to make sales an attractive career choice, and competing students came from as far afield as Spain, Finland, Holland, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Austria and the USA.

Wednesday’s SpeedSell event saw students pitching against the clock to professional sales people and getting instant feedback on their performance.

The main competition the following day involved competitors selling to buyers provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland, with the five afternoon finalists having their performance relayed by video link to an audience in the Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre. The winners were announced at a Gala Dinner on Thursday night.

Edinburgh Napier, home to Scotland’s first university sales division, offers two PG degree programmes with a sales element, and an advisory group drawn from industry helps develop the teaching agenda.

QMU Cycle Award 2Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, has become a Cycle Friendly Campus, gaining the Cycle Friendly Award, with distinction, from Cycling Scotland.

Staff and students at QMU are celebrating receiving the top Cycle Friendly Campus Award, with distinction from Cycling Scotland in recognition of their commitment to getting more staff and students cycling.

The award, which is delivered with funding from Transport Scotland, recognises the efforts of Scotland’s colleges and universities that promote cycling as an accessible and convenient travel choice, was presented to Tom Kemsley, Sustainability Support Officer at QMU, by Cycling Scotland’s Paul Wright, in recognition of the outstanding level of commitment the University has shown to encourage cycling to, from and around it’s Musselburgh campus.

The University implemented a range of measures including reinvesting income from campus parking charges to support active travel. Other measures include secure cycle parking, cycle maintenance areas, changing facilities, term-time bike hire, cycle training and led cycle rides. The current rate of cycling is 8%.

Commenting on the Cycle Friendly Campus Award for QMU, Tom Kemsley, Sustainability Support Officer, said: “We’re really proud to have been recognised for this award, with distinction, by Cycling Scotland for our ongoing commitment to encouraging more and more staff and students to cycle to, from and around the QMU campus.

“We’ve made great progress continuing to expand the bike hire scheme at QMU over the past year and engaging with the cycling community through regular campus events, as well as via our dedicated Cycle Connections social media channels on Facebook and Twitter. Our long-standing cycling community at QMU have also made a big contribution to helping us recruit new members and creating a self-sufficient cycling community on campus.

“Located on the National Cycle Route, travelling by bike is an easy way to travel to QMU, whilst keeping fit at the same time. The University regularly arranges ‘Dr Bike’ mobile mechanic sessions to service bikes cycled in on the day, including minor on the spot repairs minor and a bike MOT, which are proving very popular amongst students and staff.”

The Cycle Friendly Campus Award is run by Cycling Scotland with funding from Transport Scotland and recognises exemplar projects from Scotland’s college and university campuses where cycling is a real and accessible part of campus life. Campuses can register to become a Cycle Friendly Campus online at www.cycling.scot

BusinessSchool3At the heart of a university with a 400 year heritage that is consistently rated one of the world’s best, and centrally located in one of Europe’s most stunning business and cultural capitals, University of Edinburgh Business School offers an experience that few can rival.

When University of Edinburgh Business School approached Heehaw with a brief to promote the organisation to their global audience, we were extremely excited about the opportunity. As part of the project, Heehaw produced several videos including; Student Motivation films; Programme Director interviews; an MBA film and animation and motion graphics videos promoting the school to prospective MBA and Masters students.

Mally Graveson, Heehaw’s Managing Director said:
“We’ve been working on this project for several months and it’s been a brilliant experience to get to know this incredible Business School. All the staff have been super helpful and I’m seriously tempted to sign up for a course! Here at Heehaw we’ve loved promoting such a distinguished organisation to a global audience and it’s great to see the videos on their website”

Mette Friis, Head of Marketing, Student Recruitment & Admissions said:
“We worked closely with Heehaw to develop and expand our use of video in promoting the School to prospective students. Working collaboratively with the team has enabled us to deliver relevant messages to our key target audience in a much more creative and impactful way. I believe it will really help us stand out in the increasingly crowded international Higher Education market.”

The following video is one of the animation videos that Heehaw produced which outlines the benefits of a Masters qualification from University of Edinburgh Business School:

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTfSvuo0uoI

For more information about the University of Edinburgh Business School: https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/

For more information about Heehaw: http://heehaw.co.uk/