Principal’s Introduction
Costume
Showcase
P
erforming Arts students model stunning
creations developed by undergraduates
from QMU's BA(Hons) Costume Design and
Contruction.
Life is never quiet at QMU and this summer has
been a whirlwind of awards, student showcase
events and graduation celebrations.
We were delighted to be a winner at the first
Herald Higher Education Awards in July. Our
PR team won ‘Campaign of the Year’ for our
‘Recipe for Success’ campaign which promoted
our knowledge exchange work in food and drink
and helped launch QMU’s Scottish Centre for
Food Development and Innovation in December
last year.
We were also pleased that our graduate
employment rate rose to 94.4%, which is
well above the sector average. This means
that 94.4% of graduates find work or go into
employment within six months of graduation. On
graduation day in July, I was heartened to meet so many of
our students who had already secured work in their specialist
area, even before reaching their graduation date.
In the run up to graduation my senior team was fortunate
to attend several student-led events which showcased the
work of our talented student groups. Our Costume Showcase
was a spectacle with theatrical and outlandish creations
capturing the audience’s imagination. The catwalk style
performance has become one of the most talked about
events in the academic calendar. Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet
Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs joined
us at the Edinburgh Filmhouse for QMU’s annual Film and
Media Degree Show. This event has grown substantially
in prominence and this year, over 200 people enjoyed an
impressive variety of short promotional films, drama and
documentaries from 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students.
Queen Margaret Children’s University, our ambitious
widening access initiative for 5 – 14 year olds, is proving to
have a significant appeal for young children, their families
and schools. We are delighted that the project has been so
successful, in such a short period of time, in harnessing the
enthusiasm of children for learning opportunities beyond the
classroom. The first graduation ceremony for children from
Midlothian schools took place at QMU in June and you can
can read more about it and see the fun photos on page 7.
QMU’s work is focused on improving quality of life. We
are, of course, delighted that so many organisations and
individuals outside of the University support us in achieving
this. You can read more about our important work in
osteoporosis and our aim of improving the knowledge and
skills of frontline healthcare staff who are involved in the
care of patients with the condition. The Lydia Osteoporosis
Project builds on our existing knowledge within our nursing
specialism and has only been made possible by a substantial
donation from anonymous benefactors. Read more on
page 16.
As always, we are delighted to share news of our student
and graduate successes and we hope that many of our stories
in this issue demonstrate the power of our employability
initiatives such as our inspiring internship programmes. We
do hope that you will continue to stay connected with the
University, eg by mentoring a student, offering an internship,
donating to the Student Fund, supporting our research,
remembering us in your will or just sharing your news via our
alumni team.
Professor Petra Wend, PhD, FRSA, FRSE
Principal and Vice Chancellor
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
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QMYOU / Principal’s Introduction