annual review 2009 - 2010 Scottish University of the Year 09 annual review 10 1 annual review 2009 -2010 annual review 2009 - 2010 contents the year in focus 4 Introduction 6 overview 8 masterplan 10 teaching & learning 12 student success 18 research & commercialisation 22 working with Business 26 staff success 30 working with the community 34 VIP visits 38 honorary awards 42 university appointments 46 Staff and student statistics 50 Financial Summary 52 executive roles & responsibilities 54 donors 55 2 3 annual review 2009 -2010 annual review 2009 - 2010 STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM OVER £100,000 TRUMP TARTAN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING the year in focus Fashion Design students From September 2009 – August 2010 students from across the University have benefited from Gray’s School of Art are from over £100,000 Scholarship funding from embarking on a project to businesses including AMEC, Bureau Veritas, KCA, Petrofac, Poyry, Sparrows, Talisman, Technip, create a corporate tartan for TOTAL, Wood Group and FMC. Trump International - Scotland. UNIVERSITY CONTRIBUTES £300 MILLION UNIVERSITY RECEIVES £40,000 TO IMPROVE TO SCOTTISH ECONOMY An independent report by BiGGAR Economics has revealed LEARNING AROUND MENTAL HEALTH NURSING The School of Nursing and Midwifery, in partnership that the University currently contributes over £300 million with NHS Grampian Mental Health Services, has annually to the economy of Scotland.The total contribution been granted £40,000 to develop nurse education to the economy of the North-east is £227.5 million every practices that will ultimately improve services for year, while the total national contribution is calculated mental health service users. at £302.2 million. OBESITY RESEARCH SHOWCASED UNIVERSITY FOCUSES ON BIG IDEAS AT NATIONAL EXHIBITION The University launched a new institute An exhibit entitled “Fat Body Slim: Shape Matters!” dedicated to research in Innovation, by Dr Giovanna Bermano, members of the Institute Design and Sustainability (IDEAS). for Health & Welfare Research and its Centre for IDEAS is already providing a unique base to Obesity Research and Epidemiology (CORE) was further research into areas such as renewables, selected to exhibit at the Royal Society’s 350th creative industries, digital economy Anniversary Summer Science Exhibition in London. and the environment. SUNDAY TIMES NAMES UNIVERSITY COURSE IS FIRST ‘SCOTTISH UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR’ IN UK TO ACHIEVE GLOBAL The University has been awarded the accolade of ACCREDITATION Aberdeen Business School is the ‘Scottish University of the Year’ by The Sunday Times. very first UK institution to achieve The supplement commended the University’s excellent accreditation from the Project academic provision, consistently strong graduate Management Institute’s (PMI) employability levels and bold, strategic masterplan. Global Accreditation Center. 4 5 annual review 2009 -2010 annual review 2009 - 2010 THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE SEEN THE Introduction UNIVERSITY CONSOLIDATE ITS POSITION AS ONE OF THE TOP MODERN UNIVERSITIES IN THE UK AND CONSISTENTLY BE IN THE TOP FIVE UK UNIVERSITIES FOR GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT. This Annual Review marks the end of my The role of the Governors is to ensure that three-year term as Chair of Robert Gordon this ability to perform and deliver is matched University’s Board of Governors and it is with by self confidence and aspiration. The real pride that I look back at the University’s University is in excellent shape and I have achievements during this period. every confidence that it will continue to excel and successfully rise to the challenges The last three years have seen the University it will face in the coming years. consolidate its position as one of the top modern universities in the UK and consistently be in the I wish all those involved with this great top five UK universities for graduate employment. University the very best for 2011 and a In addition, Robert Gordon University is the successful ongoing future. best modern university in Scotland for research, with over 70% of its research being classified as of international quality. I was particularly proud when The Sunday Times recently recognised the University as ‘The Scottish University of the Year 2011’. This success is down to the staff and how they interact with the students, external stakeholders, and indeed each other. My fellow Governors and I make no claim to have done anything other than lend background support to the leadership MELFORT CAMPBELL team in the way they have managed and led the PRO-CHANCELLOR AND University. Everyone at Robert Gordon University CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF should be very proud of what has been achieved. GOVERNORS 6 7 annual review 2009 -2010 annual review 2009 - 2010 overview IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE It has been another excellent year for Robert Throughout this review you will see evidence of While this review details the successes and THAT I INTRODUCE THE Gordon University culminating in The Sunday the University’s strong commitment to business achievements of the past year, it has also been a Times awarding us the accolade of ‘Scottish in the North-east and beyond. Indeed, an challenging time, not least because of the sad loss 2009/10 ANNUAL REVIEW. University of the Year 2011’. This award was independent report recently revealed that the of our Principal, Professor Mike Pittilo, who passed in recognition of the University’s development University contributes over £300 million annually away in February 2010. We take with us the lasting since its formation in 1992 to become ‘one of to the economy of Scotland. This, along with impact of his commitment to the institution while higher education’s shining stars’. This includes the high priority we place on engaging with looking to the future to ensure the University’s a graduate employment record which has and improving the lives of people in the local continued success. consistently been one of the best in the UK over community, will ensure that Robert Gordon the last decade and our commitment to invest in University continues to have a lasting and I hope you will enjoy reading the review and if our masterplan. meaningful impact, both locally and nationally. there are any aspects of it you would like to know more about, please do not hesitate to contact me. The University’s Estates masterplan continues to Our students have continued to flourish on a progress with the detailed planning application myriad of fronts including international sporting for a 34,000m2 development at Garthdee being successes, winning prestigious prizes in industry approved by Aberdeen City Council in 2010. The and community settings, and being recognised new facilities will all be based at the Garthdee for their contribution to research. The majority Campus and will include a new library, and of our students carry out industry placements formal and informal learning and social spaces and their valued contribution to the placement for students. Phase 1 of the masterplan will be provider often results in an offer of employment PROFESSOR JOHN HARPER complete by 2013. by these organisations after graduation, a student ACTING-PRINCIPAL AND achievement the University is extremely proud of. VICE-CHANCELLOR 8 9 annual review 2009 -2010 annual review 2009 - 2010 masterplan UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO GROW GARTHDEE CAMPUS The University’s detailed planning application for a 34,000m2 development, which will cost £170 million, was approved by Aberdeen City Council early in 2010. The development will be connected to the existing Faculty of Health and Social Care, which neighbours RGU: SPORT and Aberdeen Business School. The new development will see all of the University’s academic activities located at the Garthdee campus within state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities, including a new library, as well as formal and informal learning and social spaces for students. It will also allow staff and students from different disciplines to benefit from co-located inter-disciplinary working in a manner that has previously not been possible with two separate locations. 10 11 annual review 2009 -2010 annual review 2009 - 2010 teaching & learning SUNDAY TIMES NAMES ‘SCOTTISH NEW CONSTRUCTION DISPUTE COURSE IS FIRST IN UK TO FIRST IN UK TO GAIN IMECHE UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR’ RESOLUTION QUALIFICATION ACHIEVE GLOBAL ACCREDITATION APPROVAL FOR PROFESSIONAL LAUNCHED DEVELOPMENT MODULES The University has been awarded the accolade The Department of Law has launched a new Aberdeen Business School is leading the way in A suite of engineering and business Masters-level of Scottish University of the Year by The qualification as part of its highly successful online project management education, as the very first modules has been approved by the Institution of Sunday Times. LLM/MSc Construction Law and Arbitration UK institution to achieve accreditation from the Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for use in Further course, and students on the Masters course Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Global Learning Plans for both individuals and companies The supplement commended the University’s are now able to obtain a formal qualification in Accreditation Center. working towards Chartered Engineer registration. excellent academic provision, consistently Construction Adjudication in an interactive online The University is the first in the UK to have been strong graduate employability levels and bold, environment. Aberdeen Business School’s MSc Project awarded this approval. strategic masterplan. Management programme is already highly