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Riding the Rapids’ Two Very Different High-Profile Events Took Place at Robert Gordon University in September

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Riding the Rapids’ Two Very Different High-Profile Events Took Place at Robert Gordon University in September October Issue Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery Retires Teaching and Learning Feature NexusConnecting the University community Celebrating Student Success Pupils taking part in the Challenge. Pupils Petrochallenge ‘Riding the Rapids’ Two very different high-profile events took place at Robert Gordon University in September. Pupils from across the North-east of Around 350 S5 and S6 students participated fierce competition from other finalists Scotland pitted their wits against each in the third annual two-day event. Formerly from schools around the globe including other at Petrochallenge 2009 on 1 and known as OilSim, the 2009 challenge has the Faroe Islands, Norway, Greenland, 2 September, as they fought to become been re-launched by OPITO – The Oil & Gas Denmark, the US and Canada, in the successful oil and gas operators in Academy, in partnership with educational finals in London in January 2010. the UK heat of the major international specialist Simprentis. The event was also competition. delivered in partnership with Opito and Riding the Rapids Simprentis, with prizes including a Robert The second event took place as a Pupils from 37 secondary schools in the Gordon University knowledge prize, which result of a global research project area took part in The Oil & Gas Academy was awarded at Offshore Europe. commissioned by PSN and McGrigors PetroChallenge, an online event which LLP, by Aberdeen Business School, to saw pupils around the world battle it out The winning team was Aboyne Academy, examine how some companies continue as oil barons. who will go on to represent the UK in the to prosper despite these times of international final in London. They will face volatility and uncertainty. Continued on page 3 University Ventures Investment Fund finances first company Robert Gordon University’s Ventures BI Medical Limited is the University’s Sigma Capital Group plc. Specialising in the Investment Fund LP (the RGU Fund) orthopaedics development and commercialisation of university intellectual has part-funded its first project. commercialisation spin-out company. It property, Frontier IP has committed The Fund is the first dedicated is developing a range of innovative new £300,000 to the RGU Fund, with the private equity fund for investment in orthopaedic devices based on intellectual University committing up to £800,000. intellectual property in any modern property licensed from the founding university in the UK. Thanks to institutions and has an ongoing pipeline The RGU Fund aims to help accelerate the funding from organisations including agreement giving it access to future development of commercial opportunities the RGU Fund, B1 Medical Limited has inventions. emerging from the University’s research completed a second round financing programmes, and the Fund has the first of £1.1m. The RGU Fund was established by Frontier right to fianace any spin-out company IP, a subsidiary of asset management group, across any of its faculties. THIS ISSUE RGU PEOPLE Welcome to the October issue of the University’s magazine, Nexus. Now that the academic year is well underway there is no better time to focus on teaching and learning with pages six and seven devoted to recent activities, and a double page spread celebrating the successes of the University’s students. Please get in touch if you have any suggestions for stories or features for the magazine. Email your ideas to [email protected]. You can also Mrs Jennie Parry. use this address to contact us if you would like copies of any photos included in Nexus. The deadline for articles to be included in the November issue is Head of Nursing and Friday 10 October, and Wednesday Midwifery retires 4 November for the December issue. Mrs Jennie Parry retired in July after a decade at the helm of the University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. Under her direction, the School has developed into one of the leading Gail Caie providers of undergraduate and postgraduate nurse and Senior Communications Officer midwifery education. Before joining Robert Gordon University, Jennie had extensive clinical and academic nursing experience, beginning when she was appointed as one of the youngest ward sisters at the age of 22, where she led a very busy medical and surgical unit in Liverpool. Her husband was in the Navy, which led to her taking up nursing and health related posts the length and breadth of the country. Jennie joined the School of Nursing and Midwifery in 1994. Since being appointed Head of School, she has successfully led the School through a number of challenging transitions. Under her leadership, it has developed into one of the leading providers of high quality undergraduate and postgraduate nursing and midwifery education. Jennie has always had a strong interest in teaching and learning, academic quality and practice development and, as a result, fostered a culture of innovative practice in teaching and learning within the School. The development of the clinical skills laboratory and volunteer patient scheme demonstrates Jennie’s long-held commitment to simulated learning, and is a tribute to her enthusiasm for creating a safe, SPECIAL features yet challenging, experiential learning environment for students. RGU PEOPLE Jennie said, “It has been a real privilege to work with so many wonderful people, and play a part in the education and nurturing 4-5 of the future generation of nurses and midwives. My career has Celebrating success been so worthwhile, and I have really enjoyed it. “I would like to thank all the staff from across the University who contributed to my going away gift. It was totally unexpected and a lovely surprise. The flowers in particular gave me a lot of 6-7 pleasure and stood in pride of place on my dining room table.” Lessons in learning 2 RGU PEOPLE Continued from page 1 The event, which took place on 1 September, was entitled ‘Riding the Rapids’. It explored the research, addressing how oil and gas industry leaders are steering and sustaining their businesses through the current global recession. A panel of industry experts including; Professor Rita Marcella, Dean of Aberdeen Business School who also delivered a presentation; Tom Smith, Head of Energy, McGrigors LLP and Alec Carstairs, Oil and Gas Partner, Ernst & Young.The event was chaired by Cheryl Paul from STV, who facilitated the quality debate. The Aberdeen event was one of a series of four international events in Calgary, Houston and Abu Dhabi, and was sponsored by Ernst & Young, Aberdeen. (Left to right) Cheryl Paul and Professor Rita Marcella with the expert panel. Robert Gordon University Gray’s School of Art duo short-listed to ‘Take the and Dundee College sign Mrs Jennie Parry. Lead’ in £500,000 project agreement to forge closer links In August a signing ceremony took place to reinforce and extend Robert Gordon University and Dundee College’s formal commitment to providing greater opportunities for students in Tayside. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding took place with Christina Potter, Principal of Dundee College, and Robert Gordon University Principal, Professor Mike Pittilo. The agreement means that students completing many of Dundee College’s HND programmes can matriculate directly into the third year of numerous Robert Gordon University degree programmes, much like the 2+2 arrangement the University has with several other Scottish Colleges. Professor Pittilo said, “I’m delighted that we are able to collaborate with Dundee College on an initiative that will benefit both institutions and prospective students in the Tayside region. The University is very keen to widen participation and we believe that Two Gray’s School of Art Research Fellows have been this link will be an effective way of achieving this.” short-listed for one of the most ambitious and wide- ranging arts events in the UK. Visual artists Joanne Tatham and Tom O’Sullivan are responsible for one of five short-listed ideas in the running to secure a grant of £460,000 from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund. If successful, the duo’s idea of creating four sculptural objects which would travel across Scotland to take up temporary residence at a number of locations would become a reality as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Inspired by London 2012 and the Olympic spirit, the pieces would provide possibilities for engagement and direct interaction with communities. In Scotland, the short-list was selected by an expert panel of judges made up of artists and arts specialists. The short-listed artists will each receive a development grant of £5,000 to turn their initial proposals into comprehensive plans. They presented these to the artist panels in September and the final commissions will be Christina Potter and Professor Mike Pittilo signing Mike Pittilo and Professor Christina Potter the Memorandum of Understanding. announced on 22 October. Speaking on behalf of the team at Gray’s, Joanne explained: “We are Christina Potter added: “For many students, studying for an HNC or delighted to be short-listed for this prestigious project. Researchers HND at college is an attractive way to enter higher education - they at Gray’s have a great track record of collaborating with external can then transfer to a degree programme and build on their initial organisations and we are very excited about this opportunity to studies.” work with London 2012 Olympics.” 3 LESSONS IN LEARNING (left to right) Professor Mike Pittilo with Professor Tim Wilson. Tim with Professor Mike Pittilo (left to right) Professor Testing the pallet: international artists to provide lessons in Aberdeen A host of high-profile international artists are set to visit Aberdeen next summer as Gray’s School of Art launches its first ever Printmaking Summer School. North-east creatives, as well as those drawn to the events from across the globe, will be able to benefit from attending a series of workshops to gain expertise from innovators in printmaking.
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