QM News 74 (pdf 1.58 MB) - Queen Margaret University

The magazine for alumni and friends of
Queen Margaret University
ISSUE 74, JANUARY 2012
WHAT ARE UNIVERSITIES FOR? OUR PRINCIPAL
ADDRESSES THE BIG QUESTION.
EAST LOTHIAN CELEBRATES ITS HEALTHY HAPPY
BAIRNS
QMU GRADUATE BRINGS 48 HOUR FILM PROJECTS
TO SCOTLAND

CONTENTS
Principal’s Introduction
03 News in brief
04 Meeting and event technology curriculum connects the world
to QMU
05 What are universities for?
06 - 09 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS - Focus on hospitality
• QMU is first UK university to offer a British degree in Nepal
• QMU partners with Edinburgh New Town Cookery School
• QMU joins forces to launch East Lothian Hospitality and
Tourism Academy
• The Albert Roux Dinner brings food, fashion and film
together in a culinary extravaganza
• Right time, right place, right skills set
10 - 13 HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
• Removing fees for medical care in low income countries
– can it really work?
• Evaluation shows East Lothian has healthy happy bairns
• New speech & hearing research centre gets people talking
14 - 17 CREATIVITY AND CULTURE
• Ready, set, shoot – Sam makes it happen with the 48 Hour
Film Projects
• Drama lecturer wins Fringe First with her allotment
• QMU sponsors Lennoxlove Book Festival
• Homecoming 2009 archive exhibition goes live
18 - 19 Commercial focus
• QMU secures contracts to provide Ombudsman training
• QMU - working in partnership with small business
20 - 21 Recent student and graduate news
22 - 23 Alumni profiles
• Postcard from Clare Carswell Community Editor, STV Local
• Angel Coulby is shining star in hit tv fantasy series, ‘Merlin’
24 - 25 Development news
26 Graduates’ Association newsletter
27 Classnotes and exhibitions
28 Dates for your diary
I am delighted to welcome you to another jampacked
edition of QM News which reflects the
dynamism of QMU staff and students. In this
magazine we are pleased to share with you
some examples of the socially relevant work
which is taking place within QMU’s flagships
areas:
• Sustainable Business,
• Health and Rehabilitation, and
• Creativity and Culture.
When reading some of our articles you will
get an idea of the international reach of the
University’s work. Due to a recent innovative
collaboration, QMU is now the first university
in the UK to offer a British degree in Nepal.
On page 10, you can learn about the work
of our Institute for International Health and
Development which is carrying out research
that will help low income countries plan for the
possible removal of fees for medical services.
Closer to home, much is being done in East
Lothian to produce healthy, happy children
through the Council’s ‘Support from the Start’
project. You can hear about the impact that
this health project has had on families, the
result of which can now be shared following
QMU’s evaluation of this highly successful
project. Our ground-breaking research in
the area of speech and hearing sciences
continues to make an impact nationally and
internationally. In this edition of QMU News
we can share the inspirational story of how a
child who was born deaf has grown up to be a
confident articulate teenager thanks to a blend
of therapy and technology developed by our
speech and language specialists.
Of course, it is always wonderful to hear about
the great work of our alumni. We have some
great examples of how our entrepreneurial
graduates are carving out successful careers
and making a valuable contribution to the
hospitality and tourism, and the cultural
industries, despite the economic climate.
I invite you to keep in touch with us and to
get involved in what’s going on at QMU. We
have lots of exciting events for you to enjoy
– our Albert Roux Dinner, the food festival,
our professorial lectures, to mention but a
few. If you are one of our alumni, tell our
Development Office about your news; rekindle
old friendships by having a reunion or even
let our academics help with your business
development needs. By staying connected,
we can share ideas, catch up with old friends,
make new ones and even enrich the lives of
our current students.
Professor Petra Wend
Principal and Vice Chancellor
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Sam Goldblatt taken by Dougie Barnett Photography

PAGE 0
NEWS IN BRIEF
QMU is top for living
experience and student
support
QMU has been ranked 1st in the UK
for Overall Living Experience, and 1st
in the UK and worldwide for Overall
Student Support, by EU and international
students participating in the autumn 2010
wave of the Student and International
Student Barometer, an independent
sector-wide survey. The survey looks at
both undergraduate and postgraduate
students’ decision-making process and
the quality of their experience before and
after arrival at QMU.
For further information visit:
www.qmu.ac.uk/marketing/bulletins/
barometer2010.htm
QMU’s gains one of UK’s
highest response rates in the
National Student Survey
QMU participated in the National Student
Survey for the first time in 2011 with the
third highest response rate of all higher
education institutions in the UK. An
impressive 78% of all eligible students
took part.
The results reveal some areas of excellent
practice. For example, QMU ranked first
in Scotland for students agreeing that
their communication skills have improved.
We are pleased to see an improvement
in the NSS results compared to our own
internal survey results from the past three
years. These improvements demonstrate
our focus on continuous enhancement.
The survey was also useful in helping
identify other areas for improvement
which we are currently addressing.
Scotland gets its first
NHS consultant surgical
podiatrist
Colin Thomson, from QMU’s Podiatry
subject area, is to be the first full-time
NHS Consultant Surgical Podiatrist in
Scotland. This is a seconded post from
QMU. Colin will be based in the Royal
Infirmary of Edinburgh where he will work
as part of a multidisciplinary orthopaedic
team. This is a significant achievement
for Colin and a very positive step forward
for the podiatry profession. We wish Colin
every success in his new role.
Honours for top chef, Lord
Lieutenant and leading nurse
The UK’s most influential chef, a former
chief Scout and a leading nursing
figure credited with shifting the focus
of nursing to patient-centred care, all
received honorary degrees from QMU at
its 2011 summer graduation ceremony.
The honours reflected the University’s
commitment to teaching and research
that is relevant to today’s society.
Sir Garth Morrison
Albert Roux OBE
Alison Tierney CBE
Honorary doctorates were conferred on
the influential chef Albert Roux, OBE and
Legion d’Honneur, who revolutionised
British cooking in the 1960’s; Sir Garth
Morrison, KT, CBE, Her Majesty’s Lord
Lieutenant for East Lothian and former
Chief Scout; and Professor Alison Tierney
CBE, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of
Advanced Nursing and internationally
recognised nursing researcher and
educationalist.
QMU Principal, Professor Petra
Wend, said: “We recognise the unique
contribution of three distinguished
individuals who have addressed society’s
needs. Sir Garth Morrison, Professor
Tierney and Albert Roux have enhanced
the lives of others at home and abroad,
and have left their mark by sharing our
guiding values of inter-professional
education, inter-disciplinary work,
industry relevance and internationality.”
The event was also the first graduation
ceremony that recognised the
achievements of students who had
completed an entire honours degree at
QMU’s Craighall campus.
More green awards recognise
qmu’s focus on sustainability
The winning QMU team - Fraser Muir,
Steve Scott and Ivan Meyer
In the autumn, QMU gained two
prestigious green awards for its work in
the area of sustainability.
The University achieved success in the
Green Gown Awards for the third year in
a row. QMU was highly commended in
the Green ICT category of the prestigious
awards which recognise exceptional
initiatives undertaken by universities and
colleges across the UK to minimise their
environmental footprint and enhance their
social contribution.
The Green Gown award acknowledged
the University’s holistic approach to
green ICT, through which the University
has combined estates and information
technology to ensure both elements are
recognised as inseparable. The judges
said that QMU had demonstrated a
continual, concerted effort not only to
push a green ICT agenda, but also to
drive down costs and make the ICT
function more efficient.
The University was also highly
commended in the Energy Efficiency
Category of the Green Business Awards
2011.
Fraser Muir, Director of Information
Services at QMU, said: “Despite our early
success with our energy efficient building
and technology, we have not rested on
our laurels. We are totally committed
to climate change and sustainable
development and are continually
refining our processes to reduce energy
consumption and improve space
efficiency.”
News continued on back page...QMU

PAGE 0
meeting and event technology
curriculum connects the world to QMU
QMU has completed the development
of the world’s first curriculum for
meeting and events technology in higher
education.
In partnership with MeetingMatrix
International (global leaders in meeting
and event planning technology) and
event experts from around the world,
QMU has created a curriculum guide
which will equip university students with
cutting edge technology skills in meeting
and event planning. This is the first time
that a university-level events curriculum
has had input from industry experts
from across the globe and technology
supplied by a leading commercial
company. The new technology is now
being offered by QMU and MeetingMatrix
free of charge to universities worldwide.
The curriculum guide project was
funded by MeetingMatrix, suppliers of
the most advanced room diagramming
programme and venue sourcing
technology on the global market. The
technology allows event planners and
clients to see exactly what their rooms
and events will look like even if both
parties are in different countries.
Professor Joe Goldblatt, Director
of the International Centre for the
Study of Planned Events at QMU,
explained: “Across the globe, events
are becoming extremely sophisticated
and often employ increasing levels of
technology in order to meet their goals
– whether that be in sales, customer
satisfaction, business partner relations
or costs. For example, the Edinburgh
festivals are always looking to improve
communication with their audiences by
MeetingMatrix technology allows event planners to see exactly what their events will look like
employing more advanced technology
systems which will ultimately impact
positively on sales and customer
satisfaction, as well as social welfare
and the local economy. The event
planner is also under pressure to provide
evidence of a successful outcome to
event sponsors. In order to successfully
achieve this, event planners need to be
technically savvy, whilst also have the
ability to innovate and provide direction
for the future evolution of events.
“Together with its partners, QMU has
developed a pioneering curriculum which
will equip event management students
with the technical ability and knowledge
to gain a competitive advantage in the
fast paced meeting and events industry,”
said Professor Goldblatt.
Since autumn 2011, QMU students
have been benefitting from the newly
developed ‘MeetingMatrix Meeting and
Event Technology Curriculum’.
Kuan-wen Lin, PhD student, has
worked solidly on the development of
this project for the last year. He said: “In
order to ensure that the curriculum can
be utilised by undergraduate students
and universities globally, it was reviewed
by an impressive range of international
event experts from Boston, Las Vegas,
New York, Switzerland and Hong Kong.
Thanks to the support of MeetingMatrix,
the curriculum, which has an estimated
commercial value of between £50,000
- £150,000 per year, is now available
free of charge to universities all over the
world.”
For further information on the
‘MeetingMatrix Meeting and Event
Technology Curriculum’ visit: www.
meetingmatrix.com/Site/Curriculum.html
RAISING THE PROFILE OF SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA
In November, Professor Wend was part
of a delegation of four Scottish principals
and senior government officials, who
travelled to India to help raise the profile
of Scottish universities. The delegation,
which was organised by Scottish
Development International, was led by
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Mike
Russell. During the trip, Professor Wend
and Christine Bovis-Cnossen, Dean
of the School of Arts, Social Sciences
and Management at QMU, took the
opportunity to meet with potential
collaborative partners, as well as Rob
Lynes, the Director of the British Council
in Delhi. They were also delighted to
connect with a group of QMU graduates
who attended an Indian/Scottish alumni
dinner hosted by the Scottish Universities
Interaction Group. The QMU alumni
group was thrilled to make contact with
QMU staff and Mike Russell, and very
enthusiastic about developing further
networking opportunities in the future.

PAGE 0
What are universities for?
Professor Wend presents her professorial lecture at the Royal College of Physicians
In October, Professor Petra Wend,
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of QMU,
presented a very timely professorial
lecture on the role of universities.
The audience, which filled the large
lecture theatre in the Royal College of
Physicians, included a range of senior
figures from the education, health,
cultural and business sectors.
After taking the audience on a journey
through the history of universities
throughout the world, Professor Wend’s
lecture tackled one of the biggest
questions – what are universities for?
Within that context, she discussed the
modern role of universities in Britain and
the way in which they are managed and
financed.
In recent months and years, there
has been much public debate about
the funding and role of universities in
Scotland and the rest of the UK. On the
one hand we hear about knowledge
exchange, skills development and the
closer alignment of these to the needs
of industry, while on the other, we hear
about further concentration of research
funding in centres of excellence.
Equally, there are strong signals about
the differences between regional and
national or international universities and
a perceived duplication of provision in
‘regional’ universities.
In balancing these competing pressures,
Professor Wend warned that we need to
proceed with care. While it is absolutely
right for society to seek the best value
from its investment in universities, she
argued that we need to ensure that
we build on the diverse ways in which
every university contributes to Scotland’s
success.
She sees five roles for universities:
• education;
• research and innovation;
• public engagement;
• economic development and
• social inclusion and mobility.
In order to fulfil all of these functions, she
believes that an additional important role
of a university is to maintain and/or rebalance
the diversity of functions within
its institution to define its unique mission
and vision.
Professor Wend argued that to be
successful and useful, every university
needs to fulfil each of these roles. This
means, for example, that research
should not be restricted to a limited
number of universities.
She said: “Universities can and should
have multiple functions providing
research, education, public engagement,
economic development and social
mobility.”
Professor Wend argued that a university
that is forced to fulfil only one role at
the expense of the other ceases being
a university and fails in its potential
for contributing to the economic and
social welfare of society. She strongly
believes that it is the current potent mix
of universities’ multifaceted functions and
the way these are inseparable from each
other that make them leaders for a better
society.
The text, PowerPoint presentation
and film of Professor Wend’s
professorial lecture can be downloaded
at: www.qmu.ac.uk/community/
QMPublicLecturesarchive.htm

PAGE 0
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS - FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY
QMU is first UK university to offer
A British degree in Nepal
QMU has become the first university in
the UK to offer a British degree delivered
face-to-face in Nepal.
As the result of a ground-breaking and
innovative collaboration, QMU students
in Kathmandu are now being offered the
opportunity to complete a UK degree
course whilst continuing to study in
Nepal.
Staff at the Silver Mountain School of
Hotel Management (SMHS) will now
provide a UK degree in International
Hospitality and Tourism to some 120
students each year at their campus in
Kathmandu.
The QMU programme will enable
SMSH diploma graduates to continue
with their studies for an additional year,
in Kathmandu. Following successful
completion they will be awarded a BA
degree in International Hospitality and
Tourism Management.
Dr Christine Bovis-Cnossen, Dean
of School of Arts, Social Sciences
& Management at QMU, said: “As
Nepal is an emerging economy and a
post-conflict country, the transnational
educational partnership between QMU
and SMSH is a significant achievement
that demonstrates the instrumental role
and vision of a small Scottish university
in the delivery of higher education. We
are delighted to be working with an
established Nepali partner in developing
educational provision for young people,
contributing to the status of the
hospitality and tourism sector within the
country and beyond and collaborating
with an institution which has a growing
reputation for excellence throughout
Asia.”
She continued: This collaboration clearly
reflects the industry-relevance of QMU’s
curriculum, as well as the international
strategic focus of its operation.”
Mr Samir Thapa, Principal of SMSH,
said: “This is an historic occasion for
SMSH and indeed for Nepal. QMU
has a long tradition in the provision of
hospitality and tourism management and
their graduates are highly regarded in
the international hospitality and tourism
industry. We are delighted that they share
our vision for the potential that exists in
Nepal and the tremendous opportunities
that this partnership will bring to our
young people.”
The first graduation ceremony from this
programme will take place in 2012 in
Kathmandu.
Trevor Laffin, Head of Business, Enterprise and Management
at QMU, puts students through their paces at SMSHM
Nepal
QMU tutor with SMSH staff at the end of the first staff development programme in November

QMU partners with Edinburgh
New Town Cookery School
PAGE 0
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS - FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY
Fiona Burrell (ENTCS) with Christine Bovis-Cnossen (QMU) at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School
In August 2011, the Edinburgh New
Town Cookery School unveiled an
exciting new partnership with QMU
which is seeing the two institutions
educate and inspire a new generation of
culinary masters and re-ignite students’
passion for food, produce and culinary
techniques.
The new initiative is giving all QMU
International Hospitality Management
students the opportunity to finetune
their skills and knowledge in a
professional setting which is held in high
esteem across the country and sets high
standards for all students.
Former QM graduate and Principal of the
Edinburgh New Town Cookery School,
Fiona Burrell, along with staff at QMU,
designed a programme that focuses
on providing challenging experiences
for students, giving them a thorough
understanding of food and cooking
skills in order that they make effective
hospitality managers of the future.
Every year, between 25 & 30 students
will each spend 88 hours – one four-hour
session every week over 22 weeks -
benefiting from Fiona Burrell’s experience
garnered during her time as Principal
at the world renowned cookery school,
Leith’s School of Food and Wine.
The students’ sessions at the Edinburgh
New Town Cookery School supports the
practical elements of the International
Hospitality Management degree
and gives students the confidence,
knowledge and skills required to pursue
careers across a span of industry
disciplines including hotel, restaurant
and catering management as well as the
tourism industry.
Fiona Burrell and Christine Bovis-
Cnossen, Dean of the School of Arts,
Social Sciences and Management
share the vision of deepening students
understanding of the culture of food as
well as igniting their passion for quality,
locally sourced produce.
Fiona says, “The collaboration with
the University reflects the shared
entrepreneurial vision of two companies
who are committed to ensuring
quality foundations are laid for today’s
generation and for the future of the
hospitality industry in Scotland.”
Christine Bovis-Cnossen, commented:
“We are delighted to be working with
Edinburgh New Town Cookery School,
particularly as it is a successful small
business run by a Queen Margaret
graduate. The collaboration is allowing
our students to benefit from Fiona’s
wealth of expertise, helping them
develop important skills and practical
knowledge of the food industry. This new
partnership helps contribute significantly
to student learning and emphasises the
industry-relevance of our Hospitality
degree.”

PAGE 0
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS - FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY
QMU joins forces to launch East Lothian
Hospitality and Tourism Academy
Scotland’s £4.2 billion tourism industry
is to benefit from a skills boost thanks to
a pioneering initiative being developed
by QMU in collaboration with Jewel and
Esk College and East Lothian Council’s
Education and Children’s Services
Department. The East Lothian Hospitality
and Tourism Academy will launch
in September 2012 and is aimed at
smoothing the transition from learning to
working for young people aged 14 to 18.
Hospitality and Tourism are key growth
industries within East Lothian and
are currently two of the most likely
destinations for young people leaving
school. Tourism in Scotland is estimated
to grow by 4% each year according to
VisitScotland and thousands of additional
jobs will be created to service events
such as the Commonwealth Games,
the Ryder Cup and the second Year of
Homecoming.
Albert Roux OBE with award winning chef Martin Wishart
The Albert Roux Dinner brings food, fashion and film
together in a culinary extravaganza
Following the phenomenal success of the
2011 FEAST dinner with guest of honour,
the legendary Albert Roux OBE, QMU is
delighted to announce that the event is,
once again, set to become a highlight in
the 2012 culinary calendar.
This year, the Albert Roux dinner will
be an even more creative, flamboyant
affair with QMU demonstrating its
commitment to high quality Scottish
produce and service, but also combining
its specialisms in fashion and film. The
dinner will harness the talents of students
and staff from the areas of food,
hospitality and tourism; costume design
and construction, and media and film.
The Albert Roux Dinner will take place on
Saturday 12th May 2012. More details of
this unique, glamorous, showpiece event
will be available soon on our website
W: www.qmu.ac.uk
In the meantime, if you would like to
be included on the email list for further
information, contact:
E: swhigham@qmu.ac.uk

PAGE 0
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS - FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY
Right time, right place, right skills set
Graduate Mark Docherty, Sales and Revenue Manager at Oak Hill Apartments, Edinburgh
Oak Hill Apartments’ interior
Mark goes from night porter
to luxury apartments’
manager
There is something to be said for being
in the right place at the right time.
However, it rarely all comes together
in one successful package unless the
graduate has the right skills set and a
great attitude.
Mark Docherty, a graduate of QMU’s
International Hospitality Management
degree had just the right mix of skills,
commitment and ambition. However, he
was also fortunate in finding a company
which recognised his potential and had a
structure able to support his rapid career
progression.
Incredibly, in less than 18 months,
Mark moved from night porter in the
Macdonald Hotel Holyrood to Acting
General Manager for Oakhill Apartments,
a group of five star luxury serviced
apartments in Edinburgh.
The economic downturn and constant
press reports of graduate unemployment
certainly don’t seem to have hindered
Mark’s career progress. So, what
does he put his success down to? He
explained: “Firstly, I was lucky to have
a degree from a university which is
extremely well respected in hospitality
management. There is an understanding
in the hospitality and tourism industry
that QMU graduates have great skills
sets. I know lots of QMU graduates who
are moving up the ranks very quickly,
particularly in the capital. It seems to
be QMU graduates who are getting the
promotions. As these graduates climb
the career ladder, they recruit other QMU
graduates, not because there is a bias,
but because there is a recognition that
QMU graduates perform to the highest
standards. I have already provided a
placement for a QMU student who has
gained invaluable experience across all
departments of the Oakhill business.”
Mark continued: “QMU has excellent
networks across the hospitality and
tourism industry and it’s extremely
helpful to have this solid reputation
behind your degree qualification. As
students of the course, we also carried
out a work placement in order to gain
first-hand experience of the industry.
I worked for Macdonald Hotels and
gained really good experience. QMU
also had collaborative links with other
institutions which allowed us to build on
our knowledge of the industry. It was
only through QMU’s collaboration with
an FE college that I was able to gain my
kitchen experience. It is vital for anyone
working in this industry to have a solid
understanding of the kitchen operation.
QMU also encouraged us to get as
much practical experience as possible to
back up our academic work. In my final
year I was approached by Fraser Suites,
located off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. I
spent five months there working as a
trainee sales executive.”
Of course, in order to get into a
management position, having the right
combination of academic and practical
skills is important. Mark said: “QMU
provided me with a really good grounding
in marketing and strategic management
and it was this which really gave me the
confidence and knowledge to go for my
current position as a Sales and Revenue
Manager with Oakhill Apartments. QMU
also had excellent modules in tourism,
which were particularly useful in helping
me really understand the tourism market
in Scotland’s capital city where our
business in based.”
Mark was also in the lucky position of
being in the right place at the right time,
when a vacancy within the company
allowed him the opportunity to act up as
Sales and Revenue Manager. However,
after only six weeks his talent for the
role was recognised and he was offered
the manager’s position on a permanent
basis. Mark now looks after the sales
and revenue department as well as the
overall running of the property.
When it comes to getting that all
important job and shaping your career,
what’s Mark’s advice to other graduates?
He concluded: “I took the advice of my
first hospitality manager. He encouraged
me to always look for opportunities and
to build on my skills in order to maximise
my experiences.”
Oak Hill Apartments’ interior
Special offer for ‘QMU
Friends’
Mark is offering ‘QMU Friends’ (staff,
students, alumni, QMU family and
friends) 10% discount on bookings at
Oakhill Apartments in Edinburgh. This
offer runs until the end of 2012 but is
subject to availability. To book your stay
contact Mark Docherty at
E: mark@oakhillapartments.co.uk, or
T: 0131 555 1567.
W: www.oakhillapartments.co.uk

PAGE 10
HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
Removing fees for medical care in low
income countries – can it really work?
In the UK we often take our free access
to the National Health Service for
granted. We don’t have to dip in to
our pockets every time we visit the GP,
hand over a cheque to a midwife after
giving birth or worry about the expense
involved in ensuring our children receive
health checks in their early years. We
have access to free reproductive,
prenatal and postnatal care and, in
Scotland, we even benefit from free
prescriptions.
However, people in many other countries
are not so lucky. But, is free healthcare
really the best way forward for some
countries? And if patients no longer have
to pay for treatment and medicines,
what are the implications for planning the
healthcare workforce and the systems
that are necessary to sustain the
permanent removal of fees?
These are some of the questions that
Professor Barbara McPake is trying to
find answers to. Professor McPake,
Director of QMU’s International Institute
for International Health and Development
(IIHD), has secured funding of £88,000
from the Department for International
Development for a study entitled
‘Removing financial barriers to access
reproductive, maternal and new-born
health services: the challenges and
policy implications for Human Resources
for Health’. Professor McPake is heading
up a team of academics from QMU, the
University of Aberdeen and Liverpool
School of Tropical Medicine which
is undertaking the six-month study
investigating the effects of changes to
user fees policies on the situation of
Human Resources for Health in Sierra
Leone, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and
Nepal.
Professor McPake explained: “There
are serious implications for countries
which are considering the removal
of fees for medical services. These
countries need to ensure that they make
the right decision and, if they decide to
remove medical fees, that they have the
systems in place which can support the
consequences of that decision.”
“There are various tensions”, explained
Professor McPake. “When healthcare
comes at a cost to the individual, then
often people fall into debt. However,
some think that free care means poor
quality care. It is not uncommon for
healthcare systems to get so neglected
and abandoned that fees are reintroduced
and, in countries such as Zimbabwe,
fees have crept back in. Countries have
to plan well for the removal of fees, and
be prepared for the pressures associated
with a dramatic increase in demand from
poor people following the transition from
fees to free care.”
Some countries have successfully made
moves towards fees removal for specific
population groups. Sierra Leone now
offers free care for pregnant women,
lactating women and children but outside
these groups, everyone else still has to
pay. Zambia withdrew fees six years ago
and Ghana introduced a health insurance
scheme aiming to ensure that healthcare
is free at the point of delivery.
Professor McPake believes that
understanding the consequences of
removing fees and planning for such
a move are critically important. She
explained: “Countries need to consider
how they are going to replace the
funding, meet the rise in demand, gain
access to more drugs, and deal with the
workforce planning issues. As demands
on the health systems increase, so does
the need for a skilled workforce.”
Professor McPake’s team is therefore
looking at how countries can best
produce the healthcare workforce to
deal with the increase in demand for
health services. The need for good
policy, planning and training is essential.
© 2006 Alessandro Vincenzi, Courtesy of Photoshare
However, the needs of the healthcare
workers also have to be considered.
Professor McPake said: “Workers need to
be motivated. If the incentives are not
in place and the pay is not right, then
there is little to stop workers returning to
the city and, driving a taxi, for example.
The whole issue of human resources
is hugely important to sustaining the
success of a transition to a free care
system.”
The aim of the team’s research work is
to generate strategic intelligence and
inform policy and actions which will assist
countries in making critical decisions
about the future of their healthcare
systems. Specifically, the team is looking
at how countries can consider the
removal of fees for population groups
which will benefit from reproductive,
maternal and new-born health services.
Alan Gilloran, QMU’s Vice Principal
(Academic) said: “This is a very
challenging area for low income countries
but an important one which has the
capacity to affect the quality of life of
millions of people. It is intended that this
research will help low and middle income
countries establish equality of access
to good healthcare provision and assist
these countries in their future planning
and development, ensuring a brighter
future for millions of women, children and
young families.”

PAGE 11
HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
Evaluation shows East Lothian
has healthy happy bairns
Children involved in the ‘Support from the Start’ project developed a new found confidence
New research has shown that young
children, who participated in an East
Lothian community health initiative, are
more confident, have improved social
relationships and are better equipped
to cope with change. These were the
findings of researchers from QMU
who evaluated East Lothian Council’s
‘Support from the Start’ initiative.
‘Support from the Start’, based in East
Lothian Council, was developed as
part of a Scottish Government health
initiative called ‘Equally Well’. It aims to
improve and develop services which
address health inequalities in children
aged 0 – 5 years old and their parents,
and to engage communities in improving
children’s health. Children and their
parents within Tranent, Prestonpans
and Musselburgh East took part in the
initiative which focused on a variety
of community health issues including
healthy eating, literacy, dental health,
parenting and play.
Professor Kirsty Forsyth, from the Firefly
Research Unit at QMU, led the evaluation
of the project. The team found that East
Lothian Council’s ‘Support from the
Start’ initiative had produced significant
positive outcomes for both children and
their families.
The year-long evaluation of the project
confirmed that young children involved
in ‘Support from the Start’ developed a
new-found confidence, were more ready
for school, and benefited from a more
structured and more settled day and
family life.
The research team also found that
parents involved in the project had
improved their relationships with their
children, were more able to avoid
significant mental health issues, were
less stressed and more able to cope with
life events. Parents also reported that
they had increased personal confidence
and were able to find support from
extended social networks.
The research team talked to parents and
interviewed staff to gain their views about
the ‘Support from the Start’ process.
Professor Forsyth said: “We can now
confirm that ‘Support from the Start’
was a highly successful project which
had significant positive outcomes for
young children and their parents. We are
now able to share what we have learned
from this project at a national level. In
order to do this, the team has created
the ‘Healthy Happy Bairns’ manual which
is based on positive work undertaken in
‘Support from the Start’.”
Professor Petra Wend, Principal of
QMU, said: “East Lothian Council should
be commended for its development
and implementation of ‘Support from
the Start’, a project which is helping
to improve quality of life within our
community. QMU was delighted to
evaluate such an important project, and
work in partnership with the Council staff.
The work of this unique collaboration
now has the potential to influence
child development and parenting at a
national level and should ultimately lead
to improved health and well-being of
society as a whole. This collaboration
also confirms QMU’s commitment to
producing relevant research which meets
the needs of society and improves
quality of life.”
Councillor Ruth Currie, Cabinet Member
for Community Wellbeing, said: “It is
fantastic to see this project receiving
endorsement like this and, of course,
to see that the evaluation has shown
a real benefit to children and their
families. The fact that we’re building
such solid foundations for the health
and wellbeing our future generations
cannot be underplayed. This is a very
important project that bodes very well for
years to come as children and families
themselves are helping to shape our
services going forward.”

PAGE 12
HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
New speech & hearing research
centre gets people talking
In May, QMU launched its new Clinical
Audiology, Speech and Language
Research Centre (CASL). The aim of
the Centre is to apply cutting edge
techniques which will assist in the
diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety
of communication disorders.
In the UK alone, 2.5 million people have
a communication disorder. In childhood,
speech sound disorders (SSD) are
the most common communication
impairment, affecting 6.5% of all UK
children - that’s around two children in
every classroom. SSD makes it difficult
for people to communicate and integrate
into society. This can restrict educational
attainment, as well as having a negative
impact on social and professional
relations in future life.
QMU has an international reputation for
its outstanding research in the area of
speech sciences, and over the last few
years, the specialist area of audiology
has been added to the portfolio. The
new Centre will draw together the
research and clinical practice expertise of
both audiology and speech & language
therapy.
Professor Jim Scobbie, Director of the
new Centre, said: “Speech, hearing
and language are intimately linked. It
is difficult for people who have speech
difficulties to improve their pronunciation
if they also have impaired hearing. For
example, a child with profound hearing
loss faces particular challenges in
learning to speak clearly. If you can’t hear
the sounds that you are supposed to
be making, then how can you achieve
them? It is therefore hugely beneficial to
have experts from both specialist areas
working in synergy.”
The new Centre builds on years of
pioneering work achieved in the area of
speech sciences. Much of the work has
focused on developing technologies,
in collaboration with engineers and
computer scientists, which provide visual
images of the tongue and its movement
inside the mouth during speech.
Professor Scobbie explained: “Finding
out exactly what the tongue is doing
inside the mouth during speech is
extremely difficult. But without this
information it can be impossible for
people to correct their speech. QMU has
developed different technologies to view
and record tongue movements. These
images provide a new type of feedback
which the speech therapy client can use
to help them learn new patterns. This
can help children and adults to master
hard sounds such as ‘R’ and ‘L’, and
to distinguish sounds made in different
locations in the mouth, such as ‘T’ and
‘K’, for example.”
Electropalatography, or EPG, is a
technique which is not yet routinely
available in NHS clinics. It records
where and when the tongue makes
contact with the roof of the mouth
during speech. It can be a particularly
useful means of helping some children
with speech difficulties to improve
their speech because it provides visual
feedback to the child, which is not
ordinarily available, and does not rely
purely on what the child hears.
One such child who had outstanding
success with EPG was Lily Davidson.
Lily became deaf shortly after birth and
had a cochlear implant when she was
nearly three years old. This device was
implanted into the cochlea in the inner
ear. A processor worn externally then
translates speech and environmental
sounds into electrical impulses that
stimulate the auditory nerve and allow
Lily to hear all of the sounds crucial for
speech. Like all young cochlear implant
users, Lily received intensive speech and
language therapy from a young age.
Dr Sara Wood, a Speech and Language
Therapist at QMU, began working with
Lily when she was 10 years old – shortly
after she received a second cochlear
implant. As a bright child, Lily had made
remarkable progress in learning language
and her speech was considered to be
quite good. However, she still struggled
to produce clear speech.
Dr Wood explained: “We began using
EPG therapy to help Lily improve her
speech intelligibility. She had difficulty
with specific speech sounds including
the sound of the letter ‘L’.
Lily explained: “Because I couldn’t hear
anything at all, I didn’t learn to speak
normally like a baby does, just lying
gurgling in my cot, testing out how to
make sounds. I had silence for three
years. Then, when I was three and got
my implant, I had to guess how to move
the inside of my mouth to make words.
So I had some odd ways of saying words
- like ‘orange’ – I would say ‘oh-in-j’. As
I got older and spoke more quickly, the
words didn’t run together properly. The
EPG helped me relearn how to speak.”
With EPG therapy, Lily’s speech quickly
improved.
She said: “I didn’t realise what I was
doing wrong before but seeing the
shapes my tongue made on a computer
screen made it easy for me to learn how
to change my words.”
Lily confirmed: “People understand me
so much better now and I don’t have to
repeat what I say nearly so much.”
More recently, Professor Jim Scobbie
has been pioneering the use of
ultrasound technology as another
method of viewing the movement of the
tongue inside the mouth during real time
speech. Lily was the first person with a
cochlear implant to receive EPG therapy
at QMU. It significantly helped her

PAGE 13
HEALTH AND REHABILITATION
Lily tries to match the same tongue pattern as the speech therapist
improve the production of ‘L’ and some
other speech sounds. However, she still
had difficulty with the pronunciation of
the sound ‘R’.
Dr Wood explained: “By positioning
an ultrasound probe under his chin,
Professor Scobbie was able to show Lily
how to produce the ‘R’ sound by having
her watch images of his tongue moving
in real time. She then watched her own
tongue moving inside her mouth during
speech. She copied what she saw in
the ultrasound image and reproduced
it correctly. It took just one ultrasound
session for Lily to get it right!”
“Most people trying to correct speech
problems rely on using auditory
feedback”, said Professor Scobbie.
“However, as soon as Lily had the
opportunity to use the new visual
feedback, her speech improved
dramatically.”
Dr Jo White, Audiology Research Lead
at CASL, has worked with Lily since
she was two years old. She said “Lily
has always been an intelligent and
gifted child, but without a combination
of ground-breaking technology and
dedicated therapists and researchers,
Lily would not have achieved her full
potential in the hearing world. She is now
a remarkably articulate teenager with a
very bright future.”
Professor Jim Scobbie concluded: “We
want this new research Centre to build
on its world-wide reputation for research
in speech and hearing sciences and
to make sure that as many people as
possible, both in the UK and abroad,
can benefit from the techniques we have
developed.”

PAGE 14
CREATIVITY AND CULTURE
Ready, set, shoot – Sam makes it happen
with the 48 Hour Film Projects
Sam Goldblatt was never going to be
beaten by the global recession. Even as
an experienced events professional and
a graduate of QMU’s Masters in Festival
Management, he knew that securing
a top graduate position in the Scottish
arts scene was always going to be a
challenge given the current jobs market.
But that didn’t deter Sam.
A charming and talented young man,
originally from Washington, DC, Sam
Goldblatt exudes a warmth and positivity
that is both captivating and inspiring.
And he has used his American ‘can
do’ attitude to great effect. The creative
28 year old decided to carve out his
own niche in the arts world by using
his entrepreneurial skills to develop
and produce Scotland’s most popular
filmmaking festival.
The ‘48 Hour Film Project’, now in its
fourth year in Scotland, has captured
the imagination and enthusiasm of over
2000 budding film makers. Sam started
the festival in Edinburgh in 2008, while
studying at QMU. The Scottish festival is
part of a global film project which spans
approximately 80 countries across five
continents, and challenges teams to
make a film in just 48 hours. However, it
is Sam’s determination and drive which
has brought the festival to Scotland.
The popularity of the Edinburgh 48 Hour
Film Project grew, and such was the
demand from an increasingly growing
group of young film makers to take
part in the world’s largest timed-film
competition, that in autumn 2011, Sam
took the project to Glasgow. And what
a success that has been. The Edinburgh
event is now firmly established as a
significant component in the capital’s
festivals programme, and even in its first
year, the Glasgow event attracted over
400 participants, with teams coming all
the way from Wales, Manchester and
Newcastle just to participate. Over the
last four years more than 200 minimasterpieces
have been shot, produced
and finally screened at Edinburgh’s
Cameo Cinema and the Glasgow Film
Theatre.
Just like Sam, all three film festivals are
bursting with energy. Teams from all
over Scotland, as well as the occasional
enthusiast from Spain and Germany, arm
themselves with caffeine fuelled energy
drinks and knuckle down to a full-on, funfilled,
sleepless weekend of script writing,
acting, filming, producing and editing.
Sam explained: “It’s a challenging 48
hours but it’s exhilarating and very
rewarding. All teams are instructed to
include certain elements in their film - a
line of dialogue, a specific character and
a prop - so they really can’t prepare in
advance. The groups have great fun out
on location and some of the end results
are extremely creative indeed. After the
films are made they are screened over a
series of nights to packed audiences who
then vote for their favourites.”
Sam Goldblatt at the Cameo Cinema Edinburgh
Sam continued: “The aim of the project
is to advance filmmaking and promote
filmmakers. The tight deadline of 48 hours
puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers
- emphasising creativity and teamwork
skills. While the time limit places a
restriction on the filmmakers, it catapults
the team into action - getting things done,
rather than just talking about it.”
Sam has worked single handedly to bring
major arts funders on board and thanks
to the likes of Creative Scotland, some of
the winners can expect substantial prizes
such as free airfares and accommodation
to attend the International 48 Hour Film

PAGE 15
CREATIVITY AND CULTURE
In Scotland, the ‘48 Hour Film Project’ has captured the imagination of over 2000 budding film makers
Project Finals to be held in the USA.
Not only has he successfully nailed the
difficult task of the project funding, Sam
has brought big names, such as Michael
Hines, Director of Glasgow-based
sitcom ‘Still Game’, on board to help
provide industry recognition and create
a buzz.
When he’s not
producing film festivals,
Sam Goldblatt has a raft
of other projects that
keep him busy including
guest lecturing and
researching and writing.
He’s just completed
his first book on events
management.The
challenges of getting a
brand new festival up
and running in Scotland
have no doubt provided helpful working
examples for his new text. His new
book ‘The Complete Guide to Greener
Meetings and Events’ discusses the
growing responsibilities faced by modern
event planners, such as the employment
of sustainable practices to minimise
waste and enhance the event experience.
The book, which envisions a world where
greener events are the norm rather
than the exception, emphasises the
modern concepts of reuse, conservation,
waste management and environmental
improvement.
Does this young man ever find time to
sleep? Well, certainly not during the
film festival, but when he’s not
writing, he’s running his own
international sustainable events
consultancy out of Edinburgh.
Over the last couple of years
he’s worked with the Capital
Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Fringe
Festival and Hamburg Harley
Days. In 2011, he was delighted
to be involved in welcoming and
managing the highly acclaimed
China Fringe Festival which was
a new but significant part of the
Edinburgh Fringe. He has also recently
travelled to Moscow where he presented
a workshop on sustainable events and
promoted his new book.
With such a demanding schedule is it
all work and no play for Sam Goldblatt?
Well, there’s going to be yet another
planned event coming up in the near
future, but this one will have a more
personal focus. With a recent marriage
proposal to Louise Knowles, also a
graduate of QMU, there’s a wedding on
the cards. But the question is, how much
event planning will this groom be allowed
to undertake as part of this very important
sustainable event? Only time will tell!
Sam’s top tips for a successful
career!
(1) Create your own opportunities – think
outside the box.
(2) Always have more than one project on
the go.
(3) Don’t network just for the sake of it.
Make meaningful connections with
professionals you admire.
For more information on:
Glasgow & Edinburgh 48 Hour Film
Projects visit:
www.48hourfilm.com/glasgow
‘The Complete Guide to Greener
Meetings and Events’ by Samuel deBlanc
Goldblatt is published by John Wiley &
Sons, Inc. visit:
www.wiley.com/college/goldblatt

PAGE 16
CREATIVITY AND CULTURE
Drama lecturer wins Fringe First
with her allotment
QMU sponsors
Lennoxlove
Book Festival
Kate Nelson’s ‘Allotment’ won the award for most sustainable show at the Edinburgh Fringe
A play staged on an Edinburgh allotment
was to win a QMU lecturer, not only a
prestigious Fringe First, but an award for
most sustainable show at the Edinburgh
Fringe.
Kate Nelson, Lecturer in Drama and
Performance, sacrificed her prize globe
artichoke bed to accommodate actors
and the audience during her play
‘Allotment’ which took place at her own
allotment in Inverleith.
Audiences were treated to a unique
artistic experience with the show kicking
off with the distribution of steaming hot
cups of tea accompanied with freshly
baked scones smeared with homemade
damson jam. The staging, which involved
no lighting or protection from the
elements, presented a truly earthy setting
in which to experience the performance.
Edinburgh Fringe audiences are used to
viewing performances in unusual venues,
but this was probably the first time that
guests jostled for position amongst the
courgettes, strawberries, beetroots and
raspberries whilst watching the delights of
the tale unfold.
‘Allotment’, by the acclaimed Scottish
writer, Jules Horne, and directed by
QMU’s Kate Nelson with set design from
QMU’s Sarah Paulley, Programme Leader
for Costume Design & Construction, was
a darkly comic story - a tale of life, death,
Pink Fir apples and the secret power
of worms.
Kate was delighted that Edinburgh City
Council and her fellow gardeners were
extremely supportive of the project.
However, the audience was warned
that they mustn’t give in to temptation
and nick the veggies from other
gardeners’ plots!
As part of its commitment to supporting
the local community, QMU was delighted
to be one of the sponsors of the
Lennoxlove Book Festival.
The cultural and education event, which
took place last autumn in the beautiful
setting of Lennoxlove House outside
Haddington, East Lothian, included an
impressive line-up of actors, playwrights,
MPs, historians, gardening experts
and crime writers. Big names such as
Scottish actor Bill Paterson; playwright
John Byrne; Sarah Brown, wife of the
former Prime Minister; MPs Tam Dalyell,
Chris Bryant and Alastair Darling; and
author of War Horse, Michael Morpurgo
helped to make the event extremely
memorable. Senior QMU staff also
took part in the festival both chairing
or presenting sessions, and student
volunteers helped with the smooth
running of the event on the day.
Fireworks, local musicians, fantastic
literary opportunities for children and
excellent readings from a wide range of
authors and experts ensured that the
book festival had something for everyone.
www.lennoxlovebookfestival.com.
The Great Hall at Lennoxlove is an exquisite setting for a reading (Image courtesy of Writer Pictures)

PAGE 17
CREATIVITY AND CULTURE
Homecoming 2009 archive
exhibition goes live
The Homecoming Archive 2009 is now available for public view
The new official Homecoming Scotland
2009 Archives display was exhibited at
the National Archives of Scotland last
summer and is currently now travelling to
other parts of Scotland.
Conceived by QMU, the Homecoming
Archive has collected, catalogued
and preserved materials associated
with Homecoming for the benefit
of the Scottish people and event
organisers and scholars from across
the globe. The colourful fascinating
display, now available for public view,
includes materials relating to many of
the highlights of Scotland’s successful
Homecoming 2009 celebrations. As well
as featuring examples of original event
merchandise, the exhibition includes
materials displayed electronically.
Professor Joe Goldblatt, Director of
the International Centre for the Study
of Planned Events at QMU, said: “The
Homecoming Archive exhibition will not
only be of interest to many Scots and the
diaspora, the project has also assisted
QMU in developing a model archival
process for the modern events industry
that will allow organisers to preserve and
transmit the outcomes of their events to
various audiences.”
The archives can also be viewed via
the internet at: homecoming09archive
qmu.ac.uk. The travelling exhibition has
already visited Edinburgh, Glasgow and
Inverness and will be in Aberdeen in
February 2012.
The Homecoming Scotland 2009
Archives project is a collaborative
partnership led by QMU and involving
the Scottish Government, EventScotland,
Microsoft, Company Net and Service
Point.

PAGE 18
COMMERCIAL FOCUS
QMU secures contracts to
provide Ombudsman training
QMU is acquiring a reputation for providing high quality training for ombudsman organisations
QMU has recently secured contracts
to provide ombudsman staff with
accredited training programmes. This
training will be delivered to the Financial
Ombudsman Service and the Legal
Ombudsman for England and Wales.
The University is fast acquiring a
reputation for providing high quality
training for ombudsman organisations,
complaint handlers, trading standards
and other regulatory services. The move
reflects QMU’s drive to provide industry
relevant courses to equip ombudsman
staff to respond effectively to the high
levels of customer complaints about
financial and legal services across the UK
and Ireland.
Director of QMU’s Consumer Insight
Centre, Carol Brennan, is leading
this initiative for the University and is
developing a centre of excellence for
training, research, knowledge exchange
and consultancy in ombudsman and
complaint handling practice.
Carol said: “A rise in complaints about
services is a reflection of the current
economic climate with an increasing
number of unresolved disputes being
referred to ombudsmen. In the last
couple of months, for example, the
number of new payment protection
insurance (PPI) cases being referred to
the Financial Ombudsman Service has
climbed steeply – from fewer than 1,000
a week to over 3000. This means they
will soon be receiving their 300,000th
PPI complaint.”
With specialists in consumer affairs,
complaint handling, ombudsman
practice, customer service, alternative
dispute resolution, communication,
investigation, informal resolution,
mediation, decision making and human
rights, the University’s Consumer Insight
Centre is well equipped to deliver a
range of effective training packages.
Recently the Centre has enjoyed several
significant achievements - QMU is the
first UK university to provide approved
accredited training for the British and
Irish Ombudsman Association (BIOA)
offering ‘The Professional Award in
Ombudsman and Complaint Handling
Practice’ and ‘The Professional
Certificate in Ombudsman and
Complaint Handling Practice’.
Carol explained: “Launched at QMU in
2009, these courses were a sell-out,
reflecting a high level of enthusiasm for
this project among BIOA’s membership.
Also, there is growing international
interest in this type of training with
course participants coming from as far
as Bermuda and Ghana.”
The Centre delivered a new course for
the Police Complaints Commissioner for
Scotland. Staff worked in partnership
with the organisation to develop a
bespoke course which reflects the
approach of the organisation and the
fact that it deals with some of the
country’s most challenging complaints.
Professor John McNeil, Scotland’s Police
Complaints Commissioner, has recently
been appointed as Honorary Professor
at QMU to advise the University on its
future research and course development.
In partnership with Northumbria
University Law School, the Centre
also won a national tender to provide
accredited training for the new Legal
Ombudsman for England and Wales.
This work saw 300 staff trained within
the first year.
This year, QMU secured a four
year contract to provide accredited
training for the Financial Ombudsman
Service in London which is the largest
ombudsman organisation in the world.
The team has recently delivered a new
Masters course which was piloted with
seventy ombudsman staff. Innovative
approaches to work-based learning were
at the centre of this development.
Carol Brennan concluded: “These
significant achievements clearly
demonstrate the quality of QMU’s
work in the increasingly important area
of customer complaints. They also
emphasise the University’s commitment
to improving service provision and
ultimately quality of life.”

PAGE 19
COMMERCIAL FOCUS
QMU - Working in partnership with
small business
QMU has a range of academic expertise
to help small and medium sized
enterprises (SMEs) overcome barriers
to growth and survival and to realise
business opportunities. Our experienced
business development team provides a
link between academics and SMEs. We
understand the environment in which
smaller companies are operating and can
provide access to grants which can fund
strategic developments.
With key strengths in the areas of
food, drink and tourism, QMU is well
equipped to provide specialist support
to companies working within these
industries. The University is able to
harness its expertise in key areas of
business to provide SMEs with access
to academic know-how, intellectual
property and well as outstanding facilities
such as laboratories and clinics for
scientific testing.
Food and drink is one particular area
of expertise. Already a number of food
producers have benefited from QMU’s
scientific and nutritional knowledge. For
example, we have provided Belhaven
Fruit Farm in East Lothian with valuable
nutritional information which has played a
pivotal role in the on-going promotion of
its innovative ad healthy ‘IceDelight’ iced
dessert.
Another excellent example of a recent
innovation project saw the collaboration
of the well-known Scottish food
manufacturer,
Macsween of
Edinburgh with
QMU. Macsween
which produces haggis
for the retail, wholesale
and food service sector,
required assistance with
the development of a range
of premium quality ‘one
minute’ convenience meat
products. As specialists in food
and drink and with expertise in
nutritional science and consumer
issues, QMU provided a good fit with
Macsween.
The company had significant expertise
in food manufacture as well as
knowledge of the convenience food
market sector, but, for this project, it
required external specialists to conduct
a series of consumer testing trials. This
provided them with vital feedback on
areas such as taste and texture, as well
as information which would help them
develop packing design including ease of
use, cooking method; product size and
price.
Fiona Bathgate, Quality Manager at
Macsween of Edinburgh, confirmed:
“The collaboration with QMU worked
very well. The University’s involvement
in the consumer testing of our new
microwave Black Pudding was beneficial
in the success of this product.”
Sheena Devlin, Innovation Manager at
QMU, explained: “Often small businesses
have great ideas for how they can
develop their businesses and are very
innovative but require specialist areas of
support to validate their product ideas.
QMU’s academic experts can dedicate
time, attention and new skills to resolve
problems and help develop new ideas
and pathways. Importantly, advice is also
available to companies on the availability
of new funding streams which can
support project development.”
She continued: “The exchange of
knowledge between businesses and
academics is a win-win situation. It
allows
businesses to
access specialist
academic knowledge
and skills as well as University
business support managers. In
turn, academics are kept abreast of
developments in modern business which
they can then feed into their teaching
practice ensuring that students gain
industry relevant knowledge.”
Sheena said: “We know that QMU has
many graduates working in Scotland and
beyond who might be unaware that the
University offers this type of business
support. We are eager to re-connect
with graduates who are now working
in connected industries and help them
develop their businesses.”
QMU’s engagement with SMEs is
delivered through a knowledge exchange
partnership involving Edinburgh Napier
and St Andrews Universities. This
initiative is supported by the Scottish
Government’s SEEKIT Programme, the
European Regional Development Fund
and by the three partner universities.
Whether you are a QMU graduate
hoping to develop your business, or a
general member of the Scottish business
community, QMU would like to talk to
you about your business development
needs. For an informal chat call
Sheena Devlin on T: 0131 474 0000 or
E: sdevlin@qmu.ac.uk

PAGE 20
RECENT STUDENT AND GRADUATE NEWS
MBA student gains invaluable
experience at The Dorchester
An MBA Hospitality student, who is also
the General Manager of The Howard, a
discreet luxury 5-star hotel in Edinburgh’s
New town, has won a scholarship from
Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland.
HIT Scotland is a Scottish based charity
which raises funds to support and
encourage excellence in the hospitality
Industry. The HIT scholarship enabled
Zsolt Jakri to gain invaluable experience
at the prestigious Dorchester Hotel in
London by shadowing the management
for a week.
Bernie Quinn, Lecturer in Hospitality
Management at QMU, said: “We are
extremely grateful to HIT Scotland
for providing Zsolt with such an
outstanding learning opportunity. The
HIT scholarships recognise the need
to continually update skills within the
industry, enhance personal development
and bring fresh ideas back to Scottish
businesses to remain at the forefront of
international innovations. It’s a win-win
situation for both the student and the
industry.”
Students showcase final year
work at film screening
In the run up to graduation, QMU’s film,
media, and public relations students
screened a selection of twelve short
fiction, music video and documentary
films at the Edinburgh Filmhouse. The
event primarily showcased films made by
students in the final year of their degree.
The work covered a wide selection of
narrative subjects, genres and styles,
including one man’s desperate search for
his past, a woman’s God-like intervention
into teenage promiscuity, and the
transformative power of a pot plant.
Dr Richard Butt, Head of Media,
Communication and Performing Arts at
QMU, said: “Students showed admirable
creativity and maturity in their filmmaking
and this was evident in the quality of
their films. Students shot in locations
from Portobello to London, with one
drama shot entirely in Poland. Some
of the students took advantage of the
cinematic qualities offered by the new
generation of digital SLR and Letus
cameras, so the production values
of the final films were very high for
undergraduate work on limited budgets.”
The screening concluded with a prize
giving. The Bruce Thomson College
Access Award for the best overall
academic performance by a direct entry
student went to Danielle Fallon from
Edinburgh who came on to the BA
(Hons) Film and Media programme at
QMU from Telford College. The Bruce
Thomson Best Film Award, the annual
award for the best student graduate film,
went to Agata Jagodzinska for her film
‘Secret of Confession’. Agata came on
to the BA (Hon) Media programme from
Poland via Perth College. Her film, which
stars her grandmother, was the first
entirely foreign language produced as
course work at QMU and, the first shot
entirely overseas.
Matauka meets Hillary
Clinton
It’s not unknown for QMU graduates
to be mixing with the great and the
good, but a Hospitality and Tourism
Management student took her
networking skills to new heights when
she recently met a selection of world
leaders. In the space of just a few
months, Matauka Yeta met the President
of Zambia, The African Union Vice
President and the US Secretary of State,
Hillary Clinton.
Over the summer, Matauka, as part of
her personal-development, took part
in a programme run by an National
Governmental Organisation called ‘The
Infotainment Movement’. This charity,
which has its origins in Zambia
and is affiliated to the United Nations,
is a youth development organisation.
It assisted in facilitating Matauka’s
attendance at specific conferences
aimed at providing students with
outstanding opportunities to listen and
learn from influential people. Through this
programme, Matauka took full advantage
of the chance to introduce herself,
her charity and QMU to world leaders
attending the conference including
Hillary Clinton; Erastus Mwencha, the
African Union Vice President; and Rupiah
Bwezani Banda, the Zambian President.
Matauka said: “I not only greeted and
spoke with Hillary Clinton when she
walked along the red carpet, but I was
lucky to be perfectly positioned, literally a
metre away from her, as she addressed
the audience.”
The Secretary of State’s PR executive
then provided Matauka with Hillary’s
contact details and they have been in
touch once since their initial meeting.
Matuaka concluded: “It was a privilege
to learn from these influential leaders.
I’m also delighted that my university
education provided me with skills,
knowledge and confidence to debate
and interact with some of the world’s
most influential leaders. It certainly turned
out to be a productive summer vacation,
packed with quite a few once in a lifetime
opportunities.”
Whilst also studying at QMU, Matauka is
now working as the Executive Director of
the ‘Infotainment Movement’.
Matauka Yeta meets the President of Zambia

PAGE 21
RECENT STUDENT AND GRADUATE NEWS
Mountain biking gets easier
with new bike bus
Karl Mott, a QMU business graduate,
turned his passion for mountain biking
and his problems with accessing the
countryside, into a successful business.
Glentress is a world-class mountain
bike destination and part of the 7stanes
network of biking trails spanning the
south of Scotland. But without a car,
it’s not the easiest place for cycling
enthusiasts to get to from other parts of
the country.
Much to the delight of urban based
mountain bikers, Karl and his wife
decided to provide a business solution to
the travel problem by setting up Bike Bus
Glentress. From September 2011 the
company takes bikes and riders direct
from Edinburgh city centre to Glentress
seven days a week.
Karl, a qualified Mountain Bike Leader
(MBLA), who has been racing road and
mountain bikes in the Scottish Borders
since his teenage years, explained:
“Glentress has been very car-oriented
up until now, but with this new service,
cyclists can catch a train into Edinburgh
then hop on the Bike Bus. It also
provides a more sustainable option for
people who would normally make the trip
by car.”
The Bike Bus is an eight-seat minibus
with a specially designed trailer capable
of carrying up to ten bikes at a time. In
addition to the travel service, Bike Bus
Glentress offers introductory guiding for
beginners and intermediate riders and
bike hire is available at the Glentress
Peel Centre.
To find out more about Karl’s new
business visit:
www.bikebusglentress.co.uk.
Susan creates her own brand with a selection of Scotland’s luxury hotels
Susan Reid, Proprietor, Susan Reid
Collection
Even at the tender age of 12, Susan
Reid loved the atmosphere of hotels.
She knew she wanted to build a career
in the hospitality industry and set her
sights on gaining a place on Queen
Margaret’s Catering and Institutional
Management course.
During her three years of study between
1987 and 1990 she grasped the
opportunity to gain more hands on
experience via a QMU student exchange
programme. She travelled to the
Canadian Rockies to work at the Banff
Springs Hotel. With 1000 bedrooms and
nine restaurants it was an experience
she’ll never forget.
On leaving Queen Margaret, Susan
began working at the Scandic Crown in
Edinburgh’s Royal Mile before joining the
team at the Balmoral Hotel. After two
years gaining front of house experience
she moved into her first sales role with
Stakis Hotels and after three years
returned to the Scandic Crown which
had just re-branded to Crowne Plaza.
With a lot of hard graft she worked
her way up to becomes Sales Director
responsible for a team of two people
before moving to a bigger challenge
as Sales and Marketing Director
and Regional Sales Director with the
Balmoral. She was now managing a
team of 17 staff.
She said: “I enjoyed the challenge but
missed getting out into the market place
and seeing the clients. So in 2003 I
launched the Susan Reid Collection,
Scotland.”
Susan now manages the promotion
and sales for a group of privately owned
properties. Branded the ‘Susan Reid
Collection’, the properties offer a sample
of some of the best in Scottish service,
quality and hospitality at 4 and 5 star
levels.
She explained: “I am very different from
a consultancy or a PR company in
the respect that I take on a pro-active
sales role which is quite unique in the
market place and my service was one
of the first of its kind to be launched.
This allows me to offer the professional
skills and knowledge I have gained from
larger organisations and assist in the
promotion purely of privately owned
properties, ensuring that awareness
of these opportunities is strong in the
corporate, leisure and incentive market
place. This can only be achieved
by concise and pro-active sales and
marketing strategies, which I carry out
personally.”
Susan loves her job working directly
with the owners of the hotels she
promotes and is delighted to be
personally involved in the growth of their
businesses.
For more information about the hotels
and properties within the Susan Reid
Collection visit: www.susanreid.co.uk
Susan Reid

PAGE 22
ALUMNI PROFILE
Postcard from Clare Carswell
Community Editor, STV Local Edinburgh North
BA (Hons) Media and Culture 2008
Claire Carswell
Since graduated from QMU in 2008,
Clare has had an exciting and varied
couple of years which culminated in
her landing the role of Community
Editor for STV Local Edinburgh North
in March 2011. As well as taking a
postgraduate programme to specialise
in multimedia journalism, Clare gained
a myriad of media experience whilst at
QMU and after graduation, including
volunteering with and working for Leith
FM, Radio Borders, Radio Scotland, The
Borders Book Festival and festival review
publication ‘Three Weeks’. We caught
up with Clare on one of her yearly visits
to QMU to talk to our second year BA
(Hons) Media students about how to
build a career in the industry.
What made you choose media at
QMU?
I already had an idea that I wanted
to work in the media in some way or
another but I think I actually chose QMU
first rather than the specific course.
I had heard it was a very practical
university that specialised in courses
which provided skills relevant to graduate
employment. Taking my interest in radio
and photography into consideration the
Media and Culture programme looked
like the best fit for me.
How has your degree from
QMU helped you in your career
progression?
Firstly I’d say I really enjoyed the
programme at QMU. It worked my
brain and made me look at ideas
and concepts which I might not have
otherwise considered. The course
included sections on subjects such as
philosophy and sociology as well as the
more practical aspects of the media. It
was definitely a perfectly placed first rung
on the ladder. Whilst the experiences
and learning I have had since leaving
QMU also contributed to me being
where I am today, I’m very aware that
QMU gave me a solid foundation for my
future career.
What are your main memories of
being a student at QMU?
My main memories are probably those
from my final year when my friends and I
would discuss difficult coursework, plan
and panic about our dissertations while
enjoying one of many cups of coffee.
I also have fond memories of the music
group that was run by Rob MacKillop
the musician in residence at the time,
and we had great fun just making
music in informal groups. It was a great
balance to the hard work I was putting
in elsewhere at QMU and we would
perform for staff, students and the public
as well. It’s important to make sure you
have interests outside of your studies.
Any tips for current students?
To be enthusiastic about their interests
and make every effort to get practical
experience - get involved! Find out what
you like and plan how you’re going to
get experience and ultimately land a job
in that area. It’s important to make sure
you get a variety of experiences in and
around your chosen field. I’m fairly sure
it stood me in good stead when applying
for my current job that I could say on
my CV that I had experience in radio,
podcasting, print journalism, media
research, arts reviewing, and a host
of other things like working at a book
festival and experience of photography.
You don’t necessarily need to plan long
term – media is the kind of industry
where you need to grasp opportunities
when they arise – but you should have
a definite goal or a definite idea of what
you want to get out of each experience
before you start.
What’s the best thing about your
current job?
Having a good team of colleagues
makes all the difference and I’m very
lucky in that respect. They’re an excellent
sounding board for ideas as they all
have a very wide range of experiences
in the media and the content of their
work is varied. It’s also great to have
the opportunity to meet interesting and
inspirational people every day. There’s
a lot of variety in my job which helps to
keep you interested and focused.
What’s the most challenging thing
about your job?
Trying to make sure the area is well
represented and that the journalistic
quality remains high. We work at a really
fast pace but it’s important to make sure
that the web content is well balanced
and that events are well documented.
What are your plans for the future?
I’ve only been in my job since March
so at the moment I’m excited about
contributing to the success of STV Local
and watching it grow to its full potential.
We already have coverage in Edinburgh,
the North East and Lanarkshire and we
launched in Glasgow before Christmas
so it’s busy time for us right now.
Clare’s work on the Edinburgh North
section of the STV website can be found
at www.local.stv.tv/edinburgh-north

PAGE 23
ALUMNI PROFILE
Angel Coulby is shining star in HIT
TV FANTASY SERIES, ‘Merlin’
Angel has played Gwen in all four series of ‘Merlin’
It always lifts the spirits when you spot
a QMU graduate on the TV. Over the
years many drama and media and
communication alumni have graced
our screens, but one rising star who is
currently appearing with great regularity
at the moment is Angel Coulby.
Best known for her portrayal of
Guinevere in the hit BBC One fantasy
series ‘Merlin’, 31 year old Angel is
starring alongside seasoned veterans
Richard Wilson and Anthony Head. Her
role as Guinevere (Gwen) sees her move
from a humble and lowly maid servant all
the way to becoming Queen Guinevere,
the legendary wife of King Arthur and
Queen of Camelot. A permanent fixture
since the beginning of the first series,
Angel has now starred in all four series
of Merlin, and a fifth is in the offing. The
programme’s reach goes far beyond the
UK - the drama is screened in around
80 territories including the USA and
Australia.
After growing up in Finsbury Park,
north London, Angel came to Queen
Margaret in 1998 to study acting and
graduated with a first in 2001. She got
her breakthrough in TV when she starred
next to Johnny Vaughan in ‘Orrible’. She
has since appeared in numerous British
TV programmes including ‘The Bill’,
‘Casualty’, ‘Holby City’, ‘Hustle’, ‘Doctor
Who’ and ‘Vincent’ before getting her big
break in Merlin.
The popular Saturday night prime time
programme, which is screened both in
the UK and the USA, represents Angel’s
biggest role yet. So what’s next for this
rising star? Well, Merlin co-creators,
Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy,
recently revealed that a film version of
the hit series is also in the works, so
we could be seeing Angel on the big
screen..
She’s also currently playing the role
of Jessie, a jazz singer in Stephen
Polakoff’s new TV drama ‘Dancing on the
edge’ which will be aired later in 2012.
Reminiscing about student days:
Angel worried about fitting in but she met
her friend Helen Ward McAlpine in the
first week and they really clicked. The
girls are still great friends.
Angel recalls that her first term was pretty
terrifying, mainly because she thought
her head of year at the time, Lynne
Bains, was an incredibly formidable
person. She remembers looking at the
schedule, which involved The Alexander
Technique, singing and ballroom
dancing, and thinking it was amazing.
She had lots of fun and remembers that
in between lessons she used to go into
the music room with musical friend,
Robert Archibald, who was an amazing
pianist, and sing all the musicals they
could think of at the top of their voices.

PAGE 24
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
QMU Appoints New Alumni
MANAGER
The University has appointed Craig
Rutherford as its new Development and
Alumni Manager. Craig will be providing
regular updates to all of our alumni
through QM News and via e-mail, as
well as looking at new and better ways
to keep you informed and in contact
with the University. Over the next year,
Craig will also be organising a number of
alumni reunions in the UK and abroad,
so look out for news on those as it
becomes available.
Craig has a background in development
and alumni, has worked at other Scottish
educational institutions, and is looking
forward to keeping you up-to-date and
meeting as many of you as possible. If
you have any information that you think
might be of interest to the Alumni
department – success stories, notable
alumni, programme reunions, etc let us
know by emailing
E: alumni@qmu.ac.uk or calling
T: 0131 474 0000 and asking for
Craig Rutherford.
Also, as part of its remit, the
Development and Alumni Office is
fundraising for various projects and
good causes around the University. This
includes research initiatives, student
welfare, scholarships and equipment
funding. If you have any ideas for raising
funds for the University, or you would like
to look at how you might be able to help,
contact Craig on the number above or
E: development@qmu.ac.uk.
Lydia Osteoporosis Project
In 2010, QMU received its largest single
charitable donation to date, in order to
progress research and education into
osteoporosis. This donation will support
QMU’s nursing and healthcare specialists
in investigating the moving and handling
needs of patients with osteoporosis, as
well as potentially developing educational
materials for healthcare professionals.
Osteoporosis is a condition which
reduces the bone mineral density of
those affected. Consequently, even minor
slips and falls can lead to potentially life
changing bone fractures. It is estimated
by the International Osteoporosis
Foundation that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5
men over 50 will experience osteoporotic
fractures. While in hospital, patients with
osteoporosis may have particular moving
and handling needs.
The ‘Lydia Osteoporosis Project’ is being
carried out by a team of QMU’s nurse
researchers, led by Dr Margaret Smith. If
the results of the research phase indicate
a need for an education intervention,
this will be discussed and developed
in conjunction with NHS partners.
The project therefore aims to do the
following:
• consult moving and handling experts
regarding any specific moving and
handling needs of older patients with
osteoporosis in hospital;
• explore the in-hospital experiences of
older patients with osteoporosis;
• if indicated by the research findings, to
develop and implement an education
intervention for healthcare staff to
raise awareness of the moving and
handling needs of older patients with
osteoporosis. This phase would be
undertaken in partnership with relevant
NHS staff and
• to inform education relating to the
moving and handling needs of
older patients with osteoporosis in
undergraduate healthcare programmes
at QMU.
Ultimately, the Lydia Project aims to
draw on the knowledge and experience
of healthcare staff and patients’
experiences to directly influence the
education and training of healthcare
professionals, with the aim of identifying
and disseminating best practice.
More information on the project can be
found at: W: www.qmu.ac.uk/hn/Lydia_
Osteoporosis_Project.htm
If you are interested in donating to the
Lydia Osteoporosis Project contact the
QMU Development office on
T: 0131 474 0000 and ask for
Craig Rutherford, Development and
Alumni Manager.
Margaret Auld Bequest
In September 2010, QMU received the
sad news of the death of Dr Margaret
Auld. Back in 1987, Dr Auld had been
the very first person to be conferred
with an honorary degree by QMU (then
Queen Margaret College). During her
time as Chief Nursing Officer for the
Scottish Home and Health Department,
and later as a governor and then Chair
of the Board of Governors, Dr Auld was
a great friend and tireless supporter of
QMU. Her last act of friendship was
a much appreciated bequest with
instructions that the money should go
towards the development of clinical
skills with an emphasis on patient care
amongst the QMU Nursing students.
Through this generous gift, QMU’s
nursing students will soon benefit from
the new Drager ‘Delta Infinity’ bedside
monitor, which will greatly enhance
student learning within QMU’s flagship
Clinical Simulation Suite. The monitor
will allow us to display sophisticated
patient information, such as blood
pressure, blood oxygenation levels and
heart rate and rhythm. Usually only
available in specialist intensive care or
emergency departments, this type of
bedside monitoring is consistent with the
equipment used locally in the practice
placements accessed by nursing
students.
In an emergency situation, the first
responder is most likely to be a nurse,
so it is crucial that student nurses
develop the skills and competencies
needed to identify, assess and act upon
early warning signs of deterioration in
acutely ill patients. Through participation
in simulated emergencies at QMU,
students have the opportunity to
develop these skills of assessment,
care management and decision making.
Advance knowledge of this type of
machine can allow them to make the
most of their placements by ensuring
they are ready to use their classroom
experiences in a clinical setting right from
day one.
QMU is extremely grateful to Dr Auld for
her foresight and generosity in making
this possible.
If you would like more information on
leaving a legacy to QMU or simply
making a donation to any subject area,
call Craig Rutherford on
T: 0131 474 0000.

PAGE 25
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Santander Universities
Agreement
QMU was delighted to have renewed
its agreement with the Santander
Universities Programme in October
2011; cementing our place amongst
the international group of universities
supported by Santander and securing an
important source of funding which goes
direct to students and their education
costs.
Included in the renewed agreement is:
• funding for up to 10 scholarships for
a variety of student causes, including
overseas students studying at QMU
and home students studying or
carrying out research abroad;
• funding for staff carrying out research
abroad;
• individual travel grants for students not
on the scholarship programme and
• community awards to support students
carrying out charitable work in the local
area and beyond.
At QMU we are very proud of our
continued association with Santander
and we look forward to making the
awards in the near future. If you are
a student interested in applying for
any of the above awards please look
out for more information which will be
distributed through e-mail and the oncampus
plasma screens.
Vice Principal, Rosalyn Marshall, shows the new campus to our Norwegian alumni
Norway Reunion
On 20th October, QMU’s Vice Principal,
Rosalyn Marshall, and Development
and Alumni Manager, Craig Rutherford,
travelled to Norway to host an alumni
reunion in Oslo. Norway has been one
of the largest providers of international
students to QMU over the last 15 years
and, as such, we now have a sizeable
community of alumni throughout
Scandinavia, mostly in the media and in
physiotherapy industries.
After a successful recruitment event
we welcomed over 20 of our alumni to
the Grand Hotel in central Oslo for a
catch-up, networking and refreshments.
Old friends were reacquainted, new
friends were made, favourite members
of staff were discussed and fun times
in Edinburgh were remembered. The
alumni were suitably impressed by
Rosalyn Marshall’s presentation on
the new campus at Craighall as they
reminisced about the times they spent at
our Corstorphine and Leith campuses.
Some of our graduates are now parents
and thinking about encouraging their
own children to study at QMU.
We will be keeping in touch with our
Norway contacts and hope to develop
the links into a Norwegian chapter to
build mutually beneficial relationships.
If you know of somewhere we should be
hosting a reunion or, if you are interested
in forming a QMU alumni society abroad,
then please get in touch with Craig
Rutherford on E: alumni@qmu.ac.uk.

PAGE 26
Graduates’ Association Newsletter
by Graduates’ Association President, Maureen Paterson
MEMBERSHIP
The QMU Graduates’ Association
(QMUGA) is open to all alumni of Queen
Margaret University and associated
educational establishments. A one-off
payment will give you Life Membership.
Membership allows you to attend
Networking Lunches, which usually
take place on the last Saturday in the
month from September to November
and January to April, plus the A.G.M.
in June. Membership also provides the
opportunity to enjoy the comfortable
ambience of our seaside house, Madras
Lodge, which is available to rent all year
round including Christmas and New Year.
Membership is open to all graduates and
present or former staff. Life Membership
costs £35 in your graduating year and
£45 for staff and alumni at other times.
To become a member, contact:
Helen Kerr
26/6 Hawthornbank Lane
Edinburgh
EH4 3BH
T: 0131-220 2714
E: helenkerr@googlemail.com
EVENTS
Networking Lunches
Two of our lunches in 2011 were held at
city restaurants serving Scottish produce
in French style. Highlights included a
traditional Christmas lunch prepared and
served by current QMU students at The
Edinburgh New Town Cookery School on
7th December, under the guidance of the
School’s Principal, Fiona Burrell – herself
a former QMU student.
Information about other events can be
received from the Social Secretary.
Information on the Edinburgh New Town
Cookery School can be found at:
W: www.entcs.co.uk
AGM
The 2011 AGM took place in Edinburgh
at the beginning of June. Our guest
speaker was Rosalyn Marshall, Vice-
Principal (Resources and Development)
at QMU, who gave an informative outline
of the University’s new flagship areas:
Health and Rehabilitation, Sustainable
Business, and Creativity and Culture.
Graduation
On 7 July 2011 I attended the QMU
Graduation where I presented the Atholl
Crescent Prize to John Wayland who
graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Nursing.
The prize is awarded by the Graduates’
Association to a student who has shown
great effort towards self-improvement
and succeeded against the odds. John
was an excellent candidate for the award
and we wish him well in his future nursing
career.
Maureen Paterson with John Wayland
Universities’ Remembrance
Day Service 2011
Elizabeth Comrie and Helen Kerr
represented the QMUGA at the
Universities’ Remembrance Day Service
held in the Playfair Library at Old College,
Edinburgh.
Embroidery and Edinburgh
College of Domestic Science
Geraldine Martiensson and Christine Bryden
The Museum of Edinburgh is hosting an
exhibition of work and items loaned by
former students of Edinburgh College of
Domestic Sciences and Queen Margaret
College. The exhibition called ‘Stitching
Times’ opened in October 2011 and will
run until 28 January 2012.
A number of alumni attended the
opening of the exhibition, including two
former students, Geraldine Martiensson
and Christine Bryden, who both
contributed to the exhibits.
The exhibition is at The Museum of
Edinburgh, 142 Canongate, Edinburgh
and a public talk from the curator is
planned for 18th January 2012 at 2pm.
More information about this event can
be found on page 27 of QM News.
Committee
There will be six committee meetings
in 2012 before the AGM in June. All
members are allowed to attend the AGM.
If you wish to attend and do not receive
information by the middle of May, please
contact either myself or the Membership
Secretary - either by e-mail or by sending
a stamped address envelope.
MADRAS LODGE, GULLANE
Left to us by a former Graduates’
Association member, our holiday house,
Madras Lodge, is set in its own grounds
in the beautiful East Lothian village of
Gullane. It consists of a house (which
sleeps 4 to 5) and a loft (which sleeps 3
to 4). Recent upgrading of the kitchen
and the bathroom enables members and
their guests to enjoy a relaxing holiday in
a traditional setting. It can be rented by
the week in the summer or for a short
break in other months.
The house is ideally situated for
wonderful beach walks and the John
Muir trail, excellent golf along the East
Lothian coast and some outstanding
fine dining opportunities right on the
doorstep. Of course, there are various
other East Lothian attractions to entertain
visitors including the Museum of Flight
and the award winning Seabird Centre
in North Berwick. To book this wonderful
retreat please contact our Booking
Secretary.
QMUGA CONTACTS
Booking Secretary:
Anne Vokes
T: 07817 328035
E: mlbook@qmuga.org.uk
Social Secretary:
Dorothy Finlayson
4 Brunstane Road North
Edinburgh
EH15 2DJ
T: 0131 669 5341
E: alan.finlayson@virgin.net
Committee and general
communication
President:
Maureen Paterson
Fettes Court
5/2 Craigleith Road
Edinburgh
EH4 2DL
T: 0131 332 0097
E:maureenlpaterson@gmail.com

PAGE 27
CLASSNOTES AND EXHIBITIONS
Gary Seath – BA(Hons)
Consumer Studies (2006)
I completed the BA Popular Music
Performance degree at University of
the Highland & Islands (UHI). I’m also
a music tutor based at Park Road
Primary School and carried on with
this role over the duration of studying
both degrees. During this time I have
written, implemented and developed
musical programmes of study for both
music performance groups and oneto-one
instrumental study. My role has
focused on motivating and supporting
pupils towards a range of objectives
such as; music grade exams, school
and community performances, standard
grade/higher exams, competitions and
conducting mock interviews for music
college applications. This has involved
adherence to the guidelines of CFE;
developing the whole child, including
skills for learning, life and work. Pupils
have learned to organise and manage
musical practising schedules, develop
the ability to recognise and regulate
a series of intra-personal and interpersonal
skills, become solution focused
and evaluate their achievements against
success criteria. As well as curricular
skills, my role as tutor has included
encouraging positive attitudes, selfconfidence
and attributes such as
perseverance, resilience and resolve.
During my time at UHI, I was offered a
place on the scholarship scheme which
led to an internship in my 4th year with
the Centre for Rural Childhood. My
role was to initiate a research project
concerning music as a facilitator of
emotional intelligence in primary aged
children. This entailed producing a ten
thousand word dissertation describing,
methodology of the case study, analysis
of literature and discussion and graphical
representation of results. In addition, I
was also a UHI Mentor in 4th year. My
task was to provide a mentorship facility
for UHI drum-kit students of which
the key development area concerned
accessibility, as the target audience are
spread over a considerable geographic
area.
I plan to pursue a career within musical
education.
Wendy Barrie - Diploma in
Home Economics (1978)
Wendy Barrie is a well-known contributor
to Scotland’s food scene. She provides
independent food related expertise
– food tourism, taste education and
healthy eating. She is also a popular
presenter of cookery shows and
Director of the award winning www.
scottishfoodguide.com. Independently
researched, funded and published
by Wendy, the Scottish Food Guide
provides a valuable resource for
consumer and trade organisations,
both local and worldwide, in making the
positive connection between Scotland’s
finest eating places, producers and
suppliers. She is Director of Food Studies
at St George’s School, Edinburgh and a
regular contributor on food matters on
Radio Scotland.
With considerable experiences in food
education across the board, Wendy
networks with chefs throughout the UK
and beyond. She is also very active in
Scandinavia, with activities including
Scottish Food presentations, educational
visits, student chef intern placements
and most recently, the launch of www.
skanskfoodguide.com
Last summer, Wendy launched her new
book ‘Food Miles From Home’. The book
covers eating seasonally and her travels
to some favourite places as well as some
speciality producers including Linderod
Pig and Brantevik herring in Sweden;
Paste di Meliga in Italy; Dungeness crab
in San Francisco; Shetland lamb and
highland beef in Scotland. There are
recipes to give a taste of the regions
visited with local alternatives to recreate
the dishes. If, like Wendy, Scotland
is home, then look no further than
Scotland’s specialty producers with
lardons from our pedigree pigs, mature
Highland cheeses for Parmesan, and
Lanark Blue for Roquefort. Wendy’s book
is priced at £15 inclusive of P&P in the
UK. For further details visit:
www.scotlandfoodguide.com
ExhibitionS
Title: ‘Stitching Times’ (free entry)
Details: This was developed from
a collaborative project between the
Workers’ Educational Association
and the Museum of Edinburgh which
explored the work of the Edinburgh
College of Domestic Science (which
eventually became Queen Margaret
University) in the context of women’s
education and the work of the Suffrage
movement. This enthralling exhibition
includes examples of student work
such as recipe books, beautiful hand
stitched garments and beadwork.
Former students, of the college kindly
donated work produced by themselves
or their family members including
beautiful garments and samples pieces
from Maud Pentland. Participants
worked together to produce a beautiful
embroidered tablecloth which forms
the centrepiece of the exhibition. It was
inspired by a collection of hand-made,
embroidered undergarments, made by
Maud Pentland during her time at the
College, and was sewn using stitches
based on Maud’s own work. There are
also items on display which have been
loaned from the QMU’s archive such as
jelly moulds and a snail poaching tin.
The exhibition, which includes many
items which have never been on display
before, not only provides a fascinating
insight into the history of QMU, but also
shows how women’s lives have altered
over the years.
When: until 28 January 2012
Time: Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm
Where: Museum of Edinburgh,
142 Cannongate, Royal Mile,
Edinburgh, EH8 8DD
Title: ‘Oor Mad History’ exhibition
Details: The Consultation and Advocacy
Promotion Project (CAPS Advocacy)
presents a celebration of mental health
service user history, activism and
creativity. This fascinating exhibition
includes images and material from the
‘Oor Mad History’ archives and also
a range of artwork by service users.
‘Oor Mad History’ is a service user led
community history, reclaiming the history
of the mental health service user/survivor
movement in Lothian. This exhibition is
open to the public.
When: 1st – 23rd March 2012
Where: QMU, Musselburgh, EH21 6UU
Further information:
Kirsten Maclean
Community History Worker
Oor Mad History
E: kirsten@capsadvocacy.org or visit
W: www.oormadhistory.blogspot.com/

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
PAGE 28
RESEARCH FEATURE
PROFESSORIAL LECTURE SERIES
The Queen Margaret Professorial
Lectures offer fresh angles on topics of
relevance and are designed to appeal to
a wide audience. These lectures are free
but ticketed. To reserve a place:
E: events@qmu.ac.uk or
T: 0131 474 0000 and ask for ‘Events’.
Title: ‘Patient Heal Thyself – A new
landscape for delivery of healthcare
in chronic disease’
Presented by: Rosemary Richardson,
Dip. Diet, MSc, PhD, Honorary Professor,
School of Health Sciences
Topic: The ageing demographic timebomb
combined with an environment
that demands a relentless focus
on reducing costs, has acted as a
catalyst for change in the management
of chronic disease. Adopting an
appropriate package of evidenced
based system reforms which include
patient self-management, has the
potential to improve outcomes and
infer cost savings. This lecture charts
the improvement journey of one service
which others may replicate, adapt or
criticise.
When: Wednesday 22 February 2012
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm
Where: QMU, Musselburgh, EH21 6UU
Title: ‘The Death and Rebirth of
Tourism in the 21st Century’
Presented by: Brian Hay, BSc, MSc,
PhD, MTS, Visiting Professor, School of
Arts, Social Sciences and Management
Topic: As much a personal as a
professional life journey, Brian will explore
the changing nature of tourism, and will
suggest that the increasing expectations
placed on tourism have resulted in it
losing its focus. Through an exploration
of future trends, he will challenge the
existing tourism narratives by painting a
picture of a new tourism model for the
21st century.
When: Tuesday 24 April 2012
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm
Where: QMU, Musselburgh, EH21 6UU
THE
EDINBURGH
LECTURES
SERIES
Theme:
Extraordinary
Feats:
Extraordinary
People
Title: ‘The Power of Opportunity’
Presented by: Dr Olivia Giles OBE.
Details: Olivia was a commerical
property partner in a law firm until she
contracted meningitis resulting in the
amputation of her upper and lower
limbs. It was life changing but also life
enhancing, bringing new opportunities,
in particular, the chance to reflect on the
potential and capacity of ordinary people
to achieve extraordinary feats when they
have to - or really want to.
When: Monday 12 March 2012
Where: Edinburgh Storytelling Centre,
43 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR
Booking and further details:
www.edinburghlectures.wordpress.com/
FOOD AND DRINK EVENTS
Following the incredible success of
FEAST 2011, QMU and Jewel & Esk
College’s joint student-led food festival,
we are delighted to let you know that a
date has been set for 2012. The event
will again incorporate a fantastic range of
top chef demonstrations and a multitude
of opportunities to sample high quality
Scottish regional produce. In addition,
The Albert Roux dinner at QMU is now to
become an annual fixture in the culinary
calendar. Both of these events are a food
lovers’ dream, so don’t miss out.
Event: FEAST 2012
When: Saturday 28th April 2012
Where: Jewel and Esk College, 24
Milton Road, Edinburgh, EH15 2PP
Event: The Albert Roux Dinner
(incorporating Fashion, Food and Film)
When: Saturday 12th May 2012
Where: QMU, Musselburgh, EH21 6UU
E: swhigham@qmu.ac.uk
OPEN DAYS
Event: Postgraduate Open Evening
When: Wednesday 25 April 2012
Time: 5.30pm for 7.30pm
Where: QMU, Musselburgh, EH21 6UU
Booking: Book online now at:
www.qmu.ac.uk/events_open_days/
default.cfm
Event: Undergraduate Open Days
When: Thursday 6th September and
Saturday 6th October 2012
Time: 11am to 3pm
Where: QMU, Musselburgh, EH21 6UU
Further details: W: www.qmu.ac.uk
STOP PRESS:
Event: QMU Alumni Reunion
Weekend
All QMU alumni welcome.
When: 22 - 24 June 2012
Where: QMU, Musselburgh, EH21 6UU
Further details: W: www.qmu.ac.uk/
alumni_and_friends/reunions.htm
QMU – a highly international
university
QMU has always been proud of its
diverse student community at its
campus in Musselburgh and also of
its international collaborations which
enables students either to study in
Scotland or gain QMU qualifications
while based at partner institutions in their
home countries.
24% of QMU’s students are international
- 15% of this number relates to
international collaborations. 17% of
students are from the UK, but from
outside Scotland, 8% are from other EU
countries, and 50% are Scottish. (figures
relate to the 2010/11 academic year).
Rankings show competition
for QMU places is high
In its 2012 Good University Guide, the
Sunday Times has ranked QMU 14th out
of 125 institutions for ‘most competition
for places’. Based on the ratio of
degree-course applicants to the number
accepted for these courses who applied
through UCAS, this ranking indicates the
high regard in which QMU is held.
University hosts Scottish
Leaders’ Forum
QMU was honoured to host the Scottish
Leaders’ Forum which took place
in June 2011. This very high profile
two day event involved 60 leaders
from Scotland’s public sector, as
well as representatives from Scottish
Government, NHS, local authority,
universities and major Scottish agencies.
John Swinney MSP provided the
address at the event and the forum was
led by Sir Peter Housden, Permanent
Secretary in the Scottish Government.
Contact: Development and Alumni Office E: alumni@qmu.ac.uk W: www.qmu.ac.uk/alumni_and_friends / Marketing and Communications Office
E: marketing@qmu.ac.uk W: www.qmu.ac.uk Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, EH21 6UU. T: 0131 474 0000 F: 0131 474 0001
This publication is printed on Rivive silk 50 ( a recycled paper containing a minimum of 50% post consumer waste).