VCONVERSATION & NEWSoice FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN SPRING/SUMMER 2011 THE FUTURE HERE, NOW Nothing symbolises the pursuit of knowledge quite like a library… THE DIFFERENCE: OUR CURRICULUM REFORM New undergraduates experience Aberdeen’s revolutionary curriculum reform developments AQUA SPORTS FOR ALL Giving Aberdeen international league water sports status for the first time MEDICINE SANS FRONTIERES... ALUMNI AND CAMPUS NEWS VOICE ■ EDITORS FEATURES ALUMNI NEWS RACHEL SANDISON Director of Marketing 3 14/15 Student Recruitment & Plans & Challenges Alumni Profile Rhod Sharp Alumni Relations VCONVERSATION & NEWSoice FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN SPRING/SUMMER 2011 [email protected] 4/5 16/17 TARAH GILLESPIE News THE FUTURE The Future Here, Now HERE, NOW Senior Marketing Officer Nothing symbolises the pursuit of knowledge quite like a library… [email protected] 18/19 THE DIFFERENCE: 6/7 OUR CURRICULUM REFORM New undergraduates experience Aberdeen’s revolutionary curriculum ALUMNI RELATIONS The Difference: Our In Memoriam reform developments. AQUA SPORTS KAREN SCAIFE FOR ALL Giving Aberdeen Curriculum Reform international league water sports status for Alumni Development 20 the first time. MEDICINE SANS Executive FRONTIERES... Graduate Weddings ALUMNI AND 8 CAMPUS NEWS [email protected] Medicine Sans FIONA URQuhart Frontières Alumni Development Executive 9 [email protected] Aqua Sports For All DESIGNED & Produced BY HAMPTON Associates WITH THANKS TO Aberdeen, Tel: 01224 620562 JAMIE JAUNCEY 10 www.hamptonassociates.com Roll Of Honour VOICE magazine PRINTED BY Office of External Affairs 11 BGP, Bicester University of Aberdeen Campus News Paper sourced from King’s College sustainable forests Aberdeen 12 Scotland AB24 3FX Reaching Out Principal & VICE- CHANCELLOR 13 PROFESSOR IAN DIAMOND Events & Exhibitions FBA FRSE AcSS SENIOR VICE-principal 22 PROFESSOR STEPHEN Make A Lasting LOGAN Difference SecretarY TO THE UNIVERSITY STEVE CANNON © 2011 UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN WWW.ABDN.ac.UK WELCOME VOICE PLANS & CHALLENGES Welcome to this new-look magazine We’ve discussed these challenges – and our future – VOICE. It’s important that we stay in touch with as a community of staff, students and partners. How our community of more than 75,000 alumni and we’ll square up confidently to the issues and meet other friends and I hope this will prove to be an our global ambitions is set out in a new strategic interesting and enjoyable way of keeping you up to plan for 2011-2015. I believe it’s an exciting vision: date with developments here in Aberdeen. one that clearly asserts our ambition to further our reputation as one of the world’s leading universities, These are uncertain times. Higher education while also serving the needs of all our communities. continues to make the headlines. The question “Where are we going over the next five years?” has The plan builds on our history but is rooted firmly never been more pertinent. We know we can adapt in the realities of twenty-first century life. It also – five hundred years of history, five hundred years builds on the success of the last few years in which of excellence in learning and teaching, have seen us we’ve encouraged creativity in our academic staff, weather our share of ups and downs. But each era broken new ground with our curriculum, and built brings its own challenges and the biggest we face wonderful facilities. As a result, student numbers today is funding. have risen and our students are excited and challenged by their education. The whole landscape of higher education in the UK and in Scotland is shifting. Changes to the fee Now we’re moving forward with more path-breaking regime in England, and to research funding on both research; ensuring our students have an intellectual sides of the border, mean that the nature of the experience second to none; and capitalising on our relationship between students and their institutions dual role as one of the north’s major institutions, and will alter fundamentally. So will the relationship as a central plank of regional economic and cultural between government and researchers. life. In everything we do, we’ll look for opportunities to partner or collaborate with like-minded Professor Ian Diamond We have to tackle these fiscal and other challenges universities and other organisations, wherever they FBA FRSE AcSS so that we can stay attractive and accessible to Principal and are on the globe. students from all over the world. At the same time Vice-Chancellor we must make sure that our research is competitive We have the focus to tackle the challenges that face and, where appropriate, of value to society. us, and the track record to deliver. We also have the reassurance of knowing that you – our partners, alumni and friends – are behind us as we steer our great University into the future. Thank you. To learn more about our vision, visit: www.abdn.ac.uk/about/strategic-plan.php ■ 3 VOICE ■ THE FUTURE HERE, NOW 4 FEATURES VOICE DESIGNED BY THE AWARD-WINNING DANISH ARCHITECTS SCHMIDT, HAMMER, LASSEN… IT’S A MAJOR CULTURAL LANDMARK, NOT JUST FOR THE NORTH-EAST BUT FOR THE WHOLE OF SCOTLAND. and a showcase for the newest manuscripts and rare books as but about the doors it opens Nothing symbolises FOR THE FIRST TIME, the pursuit of knowledge media and the latest in library part of their teaching, as well to new ways of learning, EVERYONE WILL quite like a Library – and and information technologies. as for public-facing events. new ways of researching and BE ABLE TO ENJOY there will be nothing quite It also has purpose-built collaborating, new ways of This is the past made safe, an OUR PRECIOUS engaging with everyone in like our magnificent new collaborative working spaces environmentally controlled ARCHIVE OF SPECIAL Aberdeen and the region – Library when it opens this where students can work sanctuary for the magnificent COLLECTIONS. MANY whether through exhibitions, September. Over the last in groups on project work collection of books, archives OF THE ITEMS ARE NOT public events, seminars, school six years it has gradually around computer clusters and and manuscripts that span JUST OF SCHOLARLY groups, or professional visits, taken shape, first on the our 500-year history. For the with connectivity for laptops IMPORTANCE and the list goes on. It’s a drawing board, then taking first time, everyone will be at informal study desks. bold and striking statement AND CULTURAL its distinctive shape above the able to enjoy our precious of intent. To everyone who is SIGNIFICANCE, BUT We see the Library as a place surrounding buildings on the archive of special collections. helping bring this vision to ARE ALSO OBJECTS OF where people and ideas will King’s College campus. Now Many of the items are not just fruition: a huge thank you.” of scholarly importance and GREAT BEAUTY AND come together, not only for it’s almost ready to throw There’s no doubt that the cultural significance, but are POPULAR APPEAL academic purposes, but for open its doors for the first new Library and Special also objects of great beauty relaxation and the enjoyment time to everyone who lives, Collections Centre is going and popular appeal – the of good company. A library works in or visits the north- to make a huge impact Aberdeen Bestiary to give should provide the heartbeat east of Scotland. on our University’s future. just one example. This will be of University life, but for There are still opportunities Designed by the award- complemented by dedicated too long our King’s College to play a personal part in winning Danish architects, exhibition and gallery spaces campus has lacked a place this wonderful and historic schmidt hammer lassen, on the ground floor, which where students and staff can project. We’re looking for and built at a cost of £57 will also boast a café. meet, interact and share ideas. contributions towards both the cost of construction and million, it’s a major cultural The Library will also be a Now they will have it in the also the activities that will landmark, not just for the place for learning. It has magnificent new Library. go on in the Library. There’s north-east but for the whole purpose-designed seminar Chris Banks, University more information at: of Scotland. This is the future rooms which can be used Librarian and Director, www.abdn.ac.uk/newlibrary of learning and research here by those academic staff Library and Historic or you can contact the in Aberdeen, a 21st century wishing to integrate first hand Collections, says “This project Development Trust at: space for reading and studying interactions with archives, isn’t about the building per se, [email protected] ■ 5 VOICE ■ IN SEPTEMBER 2010, THE UNIVERSITY WELCOMED THE FIRST INTAKE OF NEW UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO WILL EXPERIENCE ABERDEEN’S REVOLUTIONARY CURRICULUM REFORM DEVELOPMENTS. THE DIFFERENCE: 6 FEATURES VOICE After two years looking at Management Studies students could These skills could be achieved through ground-breaking models elsewhere elect to take a language such as a range of activities, such as acting as in the world, and having talked with French, German, Hispanic Studies or class representative or embarking on employers and professional bodies, Gaelic Studies, but also Arabic and voluntary or placement work within educators, parents and students Mandarin Chinese. This has proven to the wider Aberdeen community. be extremely popular, with almost past and present, we reshaped Developed by the University’s 100 students currently taking Arabic our curriculum with the aim of Careers Service and Aberdeen or Mandarin. producing graduates who are more University Students’ Association rounded, better informed and more (AUSA), the STAR Award provides intellectually flexible.