This year, we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍø University, and one of the ways we are marking the occasion is to include a special commemorative edition of QMYou, alongside this, the main magazine. The main magazine shares the usual news of recent ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍøments with you, while our commemorative supplement offers you the chance to look back on our institution’s extraordinary 150-year journey. We hope you enjoy reading the selection of short articles celebrating our shared past, and learning more about some of the many highlights and transitions that our institution has experienced in the years since its inception in 1875.
The stories in our commemorative supplement may whet your appetite for more. If so, why not take a stroll through our history and enjoy 150 stories, along with some fascinating film footage, all of which are available for you to view on the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍø150 pages of our website?
In this main edition of the magazine, we are delighted to highlight some of the significant initiatives that have taken place on and off campus recently, and to shine a spotlight on the excellent work of our inspirational staff, students and graduates.
We celebrate the contribution of two significant women who have made their mark on ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍø in recent years – the late Lady Elgin, who was ProPatron of the University, and Dame Prue Leith, who recently stepped down as Chancellor of ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍø.
We responded to the urgent need for affordable accommodation for Edinburgh Festival Fringe performers by creating the Fringe Village on campus last summer. You can read more about the ways in which we are supporting the Festival Fringe and the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍøment of new creative talent.
Our work to enhance the student experience never stops, and we have been thrilled to see the transformation of learning and study spaces at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍø. Our £2.1m Future Spaces investment shows that we are responding to changes in the way students now study and learn by providing an outstanding range of modern, attractive, flexible spaces for them to enjoy.
Partnership allows us to build strength and capacity into our offering, and we have been delighted to collaborate with Edinburgh Napier University to bring its impressive entrepreneurial support service to ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍø students. Read about this, the Bright Red Triangle ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍøment, and see how it’s supporting more students to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.
We love hearing how our graduates are making an impact on the world. You couldn’t fail to be impressed with the career journey of Susan Black, Director of Communications with Liverpool Football Club, and the meteoric rise up the ranks of Adrian Crighton, who, in just a few years since graduating, is now a director with American Express. They are certainly an inspiration to everyone at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍø.
If you are a graduate, please stay connected with us through our alumni office E: alumni@qmu.ac.uk. If you are a member of the public or are new to ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍø and want to connect, please don’t hesitate to talk to our Development team or email ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁϱ¬ÁϹÙÍøment@qmu.ac.uk about ways to get involved and support the University’s work.
With best wishes
Sir Paul Grice, FRSE, FAcSS
