Principal is new Convenor of Universities Scotland
p
rofessor Andrea Nolan
became Convener of
Universities Scotland in
August. Elected to the post by
her peer group of Principals,
Professor Nolan is the first
woman to hold the position at
Universities Scotland.
Universities Scotland
represents all 19 of Scotland’s
higher education institutions
and works closely with the
Scottish Parliament, Scottish
Government and Scottish
Funding Council on almost
every aspect of higher
education activity in Scotland.
The organisation also works
with Universities UK on
matters that directly affect
Scottish universities.
Professor Nolan is already an
active member of Universities
Scotland, having served as
Queen’s
Anniversary
Prize
T
he University was
delighted to receive the
Queen’s Anniversary Prize
in 2015 for its internationally
acclaimed work in timber
engineering, sustainable
construction and wood science.
The award highlights the global
impact of the University’s
research into construction
innovations and reducing
the carbon footprint, and its
influence on industry and the
environment.
This is the second time the
University has received Royal
recognition for the impact
of its research conducted by
the Institute for Sustainable
Construction. The University
was awarded the Queen’s
Anniversary Prize in 2009 for
its work towards improving
sound insulation between
attached dwellings.
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University Round-Up
Convener of the Research
and Knowledge Exchange
Committee. She takes on the
role at a very challenging and
highly fluid time for higher
education with the Brexit vote
to leave the EU adding to other
policy and funding challenges
in Scotland and the UK.
Professor Nolan said: “I
am excited to take on the
Convenership at a time
of many opportunities
and challenges for higher
education. I feel privileged to
play a part in what is a truly
internationally leading sector,
one in which Scotland can take
great pride.
“Building on our platform
of excellence in teaching,
research and knowledge
exchange, I will work with
my colleagues in partnership
with our many stakeholders
to increase accessibility to
higher education. We will
focus on underrepresented
students and communities;
support businesses, public
and third sectors to innovate
and internationalise through
our research and graduates;
and seek to ensure long-term
sustainable and competitive
funding of higher education
here in Scotland to enable
delivery of our ambition, and
maintenance of our worldstanding in higher education.
“Higher education will also
need a clear voice in Brexit
negotiations over the coming
years, so that Scotland
continues to have access to
talent and ideas that we value
so highly from across Europe
and beyond.”
We are proud
of our record at
Edinburgh Napier
in supporting
and educating the
next generation of
journalists.
Journalism runs in the family at Edinburgh Napier!
E
arlier this year, former
student and TV presenter
Lorraine Kelly officially
opened the new Journalism
facilities at Merchiston
Campus. As part of the
University’s Transforming
Tomorrow, Together
investment campaign, a
converged digital newsroom
has been created, with the
University now aiming to raise
a further £250,000 to kit out
the TV studio and gallery with
new cameras, lights, monitors
and vision mixers. A new
gallery and production space
will also be created in the radio
studio, providing the latest
technology for students to
work with.
The University has been
training journalists since
1964 and we were delighted
to welcome Lorraine back on
campus to open the cuttingedge digital newsroom which
will keep the University’s
teaching up to date amidst a
fast changing media landscape.
Lorraine said: “I’ve been really
looking forward to seeing all
the new facilities and meeting
the students.
“Things have obviously
changed dramatically since I
was here in the late seventies,
when we still used old
fashioned typewriters and
there were no mobile phones
or internet.
“It’s a different world
and the students at
the University are
lucky to have such
cutting-edge digital
technology.”
“It’s a fast-changing world, and
we need to keep up, which is
why we are all delighted with
our new converged newsroom.
With this, we anticipate we can
ensure that the newsrooms
of the future are populated by
our students, just as they are
today.”
Guests, many from the media
industry, were given a tour of
the new facilities before being
welcomed by the University’s
Principal, Professor Andrea
Nolan, and TV producer Dr
Alan Clements, an honorary
graduate of Edinburgh Napier
and investment Campaign
Board member.
Lorraine’s daughter Rosie
graduated from the BA (Hons)
Journalism this summer,
proving that writing clearly
runs in the family!
Dr Diane Maclean, Head of
Journalism, said: “We are proud
of our record at Edinburgh
Napier in supporting and
educating the next generation
of journalists.
“Our former students can
be found in newsrooms,
newspapers, TV and radio
stations throughout the world,
and are known for their skills
and talents.
It’s a family affair
Andrea interviews
Lorraine in the
newsroom
University Round-Up
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