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In this weeks student news:

Deadline extended for the Lord Forte Foundation Scholarships��

The applications deadline for the Lord Forte Foundation Scholarships has been extended to Friday 17th January 2025. ����
Applications are invited from 3rd and 4th year BA Hons International Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management students.��
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6 scholarships of £2,500 are available to help you with your living costs and any other costs relating to your studies.��

For more information and to request an application form, email development@qmu.ac.uk

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Are you interested in sharpening your skills in film curation & event organising?

In spring 2025, “Love on Film” will kick off – a series of monthly film and pizza evenings on campus, for students and staff. Each evening will present a film from around the world that resonates with the theme of love in all its queer, straight, traditional or revolutionary forms.

We’re looking for student volunteers to get involved in:

• �� ��Event organising: Do you want to learn more about how to host cinema events including location logistics, film rights and catering?

• �� ��Writing about films: Do you want to write about films beyond academic essays? We will collect writings on each film, in whatever form you like, in a zine at the end of the term

• �� ��Marketing and graphic design: Are you good at designing film event posters? Do you want to practice that? Think about audience strategies?

Reach out to Regina RMosch@qmu.ac.uk to register your interest by 31 December 2024.

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Boost your CV with a PAID summer research scholarship
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Find out about the UG Carnegie Trust Vacation Scholarship Scheme
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Are you an undergraduate student in 3rd year who’d like to undertake a period of PAID independent study or research for 2-12 weeks over the summer?
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The Carnegie Trust Vacation Scholarship can pay you the equivalent of the Scottish Living Wage (£12.60 per hour) to support your research work!
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If you are entitled to live and work in the UK, and you’re on track for a 2:1 or higher classification, why not give it a go?
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With the help of the Carnegie Scholarship, you could boost your CV, get paid to do research in an area that really interests you, and use the opportunity to help shape your future career!
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Check out the scholarship details in our Carnegie news release
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Interested in going ahead? Complete this , by Friday 20 December 2024.

In this weeks Student News:

The Vice-Chancellor’s & Student Development Fund - Keira's Dissertation Journey

In this blog, graduate Keira Dunnett shares how the Vice-Chancellor’s & Student Development Fund at QMU provided her with an incredible opportunity to enhance her dissertation in Costume Design and Construction. 

Thanks to the fund, she was able to undertake a fully funded 8-week haute couture embroidery course with Hand and Lock! Keira's story is just one example of how the VC Student Development Fund can enrich the student experience. , offers students the chance to pursue unique opportunities just like Keira’s. 

Read about Keira's journey and find out more about the fund here.
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Boost your CV with a PAID summer research scholarship

Find out about the UG Carnegie Trust Vacation Scholarship Scheme
 
Are you an undergraduate student in 3rd year who’d like to undertake a period of PAID independent study or research for 2-12 weeks over the summer?
 
The Carnegie Trust Vacation Scholarship can pay you the equivalent of the Scottish Living Wage (£12.60 per hour) to support your research work!
 
If you are entitled to live and work in the UK, and you’re on track for a 2:1 or higher classification, why not give it a go?
 
With the help of the Carnegie Scholarship, you could boost your CV, get paid to do research in an area that really interests you, and use the opportunity to help shape your future career!
 
Check out the scholarship details in our Carnegie news release
 
Interested in going ahead? Complete this , by Friday 20 December 2024.

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Library Catalogue unavailable between 0000 and 0400 on Tuesday 17 December

Due to a software update on the cloud server that hosts our Library Management System (Sierra) the Library Catalogue will be unavailable between 0000 and 0400 on Tuesday 17 December 2024.

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Keen to develop your knowledge of data and how to analyse it? FREE 10-credit short course for QMU undergraduates 

Do you need help with data analysis? 

Want to be more proficient with your use of data? 

This new short course will help you improve your skills and confidence when reviewing and analysing data. 

Places are FREE on this fully online short course, which is entirely self-directed and can be studied around your commitments. 

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This Introductory to Data Literacy c�dzܰ�����:&�Բ�����;

• will help you understand and carry out basic data visualisation and analysis; &�Բ�����;
• will provide you with a basic introduction to a wide set of tools and software; 

• is flexible and delivered online – delivered in 10 separate units completed over six weeks; 

• is SCQF Level 7 (equivalent to first year undergraduate study); 

• is worth 10 credits (these don’t contribute to your UG degree) ; and 

• allows you to learn at your own pace. 

 &�Բ�����;

Why do you need it? 

Things like dashboards, charts, and data skills are now essential tools, regardless of the field you want to work in. Whether you plan to work in health, the creative industries, the third sector or beyond, you’ll need to have a basic knowledge and understanding of data and how to analyse it.  No previous experience is required other than basic numeracy abilities. 

What previous QMU students said about taking the course 

• I wish I had come across this before I did my last assessment as some of the topics were very similar.
•  I enjoyed the course, and as someone who isn’t great with maths or concepts relating to mathematics (equations), through the readings I found it quite easy to get into.
•  It has been an enriching and invaluable experience for me. The insights and knowledge I have gained from this course will undoubtedly contribute significantly to my academic and professional growth. I am particularly grateful for the support and guidance provided throughout the module.
•  I enjoyed the course. I used to work in market research with databases, so it was familiar but much more modern in technology and approach.

What can you expect? 

Each unit in the module will present theories, concepts and practical activities in an asynchronous, online environment using pre-recorded micro lectures, exercises, and formative assessments to track your progress.  Apart from the initial introductory one, the units are designed to be studied independently from one another and in no specific order, to facilitate the immediate application to your specific subject area. So long as you pass all the short, multiple-choice tests at the end of each unit, you will gain an additional 10-credits with a separate student transcript. 

Start date and registration deadline 

• Starts Monday 17^th February 2025 – you’ll have six weeks to complete all units. 
• Deadline for registration – Friday 10^th January 2025

• Places allocated on a first come, first served basis. 

 Register now – complete the Data Skills Gateway Registration Form, .

If you have any questions, contact ILO@qmu.ac.uk.

In this week's Student News:

Bright Red Triangle Freelance Academy (Online) – Wednesday 11 December

Master the art of freelancing with the Bright Red Triangle Freelance Academy!

Freelancing is more than just a career choice; it's a way of life that offers flexibility, empowerment, and the opportunity to turn your passions into income. The Bright Red Triangle Freelance Academy provides the tools and guidance you need to make the most of this exciting journey. Whether you're seeking to launch your freelancing career, enhance your existing skills, or explore a new venture alongside your studies, this event is your catalyst for success. 

When: Wednesday 11 December, 1pm – 3pm

Where: Online

Find out more and register !

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TGIT Festive Edition on Thursday 5th December from 4:45pm - 6:15pm in Guthrie's

Hello Students! We will be holding a one-off TGIT event on Thursday 5th December from 4:45pm - 6:15pm in Guthrie's. For those of you who are new to QMU, TGIT (Thank Goodness it's Thursday) was a student support programme we ran in partnership with the SU over the previous two academic years to address the cost-of-living crisis and feelings of loneliness and isolation among our student community post-covid. We are reviving it for one night only in advance of the end-of-term assessment and examination period. Everyone is welcome! We will be serving up a delicious Christmas dinner (vegan, halal and gluten-free options available) as well as pudding! Come on down and take in the festivities, as Sir Paul Grice will be serving up turkey and trimmings in his Santa hat, along with a team of academic and administrative staff in their best/worst Christmas jumpers. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...!

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Boost your CV with a PAID summer research scholarship
 
Find out about the UG Carnegie Trust Vacation Scholarship Scheme
 
Are you an undergraduate student in 3rd year who’d like to undertake a period of PAID independent study or research for 2-12 weeks over the summer?
 
The Carnegie Trust Vacation Scholarship can pay you the equivalent of the Scottish Living Wage (£12.60 per hour) to support your research work!
 
If you are entitled to live and work in the UK, and you’re on track for a 2:1 or higher classification, why not give it a go?
 
With the help of the Carnegie Scholarship, you could boost your CV, get paid to do research in an area that really interests you, and use the opportunity to help shape your future career!
 
Check out the scholarship details in our Carnegie news release
 
Interested in going ahead? Complete this , by Friday 20 December 2024.

In this week's Student News:

Are you interested in becoming a Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) Leader?

• We have PALS Leader training scheduled for next Tuesday, 3^rd December from 10am – 4pm.
• You can book a place on

Want to know more first? Here is some information about PALS:

PALS Sessions are student led learning sessions. They are a relaxed, fun and informal way to give and receive support for learning at QMU. As a PALS leader you will receive training and you will have the opportunity to help your fellow students in the years below you. PALS is an internationally recognised programme, and, as well as being rewarding, being a PALS leader will stand out on your CV as professional development: helping you build leadership skills and transferable skills.��

As a PALS leader, you work with other trained leaders (and a staff coordinator) to design and run supplementary support sessions for students in years below you in modules you have yourself completed. You would be joining our existing team of fantastic Leaders: you will be trained in designing and facilitating sessions before you start, and you will supported by the PALS coordinator and your PALS-Leader colleagues throughout. It is a volunteering opportunity, so all regular PALS sessions are unpaid, but we often have opportunities for paid work over the course of the year too. It’s also relatively flexible; on average PALS Leaders tend to spend approximately two hours every other week on their PALS work.��

If you would like to find out more about PALS, we have information in the following places:

· PALS QMU webpage

·

· Instagram

· PALS@qmu.ac.uk

If you would be interested in becoming a PALS leader, or finding out what is involved and what you can get out of it, please email PALS@qmu.ac.uk.

If you are then still interested in becoming a leader, sign up to the training!

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Lunchtime event on "Academic Freedom, Academic Silence, Academic Responsibility"

The next lunchtime event of Decolonise Research NOW will be hosted on Thursday, 28th��November, 12-1pm in room 2174. We want to take time to speak about the notion of academic freedom in the context of colonisation and explore questions such as: Which hierarchies are present within the concept of academic freedom? When do we enact them? Where does responsibility and care fit within the concept of academic freedom?��

Join us in-person and online. Staff and students welcome. Email RMosch@qmu.ac.uk if you would like to be added to the calendar invite.��

Decolonise Research NOW is a conversation and learning space at QMU, in which we interrogate the impact of colonialism on our institutions. As an informal, interdisciplinary collective space, we cultivate an intellectual environment to critique colonial and decolonial thought.

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QMU COMMUNITY GARDEN

Make a natural wreath!��

Join Us for a Social Activity!

Date: Wednesday 27th November
Time: 14:00– 16:00
Meeting Point: Room 0056

• �� ��Create and decorate a natural wreath to take home!
• �� ��Meet other students and join in with a crafting activity!
• �� ��If you have materials you’d like to include (e.g., holly berries, dried fruit, ribbon), feel free to bring them along. We’ll start the session with a short foraging walk around campus to gather natural items, and all necessary supplies will be provided!
• �� ��We will be going outside so please bring warm layers, waterproof footwear and a jacket!

Limited space available. This session is part of a student project. Please email Vicky Bell – 20002508@qmu.ac.uk to register interest.

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TGIT Festive Edition on Thursday 5th December from 4:45pm - 6:15pm in Guthrie's

Hello Students! We will be holding a one-off TGIT event on Thursday 5^th��December from 4:45pm - 6:15pm in Guthrie's. For those of you who are new to QMU, TGIT (Thank Goodness it's Thursday) was a student support programme we ran in partnership with the SU over the previous two academic years to address the cost-of-living crisis and feelings of loneliness and isolation among our student community post-covid. We are reviving it for one night only in advance of the end-of-term assessment and examination period. Everyone is welcome! We will be serving up a delicious Christmas dinner (vegan, halal and gluten-free options available) as well as pudding! Come on down and take in the festivities, as Sir Paul Grice will be serving up turkey and trimmings in his Santa hat, along with a team of academic and administrative staff in their best/worst Christmas jumpers. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...!

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Would you like to spend a semester abroad as part of your degree?

If you are a student in one of the following subjects, you may be able to take a semester abroad at one of our selected exchange partners in Europe, Canada, USA, or Hong Kong:

��

If you would like more information about the exchange opportunities available, please email StudyAbroad@qmu.ac.uk.

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Create, Collaborate and Innovate at the BRT Tech Innovation Challenge! Prizes up for grabs!

Are you ready to make an impact? Join the BRT Tech Innovation Challenge, a free 3-day bootcamp where creativity, collaboration, and innovation take centre stage.

Why should you join?

Learn from the best: Workshops in design thinking, entrepreneurship, and prototyping led by industry experts.
Collaborate with peers: Work alongside students from Edinburgh Napier University, QMU, and 20 international peers joining us from Munich through the Academic Program for Entrepreneurship (APE) at the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE).
Explore and innovate: Tour Edinburgh while developing tech solutions to improve life in the city and beyond!
Have fun while making a difference: Pizza nights, a celebration dinner, and prizes for the best ideas await

When: 4th – 6th December 2024

Where: ENU Bright Red Triangle and CodeBase

Spaces are limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your skills, grow your network, and work in a global community.

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Bright Red Triangle Freelance Academy (Online) – Wednesday 11 December

Master the art of freelancing with the Bright Red Triangle Freelance Academy!

Freelancing is more than just a career choice; it's a way of life that offers flexibility, empowerment, and the opportunity to turn your passions into income. The Bright Red Triangle Freelance Academy provides the tools and guidance you need to make the most of this exciting journey. Whether you're seeking to launch your freelancing career, enhance your existing skills, or explore a new venture alongside your studies, this event is your catalyst for success.��

When: Wednesday 11 December, 1pm – 3pm

Where: Online

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In this week's Student News:

Remembering Absent Friends – An Open Book 

Thank you to all who contributed ‘a page’ to the QMU To Absent Friends event as part of the 2024 .

visual artist, invited members of the university community to contribute ‘a page’ to a pop-up gallery of remembrance. The content may be written, drawn, collaged or any form of creative mark-making that commemorates an absent friend. The pages will be bound into a book, creating a permanent collective remembrance, to be kept and displayed in the university.

There were lots of conversations and reflections about people who have died and are missed. If anyone would still like to contribute, please send your ‘page’ to palliativecare@qmu.ac.uk by Tuesday 26th November.

·         To allow for binding please try to leave a leave a margin down the left-hand side.

·         By adding your page to the collection, you are giving consent for it to be included in the book.

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Generative AI and good academic practice workshop, Tuesday 3rd December

This session will look at the nature of generative AI, the relationship between generative AI, information literacy and academic good practice, considering use cases for generative AI in university study and whether it can be used in appropriate and ethical ways.

Date: Tuesday 3^rd December

Time: 2-3pm

Location: Room 3170

Please note this workshop is taking place in person. Future workshops will be online.

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Lunchtime event on "Academic Freedom, Academic Silence, Academic Responsibility"

The next lunchtime event of Decolonise Research NOW will be hosted on Thursday, 28th November, 12-1pm in room 2174. We want to take time to speak about the notion of academic freedom in the context of colonisation and explore questions such as: Which hierarchies are present within the concept of academic freedom? When do we enact them? Where does responsibility and care fit within the concept of academic freedom? 

Join us in-person and online. Staff and students welcome. Email RMosch@qmu.ac.uk if you would like to be added to the calendar invite. 

Decolonise Research NOW is a conversation and learning space at QMU, in which we interrogate the impact of colonialism on our institutions. As an informal, interdisciplinary collective space, we cultivate an intellectual environment to critique colonial and decolonial thought.

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Calling 3rd & 4th year IHTEM students

It’s the final week for applications for the Lord Forte Foundation Scholarships. 
All applications must be sent to development@qmu.ac.uk by 12 noon on Friday, 22nd November.  
 
6 scholarships of £2,500 are available to help you with your living costs and any other costs relating to your studies. 

Request an application form by emailing development@qmu.ac.uk

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ILP/Extension Submission Dates During Festive Period

The University will close during the festive period on the evening of Monday 23^rd December 2024 – reopening Monday 6^th January 2025. 

ILP/Extension Submission Dates

A standard submission date for both hard (as directed) and electronic submissions, for all students with an ILP or those granted an extension due to extenuating circumstances has been agreed. Where the submission date falls between Tuesday 24^th December and Friday 3^rd January 2025 you should now submit on Monday 6^th January 2025.  As an example, if your original submission date is 18^th December, and you had an extension (either due to an ILP, or extenuating circumstances) of 7 days, you would normally submit on 25^th December 2024. However, due to the closure over the festive period, your submission date is 6^th January 2025, when QMU reopens.

Please be reminded that there will be no technical support, with respect to electronic submissions, from 16:30 on Monday 23^rd December until 09:00 on Monday 6^th January 2025.

All the best for the assessment period!

Academic Administration

In this week's Student News:

��

QMU Entrants' Survey prize winner

We’re thrilled to announce that Alyssa Tinfina won the QMU Entrants’ prize draw. Congratulations!
��
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Entrants’ Survey, where new students shared their experiences of applying to and beginning studies at QMU. Your feedback is invaluable and will be reviewed by the Transition and Induction Working Group, which includes staff and student representatives from across the university. We are committed to using your insights to recognise what went well and identify areas for improvement.

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QMU Community Garden - Join Us for a Social Activity!

Date: Wednesday, 13th November
Time:��15:30 – 17:00
Meeting Point:��Room 0056

• Create a natural bird feeder to take home or hang it up around the university!
• Meet Other Students, De-Stress, and Have Fun��in a relaxed, social setting!
• Bring any materials you’d like to use—or just come as you are! We’ll have everything you need.

Limited spaces are available! This session is part of a student project!

Please email Vicky Bell�� - 20002508@qmu.ac.uk to register interest :)

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Sport & Fitness Centre survey

Our annual QMU Sport & Fitness survey is now live and ready!

At QMU Sport & Fitness Centre, we are continually trying to provide a better service. We would love it if you could spare 10 minutes of your time to complete our survey to let us know your thoughts on the facility. This is your chance to tell us what you think we are doing well, and what we could do better.

So even if you have been with us for a day, a week, a month or a lifetime, please let us know what you think of our service.

Your feedback is very valuable to us and will play an important role in making improvements to the centre, so tell us what you would like to see.

Every completed survey will be in with the chance of winning a £20 Amazon gift voucher. The survey will be live until Saturday the 30^th of November.

To complete the survey, please follow the link below:

Thank you for your time.

The Sport & Fitness Team

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In this week's Student News:

Print server maintenance 08/11/2024 13:30 to 16:30

Information Technology Services (ITS) will be performing an upgrade on the print server with our 3^rd party support vendor. The essential maintenance will be happening between 13:30 and 16:30 on Friday 8^th November.

During the maintenance window, you will not be able to print/scan/copy using the MFDs.  

We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused by this essential work.

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Workshop on 'accent bias, social class, and linguistic discrimination

In partnership with University of Edinburgh’s 93% Club, we are delighted to offer QMU staff and students the opportunity to take part in a short and impactful training session introducing the concepts of ‘accent bias’ and ‘linguistic discrimination’. Accent is arguably the primary signal of socioeconomic status and is a major indicator of many other aspects of a person’s social background, some of them protected characteristics, including gender, race, age, sexuality, and many others. Because accent and language cues to our social identities (e.g., social class, ethnicity), accent/language can often function as a proxy for other forms of discrimination (e.g., classism, racism). The goal of this student-staff collaborative workshop is to raise awareness of linguistic discrimination, as well as provide some research-led strategies for mitigating these issues. 

The workshop will run on Wednesday 4^th December in Room 2170 from 12.30pm to 1.30pm – refreshments will be available – in order to book a place, please email cmaguire@qmu.ac.uk by Friday 29^th November  2024. 

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UK Data Service workshop: Introduction to effective and practical research data management

Online, 6 December 2024, 10.00-11.30

Research data management encompasses all stages of handling data created during a research project, either primary or secondary. It is not only about adhering to principles but also about enhancing the efficiency, impact, and integrity of research.

Effective data management ensures that data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable . The foundation of sensible data management lies in understanding and applying best practices across the data lifecycle from planning to sharing, while adhering to ethical standards and legal requirements.

During this free 90-minute online workshop, we will explore the key components of effective research data management, including data management planning, organising, and documenting data, ensuring data quality, storing and backing up data, as well as strategies for data preservation and sharing. The workshop will also cover practical tools and techniques for data management, such as metadata standards for documenting data, data quality semi-automated freeware, and best practices for data sharing and archiving. The workshop will conclude with a dedicated Q&A session.

For more information and booking please click .

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Remembering absent friends – an open book 4^th-7^th November 2024

With thanks to the support of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief and as part of the , members of the QMU Bereavement Charter working group have organised an event providing an opportunity for students and staff within the university to remember those important to them who have died.

visual artist, invites members of the university community to contribute ‘a page’ to a pop-up gallery of remembrance. The content may be written, drawn, collaged or any form of creative mark-making that commemorates an absent friend. The gallery will be displayed and developed for the duration of the week, near Guthrie’s from the 4^th - 7^th November. At the end of the four-day event the pages will be bound into a book, creating a permanent collective remembrance, to be kept and displayed in the university. The event will be hosted by Hans on the opening day. For the remainder of the week the space will be self-managed.

It will be an in-person event, with an opportunity to contribute electronically. If you are unable to create/write 'a page' while on campus but wish to contribute, you can send a photo of your page to palliativecare@qmu.ac.uk If you would like to contribute in this way please do so by 10^th November.

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Charity stall in Guthries 

The QMU based charity STEKAskills is holding a stall in Guthries’ dining are on November 5th, 7^th and 8th (12-2pm) selling Christmas gifts which make a big social impact. Everything being sold is made by poverty experienced people in Malawi where only 1%  can go to college.  All the profits fund education for some of the world’s poorest people - come and find out more about how QMU has helped this charity achieve great things for women and girls in Malawi as well as for young Scots  

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Changes to MFA coverage

As part of our ongoing commitment to security, we are extending Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requirements to include additional services. Beginning Wednesday November 6th, access to all cloud based applications will require MFA to enhance protection and reduce risks from unauthorized access.

You do not need to change any settings on your account.

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ELS Writing and Study Space

Do you find you study better when you’re working alongside others? Or with a hot cuppa to warm up your thinking powers?  The ELS Writing and Study Space is for you!

This semester, the Effective Learning Service is opening its doors, every Tuesday afternoon 1-4pm, as a Writing and Study Space.  Bring along an assignment you’re writing up, your dissertation draft, or something you’re reading through, and work alongside your peers in a focused, friendly and encouraging environment. You can pop along at any point in the three hours without booking but, if you can, please register your interest at . An ELS advisor will be on hand to facilitate the session, and support with quick queries about your academic work. Hot drinks are also provided, so come along and join us for a study session!

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the ELS team for more info by emailing us at ELS@qmu.ac.uk.

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CONSUMER PANEL – MEAD, AGE 18+

The food team at QMU are looking for people who are open to tasting mead (sweet, honey-based wine – CONTAINS ALCOHOL ) on Thursday 14^th November at QMU at the following times;

• 3pm – 4pm
• 4:15pm – 5:15pm
• 5:45pm – 6:45pm
• 7pm – 8pm

You will be tasting 3 mead samples and providing anonymous feedback on them. You will be provided a £10 Amazon or John Lewis voucher for your time and entered into a prize draw to win £200 Amazon or John Lewis voucher.

Interested in attending? Please complete this application form for more information

Any questions? Email: consumerpanels@qmu.ac.uk

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Registration open - free creative workshop - Being Human Festival 

Obituaries - Landmarks for Life and Living - is an experiential and reflective event facilitated by academics across several divisions within QMU. 

What if obituaries were written in life rather than upon death? What if we wrote our own? In this workshop we will reflect on the stories of our lives and explore how obituaries might help us think about who we are and who we might be.

Saturday 16^th November 2024

1pm - 4pm UK time at the No17 conference venue at St Columba's Hospice Care (Edinburgh)

Registration link here:

This year's Being Human Festival run between 7-16 November 2024. The wider programme of events is linked here:  

For further information or questions, please contact Dr Michelle Elliot (melliot@qmu.ac.uk). 

We hope we might see you there!

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City of Edinburgh Libraries - Future Libraries Consultation

Our colleagues in the City of Edinburgh Libraries are running a consultation exercise on the future strategy for the public library service within the city. They are doing this via an online questionnaire and have asked the libraries in the universities to help them reach the student community as there has been a lower response rate from 18-24 year olds. For those of you living within the City of Edinburgh the public library service offers lots of excellent resources to support reading for pleasure and listening for pleasure which are not areas that universities typically provide in depth.

Further information: A link to the online questionnaire and further details on the future strategy can be found here

In this week's Student News:

For doctoral students and supervisors

Would you like some ideas and materials to help support students’ doctoral learning experiences? A team of doctoral supervisors and PGRs at Queen Margaret University, the University of Surrey, and Sheffield Hallam University have developed a Toolkit called . The tasks are organised into several broad themes: developing researcher identities, understanding the supervisory context, understanding doctoral literacies and working with doctoral genres.

The Tasks for Doctoral Education were co-constructed with doctoral students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, resulting in a set of planned tasks for supervisors and students to use in supervision sessions, tutorials, research groups and as self-study. 

The toolkit has been developed as part of an ESRC Impact Acceleration Award (see  for a project summary). The team is looking for PGRs and supervisors to try out some of the tasks and resources over the next few months. After the piloting, the team will invite you to attend an interview (supervisors) or a focus group interview (PGRs) to get your feedback on the tasks. If you would like more information, or would like to try out some of the tasks, please email Helen Donaghue: hdonaghue@qmu.ac.uk

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Workshop on ‘accent bias, social class, and linguistic discrimination’

In partnership with University of Edinburgh’s 93% Club, we are delighted to offer QMU staff the opportunity to take part in a short and impactful training session introducing the concepts of ‘accent bias’ and ‘linguistic discrimination’. Accent is arguably the primary signal of socioeconomic status and is a major indicator of many other aspects of a person’s social background, some of them protected characteristics, including gender, race, age, sexuality, and many others. Because accent and language cues to our social identities (e.g., social class, ethnicity), accent/language can often function as a proxy for other forms of discrimination (e.g., classism, racism). The goal of this student-staff collaborative workshop is to raise awareness of linguistic discrimination, as well as provide some research-led strategies for mitigating these issues. 
To find out more and how to book a workshop, please contact either:

Dr. Christian Ilbury 
Lecturer in Sociolinguistics
Co-Director of Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion (PPLS)
School of Philosophy, Psychology, & Language Sciences
The University of Edinburgh
E: cilbury@ed.ac.uk 
or
Grace Mai Clark
President of the 93% Club
University of Edinburgh
E: G.M.Clark-4@sms.ed.ac.uk 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Remembering absent friends – an open book 4th-7th November 2024

With thanks to the support of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief and as part of the , members of the QMU Bereavement Charter working group have organised an event providing an opportunity for students and staff within the university to remember those important to them who have died.

visual artist, invites members of the university community to contribute ‘a page’ to a pop-up gallery of remembrance. The content may be written, drawn, collaged or any form of creative mark-making that commemorates an absent friend. The gallery will be displayed and developed for the duration of the week, near Guthrie’s from the 4th - 7th November. At the end of the four-day event the pages will be bound into a book, creating a permanent collective remembrance, to be kept and displayed in the university. The event will be hosted by Hans on the opening day. For the remainder of the week the space will be self-managed. 
It will be an in-person event, with an opportunity to contribute electronically. If you are unable to create/write 'a page' while on campus but wish to contribute, you can send a photo of your page to palliativecare@qmu.ac.uk If you would like to contribute in this way please do so by 10th November.

In this week's Student News:

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LRC Tours

Dear Students,

We are excited to invite you to a tour of our library!

Discover our newly opened future spaces and learn how they are used.

Get information on how to book rooms, see a demonstration of printer usage, learn how to connect to Eduroam, and much more.

Dates & Time: Daily at 2pm Monday 28^th October to Friday 8^th November

Location: Meet at Helpdesk

To book your spot, please visit this��.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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For doctoral students and supervisors

Would you like some ideas and materials to help support students’ doctoral learning experiences? A team of doctoral supervisors and PGRs at Queen Margaret University, the University of Surrey, and Sheffield Hallam University have developed a Toolkit called��. The tasks are organised into several broad themes: developing researcher identities, understanding the supervisory context, understanding��doctoral literacies and working with doctoral genres.

The Tasks for Doctoral Education��were co-constructed with doctoral students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, resulting in a set of planned tasks for supervisors and students to use in supervision sessions, tutorials, research groups and as self-study.��

The toolkit has been developed as part of an ESRC Impact Acceleration Award (see ��for a project summary). The team is looking for PGRs and supervisors to try out some of the tasks and resources over the next few months. After the piloting, the team will invite you to attend an interview (supervisors) or a focus group interview (PGRs) to get your feedback on the tasks.��If you would like more information, or would like to try out some of the tasks, please email Helen Donaghue:��hdonaghue@qmu.ac.uk

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Advanced Google Literature Searching - Online Workshop this Friday 2-3 pm

Do you want to know how to harness the power of Advanced Google Search (and other search engines) for literature searching? Advanced Google search is useful tool for discovering grey literature for a variety of research aims, from systematic and scoping reviews to dissertations and theses research. Join us at this workshop and we'll cover some of the most useful tips and tricks! This is not about Google Scholar which is covered in a separate workshop.

To attend, you are required to register:��

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Open Access Week, October 21-27 2024

��each year celebrates open access publishing, which is a publishing model that allows free access to published research online. To find out more about the benefits of open access, please see the ��or sign up to tomorrow’s 3-4pm online .

You can also find out more about the journal , which is a music therapy journal and is published open access on QMU’s own journal publishing platform. Giorgos Tsiris and Nicky Haire tell us more about the journal and the importance of open access publishing .

For further information about open access publishing, please contact eResearch@qmu.ac.uk��

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Want to improve your Study Skills?

Enrol on QMU’s comprehensive Study Skills module which is available on Canvas for all matriculated students.

The module provides a sound starting point for all students at QMU. When you first start at University, it can help you find out what you need to know to make the most of your studies, and, as you move through your course, this module can continue to guide you and be a useful reference point for academic development. You can work through the course at your own speed and dip in and out of sections as and when you feel you need support in a specific area. ��

The module has seven main sections: ��

1. Introduction to academic reading��
2. Introduction to academic writing��
3. Critical reading��
4. Critical writing��
5. Reflective practice��
6. Referencing and citation��
7. Generative AI��

There are two further sections with links to additional academic support and wellbeing resources. ��

The course provides information through a variety of media including text, images, videos and podcasts. Each section includes activities you can complete in order to track your understanding and progress, and there are also lots of opportunities for��reflection. ��

To access the Study Skills module, you can just go to �� and sign up!

If you have any questions contact: Lauren, LSmith1@qmu.ac.uk; Eloise, EBicket@qmu.ac.uk; Lisa, lcruden@qmu.ac.uk; or Karen, kcullen@qmu.ac.uk

In this week's student news:

You are invited to QMU's annual Black History Month Lecture

Queen Margaret University is delighted to welcome its staff and students to our annual Black History Month lecture, this year delivered by Dr. Katucha Bento, Lecturer in Race and Decolonial Studies at the University of Edinburgh, the co-founder of the Free Afro-Brazilian University (UNAFRO), and Associate Editor of the academic journal Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power.

The theme for Black History Month UK this year is: “Reclaiming Narratives”, marking a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture. Considering this theme, we are delighted to be welcoming Dr. Katucha Bento to deliver her lecture: "Being Black Facing the Surreal: Radical politics of refusal and the dreamwork".

The lecture will take place Monday, October 28 from 4:00 - 5:30pm.

This is an internal event and we welcome QMU staff and students to attend. Spaces will be limited and so we encourage

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Win £1,000 with the return of the Brighter Futures Grants Programme

We’re thrilled to announce the return of our Brighter Futures Grants Programme, in partnership with Santander, an initiative aimed at helping students focus on their studies.

Once again, we’ll be giving away 10 lots of £1,000 for Queen Margaret University students. All students can enter, including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students.

The grant, with its no-string-attached approach, aims to provide financial freedom and gives you the flexibility to use the funds where they’re needed most. Whether it’s investing in textbooks, upgrading your study space, or covering living expenses, the choice is yours.

The Brighter Futures Grants programme is not just a grant, it’s an investment in your academic journey, providing you with the tools you need to do well.

Entering is quick and easy:

1. If you haven’t already, register for  - a free online learning platform

2. Follow the verification link in your confirmation email

3. Log in and choose ‘Get Started’ to complete your entry into the Brighter Futures Grants programme. From the menu you need to select Queen Margaret University.

4. Get your entries submitted by 11pm on 5 December 2024.

Whether you win or not, you’ll still have access to browse the Santander Open Academy website for free, on-demand learning content that can help support you in your studies.

⌛&�Բ�����; before 5 December 2024.

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In this week's student news:

Scottish Government Student Accommodation Questionnaire

If you have ever stayed in purpose-built student accommodation or halls of residence, the Scottish Government wants your views. Please click on the link below to access the questionnaire which should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Note that the questionnaire closes on 31 October.

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Loud Music Club: Thursday 6 -7 pm. Halle Lecture Theatre

Have you ever wanted to listen to music loud but cannot because 1) It will disturb the neighbours and 2) It’s just not the same with headphones? This is an inaugural opportunity (hopefully others will suggest more) to enjoy listening to something loud at the end of a working day in the glorious Halle Lecture theatre. that is ‘a trove of tunefulness that sometimes lulls and sometimes overwhelms’, will set us on the way. I’ll press play around 6.05pm!

Alan Bainbridge

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Dive into entrepreneurship with the SFF LEARN programme!

The LEARN programme is delivered by the consortium and will enable you to develop your enterprise and entrepreneurial skills by working on solutions to some of the key challenges facing Europe.

Your student team will be connected to business coaches, domain experts, innovative start-ups and other student groups from across Europe to participate in a series of 5 online workshops (between 21^st October and 9^th December) during which you'll learn about business modelling, identifying target markets, creating prototypes, and more!

Don't miss out! before 17th October 2024 and start your future, your way!

For more information, contact clow@qmu.ac.uk

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Business Gateway - Drop-In Session ��- 10 October 2024 ��(12.30-1.30)

�� -�� 12:30pm - 1:30pm, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – QMU Startup Studio (previously known as the Business Innovation Zone)��
��
This drop-in session is facilitated by our on-campus Business Gateway Advisors and is open to QMU staff and students who have an idea for starting a business.
��is a Scotland wide service which offers impartial one-to-one advice and training to staff and students on enterprise creation including����covering a wide range of topics on marketing, branding, and getting the best from your website and finance.������Your can book your place.

Facilitator:��Steve Newlin, Business Advisor,��
Location: QMU Start-Up Studio (formerly known as the BIZ) –(This is the glass room above the atrium – next to the LRC)

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In this weeks Student News:

Would you like to be a QMU Student Ambassador? Applications Close Today!

Are you looking for a part-time, flexible job that fits around your studies on campus?

QMU’s Student Recruitment department is looking to appoint approachable individuals to its expanding team of diligent Student Ambassadors.

If you consider yourself to be friendly and enthusiastic about student-life at QMU, becoming a Student Ambassador could be for you! Students from all years and subject areas, both Undergraduate and Postgraduate, are encouraged to apply to join our team of Student Ambassadors and get stuck in with a range of activities in collaboration with several of the university’s services.

Successful Student Ambassadors will be involved in lending a helping-hand to various events. These could include:

•             Delivering campus tours to prospective students.

•             Facilitating workshops on student life at QMU.

•             Raising awareness of QMU opportunities amongst local school and college pupils.

Work will be ad-hoc throughout the year both within and outside of term time and shifts can be picked up based on your availability. Appointed applicants will be paid at £12.20 p/h for any work they do.

If you would like to become a more active member of QMU’s community and gain valuable work experience alongside your studies, apply for the role of Student Ambassador today by clicking the following link:

Applications OPEN on Friday 6^th of September. Applications will CLOSE at 23:59pm on 2^nd of October.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact our Student Recruitment team via studentambassador@qmu.ac.uk

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Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) 

We are currently recruiting and training PALS leaders from across the University. The Peer Assisted Learning Scheme has been running at QMU since 2017. PALS provides study sessions designed and delivered by students in higher years for students in the years below them. In order for PALS to work, we rely on having a good group of student leaders to run the sessions. We are currently looking for leaders from Levels 2, 3, and 4 from all Programmes in Psychology, Sociology & Education, Business Management & Hospitality, Media & Communications, Drama, Performance, Theatre & Film, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Sports Rehab, and Radiography.

You can find out more about PALS at QMU on our QMU webpage, our , and our .

If you think you would make good PALS leader, please get in touch at: PALS@qmu.ac.uk. If you are interested and want to be involved, there is a training session scheduled:

• Wednesday 9^th October 10am – 3pm
• You can book a place on
• Training is on campus and we will provide lunch.

All students need to complete the initial training before leading PALS sessions.

If you are interested in being involved, but cannot make it to this training, you should email PALS@qmu.ac.uk, and we can try to arrange alternative training.

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Patient actors required 7th October 

The paramedic programme at QMU is looking for some people to play patients between 1pm and 3pm on Monday 7^th October. Anyone interested should contact rmatheson@qmu.ac.uk or fill in this form:

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Scottish Islander Network Gathering

Did you know there is a network for students from the Scottish islands who are working or studying at QMU?  We, your lecturers from the islands, are hosting a gathering 29^th October 1-2pm in room 2170 and all islanders are welcome.  Can't make it?  Let us know where you are from and any thoughts you have on what the network can do for you by emailing us at islandernetwork@qmu.ac.uk 

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8-week ‘Compassionate Mind Training’ course

Thursdays, 3.30-5.30pm starting on the 3^rd October 

Do you ever feel that you are your own worst critic? Or that sometimes you get in your own way?  Do you sometimes find it hard to regulate your emotions?  If so, this course might be helpful!

What’s it about?

• We will learn more about our ‘tricky brains’ and how difficult it can be to be human. 
• We will learn more about self-criticism and how to balance strong negative emotions (e.g. anger, anxiety, sadness or shame).
• We will learn to develop and practice a compassionate mind with the intention of being helpful, not harmful, towards ourselves and others.

What’s involved?

• Each session will involve a mixture of taught content and experiential exercises and practices (e.g. mindfulness, imagery).
• The sessions will be IN PERSON on campus.
• It is important that you aim to attend all 8 sessions.
• Please bring an open mind and a readiness to listen to others with kindness.

Compassion?!! 

Don’t worry – this isn’t touchy-feely nonsense!  Our definition of ‘compassion’ is wise, kind, courageous, strong and pretty helpful.


Book a place:

If you would like to book a place, email Sophie on smacleod@qmu.ac.uk giving your name and matriculation number. 

Spaces are limited.

If you are interested but cannot make these dates, please let me know and I can add you to a list for next semester.

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Dive into entrepreneurship with the SFF LEARN programme!

The LEARN programme is delivered by the consortium and will enable you to develop your enterprise and entrepreneurial skills by working on solutions to some of the key challenges facing Europe.

Your student team will be connected to business coaches, domain experts, innovative start-ups and other student groups from across Europe to participate in a series of 5 online workshops (between 21^st October and 9^th December) during which you'll learn about business modelling, identifying target markets, creating prototypes, and more!

Don't miss out! before 17th October 2024 and start your future, your way!

For more information, contact clow@qmu.ac.uk

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Works in Queen Margaret University Drive (14th – 28th October)

Between the above dates, works are taking place in Queen Margaret University Drive (the main public road outside the university).

This will involve temporary traffic management systems being in place including traffic lights, signage and personnel directing traffic.

The traffic management systems will be in different locations relevant where the work is being done.

JDG Walker

Head of Estates & Engineering

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Your LEAD Newsletter is back!

After our summer break, we are ready for our new academic year and have lots of teaching and learning news, events and opportunities to share with you. This month we congratulate our five colleagues who have gained Fellow, Senior Fellow and Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE. You can take part in our upcoming INSIGHTS talks, sign up for our first fully online delivery of the post graduate short course TLA in TE starting in January and read about LEAD Centre research outputs.

As October marks Black History Month, we are pleased to update on the work of the Decolonising the QMU Curriculum Working Group.

Vikki Hill has taken up the role of Interim Director of LEAD with effect from 2nd September.