Student News

In this week's Student News:

EResearch, eTheses and eData repository upgrade

The eResearch repository website will be undergoing major upgrade work starting later this week and is due to be completed early next week. There will unfortunately be times when the repository service is down as a result of this. Further information will follow about the changes made to eResearch, eTheses and eData following the upgrade, and any questions about the repository should be sent to eResearch@qmu.ac.uk .

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Sharepoint Site Ownership

Good Afternoon
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve information governance and reduce the risk of data loss, the IT department is introducing a SharePoint Site Ownership Policy, which will come into effect shortly.

This new policy is designed to ensure that every SharePoint site has a designated owner responsible for managing access, content lifecycle, and relevance. It mirrors the existing process used to notify Microsoft Teams members that they can assume ownership of a Team when no owner is present.
 
Key Points of the Policy:

•    Every SharePoint site must have at least one active owner. While more than one owner is encouraged, one is the minimum requirement.
•    Notifications will be sent to site members if a site is found to have no owner, providing the opportunity for someone to take ownership.
•    If no owner is assigned after 3 months, the site will be made “read-only” and subject to review by IT. At this point, a decision may be made to archive or delete the site, depending on its usage and content.
•    This policy does not affect or overlap with the existing Microsoft Teams Groups Ownership Policy. Both are standalone measures that support each other and serve the same purpose: protecting organisational data and ensuring continued access to relevant information.
We appreciate your cooperation in supporting this initiative. Ensuring proper ownership of our digital resources is a shared responsibility and essential to maintaining security and controlling costs.

If you have any questions or need support regarding site ownership, please reach out to the Helpdesk, who can pass queries on to IT.

Thank you,
QMU IT

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Santander Funded Employability/Internship Programme 2025–26 – Employers’ Funding Applications Now Open

We are pleased to announce that employers’ funding applications are now open for Queen Margaret University’s Santander Funded Employability/Internship Programme for 2025–26.
This year, the process and timeline have been streamlined to make it easier for both employers and students to participate. Some internships are aligned with students’ course placements. Small charities and SMEs based in the UK are eligible to apply for funding.

Employer testimonial

“Running internships one day or half a day a week has worked really well. The slower pace helps students build skills over time, absorb the business environment, and return with questions, which deepens their learning.
It also gives them exposure to real market dynamics, time to observe, and the chance to see projects through from start to finish — something often missing in short, intensive placements.
The flexibility suits students juggling study, work, or other commitments, and we’ve found they are more energised and bring in fresh perspectives when not stretched too thin. On the flip side, this does require more ongoing time and supervision from the business, and it’s less suited to fast-paced projects where concentrated focus over a few days is essential.” - Nahla @ The Insect Cafe

Funding offer
•    £1,000 per intern to cover approx. 80 hours of work
•    No need to match fund
Key dates
•    Employer funding applications close: 5pm, Monday 14 September 2025
•    Student applications open: 20 October 2025
•    Interviews: November 2025 – January 2026
•    Internships: January – mid September 2026 (part- or full-time, by agreement)
Current partners include The Scottish International Development Alliance, Chest Heart Stroke Scotland, Muckle Media, Shaper Caper, Business Fives, Platform-Online, Strawberry Lemonade, Tempo Tea Bar, Act-Scotland, Play Pie Pint, First Psychology, Think Through Nutrition and Theiya Arts. 

We welcome referrals from students and staff.
For more information, please contact Juan Garcia at careers@qmu.ac.uk.

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Calling all current and future food & drink entrepreneurs!

Join industry experts at the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at QMU and SAC Consulting at SRUC for a training series to grow your business with confidence. This programme is designed to support you in navigating the challenges of the industry and building a stronger, more resilient business. Each package offers practical insights and actionable takeaways you can immediately apply to your business. 
 
THRIVE Fundamentals is free to attend and topics include;
✅ Funding & Support for Businesses
✅ Building your unique proposition
✅ Understanding market trends
✅ Product development
📍 Mainly delivered online | 🗓️ Sept
📍 One in-person session at QMU, Edinburgh
🔗 Register on Eventbrite

Additional sessions on; Marketing Strategies, Legislation & Labelling, Manufacturing, Packaging and Creating Your Compelling Pitch take place between Sept-Nov. 
Information can be found on our website. 

📩 Questions? Email: HelloSCFDI@qmu.ac.uk

In this week's Student News:

Campus Accommodation – Limited Rooms Left

Still deciding where to stay this year? A limited number of rooms are still available – just minutes from lectures, with bright en-suites, fully equipped kitchens, high-speed Wi-Fi, and 24/7 support.
Enjoy the same vibrant ResLife events – from pizza and movie nights to wellbeing alpaca walks – plus the convenience of being next to the Students’ Union, Sports Centre, and Learning Resource Centre.
🏆 Ranked 2nd in Scotland & 6th in the UK for University Halls (2025 WhatUni Student Choice Awards) and Gold Certified for student satisfaction.
APPLY NOW – it only takes a few minutes, and spaces are going fast! 
 

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QMU's 150th anniversary artwork: The official unveiling

Join us for a special milestone in QMU’s history as we officially unveil our highly anticipated public artwork on campus grounds. The artwork, made possible through the generous support of the QMU community, beautifully captures the spirit, people, and activities that define QMU – a perfect tribute in the year we celebrate our 150th anniversary.  The launch event will begin with a drinks reception and opening remarks from the artist (and local Musselburgh resident), Martha Ellis, in QMU’s newly refurbished Learning Resource Centre. Afterwards, we will move outside for the official unveiling. 

To join us, please register your attendance via Eventbrite (please note, attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis).

We hope you can be part of this special event as we come together to mark 150 years of this pioneering institution, where the artwork will now take centre stage. part of our move to One

The QMU150 team 

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Important – Reassessment and Extenuating Circumstances Attempt Results

Dear Students,

If you submitted in July for reassessments or assessment attempts due to extenuating circumstances, your academic transcript containing your confirmed results and progression decisions will be available via the QMU Student Portal from Wednesday 27th August 2025.

If you have not yet completed all your assessments, you will also receive a letter on the QMU Student Portal providing information on your outstanding modules and what you have to do to complete them. This letter should be read alongside your academic transcript for a full understanding of your results.

To access your Academic Transcript, log in to the QMU Student Portal.

There are two key documents you should review:

1.    Academic Transcript Confirmed Result. This shows your overall module results, progression decision, and, if applicable, the award you are eligible for.
2.    The link to a letter providing details of any outstanding assessments, if applicable.

If your results are not available on the 27th August, it may be due to ongoing internal or external moderation. In such cases, results will be withheld until the process is complete. You will receive email updates, so please check your QMU email regularly.

Results are released during working hours, and we are available to support you if you have any questions.

If you need assistance, please contact us at:  academicadministration@qmu.ac.uk

Best wishes, 

Academic Administration Team, Queen Margaret University

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Calling all current and future food & drink entrepreneurs!

Join industry experts at the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at QMU and SAC Consulting at SRUC for a training series to grow your business with confidence. This programme is designed to support you in navigating the challenges of the industry and building a stronger, more resilient business. Each package offers practical insights and actionable takeaways you can immediately apply to your business. 
 
THRIVE Fundamentals is free to attend and topics include;
✅ Funding & Support for Businesses
✅ Building your unique proposition
✅ Understanding market trends
✅ Product development
📍 Mainly delivered online | 🗓️ Sept
📍 One in-person session at QMU, Edinburgh
🔗 Register on Eventbrite
Additional sessions on; Marketing Strategies, Legislation & Labelling, Manufacturing, Packaging and Creating Your Compelling Pitch take place between Sept-Nov. 
Information can be found on our website. 

📩 Questions? Email: HelloSCFDI@qmu.ac.uk

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Parking Permit Applications 

Parking permit applications for the 2025/26 academic year are now open. 

You’ll find more information, including permit costs and how to apply, on the Parking on Campus section of our website. 

Application Processing Timescales & Deadline

The application window will close on Friday 12 September 2025 at 5pm.   

Please allow up to 14 days for your application to be processed. 

Your application may take longer to process if you do not provide the correct documents to support your application. Staff and students are therefore advised to submit their application as early as possible.

Submission of an application does not mean that your permit request has been approved. There is no guarantee that submitting an application will result in a parking permit being issued due to limited availability.

Once an application form is received and processed, applicants will be notified by email whether their application has been successful or not. If your application is successful, you will receive guidance on how to accept your permit offer and make payment. Your permit is only valid once you fully complete this process.

Parking Policy, Rules & Regulations 

Prior to submitting an application for a parking permit please ensure that you review the Parking Policy and Rules & Regulations Governing the Use of the QMU Car Park. When you submit an application, you are agreeing that you have read and understand the policy, rules and regulations.

Enforcement

Enforcement of parking permits will commence on Monday 15 September 2025. An Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system is in operation in the car park which detects cars entering and exiting the car parking using an ANPR camera. All staff and students using the car park will need to ensure they have a current valid permit or paid the daily parking rate to avoid being issued with a parking charge notice. 

Parking, Travel & Transport Options

If you require further information on travel, transport and parking options please visit the Location and Getting Here section of our website or contact parking@qmu.ac.uk.

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UKRI Policy Internships at the Scottish Parliament

One of the ways in which academics can engage with the Parliament’s scrutiny role is through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Policy Internships scheme. This is managed by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) in collaboration with colleagues from across all of the UK’s legislatures.

The scheme aims to provide an opportunity for PhD students to use their transferable research skills in a fast-moving policy environment. Participants gain hands-on experience of producing typical outputs, including a SPICe briefing paper and a Spotlight blog.

Applications for the 2025 programme will open on 2 June and run through to 12 September, with further details appearing on UKRI’s website in the coming weeks.

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New guidance on responsible use of AI in research

The new UKRIO guidance to support the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research is here!

This practical resource explores key ethical, legal, and integrity-related challenges posed by AI tools and offers strategies to help researchers at all career stages navigate them.

As AI technologies advance rapidly, researchers face inconsistent guidance amid varied policy developments by institutions, funders, and journals. This guidance, part of UKRIO’s priority workstream on AI and research integrity, provides a principle-based, researcher-focused resource adaptable across disciplines and technologies.

Read the guidance and learn more: Embracing AI with integrity - UK Research Integrity Office

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Sharepoint Site Ownership

Good Afternoon

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve information governance and reduce the risk of data loss, the IT department is introducing a SharePoint Site Ownership Policy, which will come into effect shortly.
This new policy is designed to ensure that every SharePoint site has a designated owner responsible for managing access, content lifecycle, and relevance. It mirrors the existing process used to notify Microsoft Teams members that they can assume ownership of a Team when no owner is present.
 
Key Points of the Policy:

•    Every SharePoint site must have at least one active owner. While more than one owner is encouraged, one is the minimum requirement.
•    Notifications will be sent to site members if a site is found to have no owner, providing the opportunity for someone to take ownership.
•    If no owner is assigned after 3 months, the site will be made “read-only” and subject to review by IT. At this point, a decision may be made to archive or delete the site, depending on its usage and content.
•    This policy does not affect or overlap with the existing Microsoft Teams Groups Ownership Policy. Both are standalone measures that support each other and serve the same purpose: protecting organisational data and ensuring continued access to relevant information.
We appreciate your cooperation in supporting this initiative. Ensuring proper ownership of our digital resources is a shared responsibility and essential to maintaining security and controlling costs.
If you have any questions or need support regarding site ownership, please reach out to the Helpdesk, who can pass queries on to IT.
Thank you,
QMU IT
  

In this week's Student News:

Upcoming Ebook Central maintenance

0300 - 0700 Sunday 10 August 2025

Due to supplier maintenance at the above time access to all material on the Ebook Central platform will be unavailable. We apologise for any inconvenience that this will cause. 

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Scheduled Turnitin Maintenance – August 9, 2025

Please be advised that Turnitin and TurnitinUK, including all integrations (such as Canvas), will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on:

Saturday, August 9, 2025
4:00 PM to 9:00 PM (local time)

During this time, similarity reports, submissions, grading, and all Turnitin-related services will be unavailable.
We recommend planning ahead to avoid any disruptions during this window. Thank you for your understanding.

TEL Team
  

In this week's Student News:

Education for all: Inclusive pedagogy that builds belonging, equity and engagement – 5 August, 4pm (online)

Creating truly inclusive learning environments where students feel seen, supported and empowered starts with intentional learning design. By proactively designing courses for students’ variability, institutions can increase student success and give learners the impetus and agency to be co-responsible in their own learning.  
 
In this session, Nu Driz (he/him), Founder of Driz Learning Design, and Sam Passeport (she/her), Founder of No Borders Learning, will explore how to implement elements of Universal Design for Learning to structure courses that prioritize accessibility and belonging. This session will also showcase use-cases of how these principles can be integrated using the FeedbackFruits Learning Design System, supporting students’ engagement in their education.
 
Please visit AdCal to register to this external event and to find a link to the resources available

In this week's Student News:

Sierra, including the catalogue, downtime

0600 Saturday 12 July 2025 to 0600 Sunday 13 July 2025

Reason: The supplier of Sierra, which is our library management system, is carrying out a data centre migration exercise for all European customers over the weekend of 12/13 July 2025 and has advised that the system will be unavailable between 0600 on Saturday 12^th July and 0600 on Sunday 13^th July. This means that you will not be able to issue books to yourself or use the catalogue to find material during this time; however, you will be able to find material through Discover.

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Scheduled Downtime for Panopto – Wednesday 16 July

Please be advised that Panopto, QMU’s video hosting platform, will be unavailable on Wednesday, 16 July from 10:00 AM (GMT) due to a scheduled system upgrade. During this time, access to course videos and all Panopto services will be temporarily disrupted. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we work to improve the platform. 

TEL Team

In this week's Student News:

UKRI Policy Internships at the Scottish Parliament

One of the ways in which academics can engage with the Parliament’s scrutiny role is through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Policy Internships scheme. This is managed by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) in collaboration with colleagues from across all of the UK’s legislatures.

The scheme aims to provide an opportunity for PhD students to use their transferable research skills in a fast-moving policy environment. Participants gain hands-on experience of producing typical outputs, including a SPICe briefing paper and a Spotlight blog.

Applications for the 2025 programme will open on 2 June and run through to 12 September, with further details appearing on UKRI’s website in the coming weeks.

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Calling all budding creative freelancers and company founders, filmmakers, producers and performers - apply for SHIFT 2025 today!

More speakers have been announced for SHIFT 2025 including:
•    Hannah Kelso: Your first steps into Film and TV
•    Aqsa Arif: The realities of life as a contemporary artist
•    Maria Than: Generative AI storytelling and heritage (embedding AI within your creative process)
•    Robbie Gordon: Co-creation and building a socially-engaged company (Co-founder and Artistic Director of Wonder Fools, a theatre company and charity)
•    Francesca Hess: Beyond the audition room (finding/creating your own opportunities beyond the audition room)
•    Medeia Cohan-Petrolino: Finding funding
•    Arabella Page Croft: Co-founder of Black Camel Pictures production company

SHIFT is an entrepreneurial skills training programme which is open to all budding creative freelancers and company founders, artists, filmmakers, musicians, producers and performers who are current students at QMU or who graduated in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

This free and collaborative programme will equip participants with the practical, creative and business skills and contacts needed for a sustainable career in the cultural and creative industries.

SHIFT will run from Monday 8th - Friday 12th September 2025 via a series of online workshops, breakout conversations, creative activities and one-to-one clinics.

Participants will work with practitioners from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Glasgow School of Art, building a new network of creatives from a range of disciplines.

View the full programme here: https://shiftintoyourfuture.com/schedule/
Apply here: https://shiftintoyourfuture.com/apply/

Application deadline: Friday 18 July 2025

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Applications for the Santander X UK Awards 2025 are now open!

Apply for the Santander X UK Awards 2025 and take your business to the next level - closing date for applications is 16 July 2025.

The Santander X UK Awards is Santander's annual entrepreneurship competition for emerging businesses and one of the biggest early-stage business pitching competitions in the UK.

This year there are 3 categories to apply to:
•    University - for university-linked startups
•    Startup - for incorporated UK businesses who are ready to scale
•    SME - for growing UK businesses with big ambitions

Winners will receive up to £30,000 funding and will automatically progress to the Santander X Global Awards.

To find out more about the Santander X UK Awards, visit: Santander X UK Awards. 

____________________________________________________________

New guidance on responsible use of AI in research

The new UKRIO guidance to support the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research is here!

This practical resource explores key ethical, legal, and integrity-related challenges posed by AI tools and offers strategies to help researchers at all career stages navigate them.

As AI technologies advance rapidly, researchers face inconsistent guidance amid varied policy developments by institutions, funders, and journals. This guidance, part of UKRIO’s priority workstream on AI and research integrity, provides a principle-based, researcher-focused resource adaptable across disciplines and technologies.

Read the guidance and learn more: Embracing AI with integrity - UK Research Integrity Office

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Scheduled Downtime for Panopto – Wednesday 16 July

Please be advised that Panopto, QMU’s video hosting platform, will be unavailable on Wednesday, 16 July from 10:00 AM (GMT) due to a scheduled system upgrade. During this time, access to course videos and all Panopto services will be temporarily disrupted. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we work to improve the platform. 

TEL Team

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Sierra, including the catalogue, downtime

0600 Saturday 12 July 2025 to 0600 Sunday 13 July 2025

The supplier of Sierra, which is our library management system, is carrying out a data centre migration exercise for all European customers over the weekend of 12/13 July 2025 and has advised that the system will be unavailable between 0600 on Saturday 12th July and 0600 on Sunday 13th July. This means that you will not be able to issue books to yourself or use the catalogue to find material during this time; however, you will be able to find material through Discover.

In this week's Student News:

Removal of Z Drive Mapping 

As part of our move to OneDrive two years ago, home drives were made read-only. We are now looking to stop these mappings as OneDrive has taken their place. This change will be implemented on systems starting from the 1st July.

If you still use Z: drive in its read-only capacity, then please contact IT for guidance in using the files via OneDrive or discuss migration to OneDrive .

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

QMU IT

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English Language Summer Schools 2025
 
We are delighted to be welcoming our English Language School Groups back on campus from Monday 30th June.  The language students will be our guests over the summer period and will stay on campus. 

We will have approx. 675 on campus arriving from Monday 30th June until Wednesday 30th July.  We will not have any students staying during August. 

Our language school business provides a great opportunity to generate significant revenue from our facilities during the summer months and raises awareness of QMU internationally.  Most students who will be with us this year will be coming from Italy. 
 
We are expecting it to be very busy on campus during July, so we would like to thank you in advance for your patience and help in making our guests feel welcome during their stay. This will ensure that they return home with a positive impression of Scottish hospitality and QMU. 

Catering for the students will be provided within Guthrie’s, and the catering times for the students are as follows:

Monday – Saturday 
Breakfast:        7.30am – 9am
Lunch:             12.30pm – 1.30pm
Dinner:            5.30pm – 7.30pm

Sunday
Breakfast:       7.30am – 9am
Lunch:             Packed Lunch (off site)
Dinner:            5.30pm – 7pm

Tuck Shop
There will be a Tuck Shop offering for the language students which will be located in the Nook space, serving Frappes, juice, and snacks.  It will only be open for the language students breaks.  They break from their classes at the following times, and it is anticipated that this area will be busy during these times:

10.30am – 11am
3.30pm – 4pm

The language students can also use The Hux for hot drinks and snacks. 

Catering Areas for Staff & QMU Students
The Hux will remain open and will operate from 8.30am to 4pm daily.   
Maggie’s will still be open for all to enjoy, but we would anticipate the outlets to be busy between 12pm and 1pm and would ask you to plan your lunch accordingly.   
The vending machines, which are currently located within the Nook, will be moved to the front area of the Nook and can be accessed by staff, students, and visitors to campus 24/7.   The Nook coffee machine will be moved to the area where the high tables usually are as you come into Guthrie’s. 
The Piano Bar space will also be available for QMU staff and students only (subject to events taking place) if you are looking for a quiet space to enjoy your lunch.  Please note, however, there is an external event on the 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 21st and 29th July, so it will not be available during this time. 

If you have any queries at all about the language schools, please don’t hesitate to ask.
 
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Lynn Barclay | Commercial Manager
Estates & Commercial
Queen Margaret University
 
t:   07889075874
e:  lbarclay@qmu.ac.uk 
a:  Queen Margaret University Drive, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 6UU

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Applications for the Santander X UK Awards 2025 are now open!

Apply for the Santander X UK Awards 2025 and take your business to the next level - closing date for applications is 16 July 2025.
 
The Santander X UK Awards is Santander's annual entrepreneurship competition for emerging businesses and one of the biggest early-stage business pitching competitions in the UK.
 
This year there are 3 categories to apply to:
•    University - for university-linked startups
•    Startup - for incorporated UK businesses who are ready to scale
•    SME - for growing UK businesses with big ambitions
 
Winners will receive up to £30,000 funding and will automatically progress to the Santander X Global Awards.
 
To find out more about the Santander X UK Awards, visit: Santander X UK Awards. 
  

  

In this week's Student News:

Empowering Student Changemakers to Embed Equity & Justice in the Curriculum, Tues 24th June @ 2pm

Compassionate Assessment Network Event: Empowering Student Changemakers to Embed Equity & Justice in the Curriculum, Tues 24th June @ 2pm
All students are welcome to join us for an event hosted by the Compassionate Assessment in HE Network on Tuesday, 24th June at 2pm with Kevin J Brazant & Chiara Portinari.

Explore how disruptive pedagogy and student partnership can drive meaningful, sustainable change in education.

Book your free online place here

How can creativity confront inequality and transform education? At London College of Communication (LCC), the Changemakers initiative is reimagining the student experience through justice-driven, co-created learning. The Changemakers initiative encourages collaborations between students and staff to address the awarding gap, embed inclusive and compassionate pedagogies, and ignite artistic activism as a tool for systemic change.

Anchored in Kevin J. Brazant’s practice-based framework, Disrupting the Discourse, this session spotlights an inspiring example: The Wall Project, led by student Changemaker Chiara Portinari. As part of a media communications programme within the Media School, this initiative transformed a university floor into a dynamic site of socially conscious storytelling through posters and visual illustrations used as formative assessment.

Combining storytelling, immersive experiences, and visual provocations, the Changemakers initiative interrogates and reimagines the power structures that shape higher education and creative industries. These student-led interventions turned lived experience into curriculum transformation, positioning disruption not as disorder, but as a methodology rooted in joy, resistance, and co-creation.

Join us to explore how disruptive pedagogy and student partnership can drive meaningful, sustainable change in education.

Relevant links:

Changemakers blog: https://lccchangemakers.myblog.arts.ac.uk/ 

Bios:

Kevin J Brazant MALTHE, JNC, SFHEA, UTF CeLP

Kevin J Brazant is the Progression and Attainment Project Manager at the London College of Communication (LCC) at the University of the Arts London, (UAL). His work involves collaborating with schools to address the degree awarding gap at the college level. He is a senior fellow with Advance HE and a certified leading practitioner in learning development. He is a researcher in disruptive pedagogies and facilitated learning ‘from the margins’, which studies how academics work with students as partners in decolonising, anti-racism and social justice within teaching and learning. He also founded ‘Disrupting the Discourse’ a creative approach to advancing social justice in education.  Kevin also uses storytelling, podcasting and digital content creation as part of his platform Lounge Akademics, and collaborates with companies and brands committed to social justice as part of knowledge exchange activities and consultancy.

Chiara Portinari is a social innovation designer and consultant with a Master's in Design for Social Innovation and Sustainable Futures from London College of Communication (UAL). They are interested in creative resistance and speculative repair. Through workshops, installations, and participatory projects, Chiara explores how collective imagination and knowledge sharing can challenge dominant narratives and pave the way for liberatory, sustainable futures. Their work aims to empower communities to envision and create alternatives to the status quo, fostering transformative change through co-design.

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Removal of Z Drive Mapping 

As part of our move to OneDrive two years ago, home drives were made read-only. We are now looking to stop these mappings as OneDrive has taken their place. This change will be implemented on systems starting from the 1st July.

If you still use Z: drive in its read-only capacity, then please contact IT for guidance in using the files via OneDrive or discuss migration to OneDrive .

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

QMU IT

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Our Cinema Primary School Screening Fri 20 June 6pm in the Halle

On Friday 20 June at 6pm in the Halle Lecture Theatre, Staff and Students are warmly invited to attend a short film screening of films made by the P6 class of Stoneyhill Primary School, with the support of QMU staff and students as part of the Our Cinema research project.

There will be five short films, between 4 and 8 minutes long, with a little bit of discussion of the Our Cinema film project too. The pupils and teachers from the school are also invited. The project has been supported by funding from the school of the Arts, Social Sciences and Management, and has involved Film and Media lecturers, Dr Robert Munro and Dr Regina Mosch, alongside Film and Media students Mia Stevenson and Federico Camins Sanchez.

There will be popcorn :)

No need to book a place - just turn up.

Any queries should go to Robert: RMunro@qmu.ac.uk 

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Applications for the Santander X UK Awards 2025 are now open!

Apply for the Santander X UK Awards 2025 and take your business to the next level - closing date for applications is 16 July 2025.

The Santander X UK Awards is Santander's annual entrepreneurship competition for emerging businesses and one of the biggest early-stage business pitching competitions in the UK.

This year there are 3 categories to apply to:
•    University - for university-linked startups
•    Startup - for incorporated UK businesses who are ready to scale
•    SME - for growing UK businesses with big ambitions

Winners will receive up to £30,000 funding and will automatically progress to the Santander X Global Awards.

To find out more about the Santander X UK Awards, visit: Santander X UK Awards. 

In this week's Student News:

ELS Summer Resit Programme: Applications now open

The Resit Support Programme will be running from Wednesday 25th June – Tuesday 8th July this year. This flexible support (online options available) runs over two weeks and is designed to help you succeed with resit exams and assignments. You will be able to:

•    Work with a personal study mentor who will offer help and feedback.
•    Reflect on areas to improve and develop your skills. 
•    Identify resources to draw on to support your own learning goals

If this sounds helpful for you, please apply by 17th June  online at: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/student-services/effective-learning-service-els/help-with-resits/.
 
Who can attend?

All students are welcome to apply, though priority is given to 1st and 2nd year students. 
 
Contact ELS@qmu.ac.uk for more information.

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QMU's Festival of Learning 2025: Assessment 360 - Did you participate? 
 
The Festival of Learning is QMU's Annual Conference on Learning, Teaching & Assessment, bringing University colleagues together to share practice and collectively explore challenges. This year's Festival, held on 28th May 2025, focused on the theme of Assessment 360. You can find all of the day's presentations on the LEAD SharePoint site. 
 
There was a great turn out from colleagues across the University, who participated in a wide range of events from students and staff.  If you participated this year, we would love to hear from you - it only takes a few minutes to give us some feedback - the Team learnt so much from last year's feedback and our aim is to keep on improving! 
 
Introduced by Professor David Stevenson, Dean of the School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management, our keynote speaker this year was Dr Maha Bali, Professor of Practice at the Center for Learning and Teaching at the American University in Cairo. Prof Bali facilitated a session on 'Inclusive Assessment in the Age of AI’ which explored how to effectively navigate the age of AI, while staying grounded in your core values. You can watch the video now on the LEAD SharePoint site. 
 
We hope that participants got some valuable takeaways from the Conference, and look forward to hearing from you, so we can start to plan for next year!
 
Contact the team if you have any questions! 
 
Best wishes!
LEAD Team 

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Compassionate Assessment Network Event: Empowering Student Changemakers to Embed Equity & Justice in the Curriculum, with Kevin Brazant, 24th June @ 2pm

Join us for this free online event, to explore how disruptive pedagogy and student partnership can drive meaningful, sustainable change in education.
 
The Compassionate Assessment Network invites all staff and students to join them for this free online event, with Kevin J Brazant and Chiara Portinari from the University of the Arts London.
 
How can creativity confront inequality and transform education? At London College of Communication (LCC), the Changemakers initiative is reimagining the student experience through justice-driven, co-created learning. The Changemakers initiative encourages collaborations between students and staff to address the awarding gap, embed inclusive and compassionate pedagogies, and ignite artistic activism as a tool for systemic change.
 
Anchored in Kevin J. Brazant’s practice-based framework, Disrupting the Discourse, this session spotlights an inspiring example: The Wall Project, led by student Changemaker Chiara Portinari. As part of a media communications programme within the Media School, this initiative transformed a university floor into a dynamic site of socially conscious storytelling through posters and visual illustrations used as formative assessment.
 
Combining storytelling, immersive experiences, and visual provocations, the Changemakers initiative interrogates and reimagines the power structures that shape higher education and creative industries. These student-led interventions turned lived experience into curriculum transformation, positioning disruption not as disorder, but as a methodology rooted in joy, resistance, and co-creation.
 
Join us to explore how disruptive pedagogy and student partnership can drive meaningful, sustainable change in education.
 
Relevant links:
 
Changemakers blog: https://lccchangemakers.myblog.arts.ac.uk/
 
Bios:
 
Kevin J Brazant MALTHE, JNC, SFHEA, UTF CeLP
 
Kevin J Brazant is the Progression and Attainment Project Manager at the London College of Communication (LCC) at the University of the Arts London, (UAL). His work involves collaborating with schools to address the degree awarding gap at the college level. He is a senior fellow with Advance HE and a certified leading practitioner in learning development. He is a researcher in disruptive pedagogies and facilitated learning ‘from the margins’, which studies how academics work with students as partners in decolonising, anti-racism and social justice within teaching and learning. He also founded ‘Disrupting the Discourse’ a creative approach to advancing social justice in education.  Kevin also uses storytelling, podcasting and digital content creation as part of his platform Lounge Akademics, and collaborates with companies and brands committed to social justice as part of knowledge exchange activities and consultancy.
 
Chiara Portinari is a social innovation designer and consultant with a Master's in Design for Social Innovation and Sustainable Futures from London College of Communication (UAL). They are interested in creative resistance and speculative repair. Through workshops, installations, and participatory projects, Chiara explores how collective imagination and knowledge sharing can challenge dominant narratives and pave the way for liberatory, sustainable futures. Their work aims to empower communities to envision and create alternatives to the status quo, fostering transformative change through co-design.

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REMINDER: QMU Peri-Meni-Stories
Join us for a summery morning of (peri-)menopausal solidarity, commiseration and joy! 

All QMU students and staff, both academic and professional, are invited to join in an informal, creative and playful event to reflect upon and express (peri-)menopause experiences through crafting, zine making and autobiographical maps and/or storytelling. No prior artistic experience necessary – your story is yours to tell however you wish.

When: Monday, 16 June: 10am-1pm 

Where: Room 3155, Art Room 

Who: All people and women with stories about (peri-)menopause 

What: Bring glue sticks, markers, stickers, glitter, stationery, magazines, anything to create. Paper and other supplies will be provided.  

Organised by Becca Freeden, Rebecca Finkel and Stefanie Van de Peer

For any questions, please contact Stefanie: svandepeer@qmu.ac.uk  
  

In this week's Student News:

New support resource for autistic students at QMU 

We’re excited to let you know about the launch of a new online support resource created especially for autistic and other neurodivergent students at QMU - QMU’s Autism&Uni Toolkit. 
This toolkit has been designed to help you feel more confident and supported throughout your university journey — whether you’re just getting started or already part of the QMU community. 

What’s in the toolkit? 

•    Stories and advice from other autistic students 
•    Tips from QMU staff (including autistic staff members) 
•    Visual campus guides to help you get familiar with the layout 
•    Strategies for managing stress and looking after your wellbeing 
•    Guidance on academic expectations and adjusting to routines 
•    Info about university policies that support different learning needs 
This resource has been developed by a small team here at QMU, with autistic people involved at every stage to make sure it reflects real needs and experiences. It’s all part of our commitment to building a more inclusive and understanding university environment. 
The toolkit is open to anyone who feels it might be helpful. We’d love for you to check it out and let us know what you think. Your feedback will help us continue improving it for you and future students. 
If you’d like to explore further support and resources, you might also find these helpful:

 
•    Scottish Autism 
•    Autism Initiatives UK (Number 6) 
•    Autistic Mutual Aid Society Edinburgh (AMASE)

For more information, take a look at our press release on the QMU website.

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INSIGHTS TALK: Kevin J Brazant - Learning from the Margins: Embedding Authentic Co-Creation to Transform Student Outcomes, Tues 24th June @ 12pm

All staff, colleagues, partners and students are welcome to join us on Tuesday, 24th June at 12pm to hear from Kevin J Brazant, who will introduce the Disrupting the Discourse (DtD) Framework, supporting student continuation.

As higher education institutions face increasing complexity in supporting student continuation, and outcomes particularly among marginalised and underrepresented groups, it is crucial to rethink how we design and deliver interventions. This session will introduce the Disrupting the Discourse (DtD) Framework, an innovative approach that integrates principles of student co-creation, authentic belonging, and power-sharing into continuation strategies.

Drawing on collaborative case studies and cross-departmental partnerships, the DtD framework highlights how centering student voice and lived experience not only improves retention but cultivates institutional cultures where diverse learners thrive. Attendees will gain practical insights into applying DtD within their own contexts to develop sustainable, high-impact interventions that move beyond surface-level engagement, addressing structural barriers and enabling genuine student success

You can book your place here. 

About Kevin J Brazant

Kevin J Brazant is the Progression and Attainment Project Manager at the University of the Arts London, (UAL). His work involves collaborating with schools to address the ethnicity degree awarding gap at the college level. He is a researcher in disruptive pedagogies and practices ‘facilitating learning from the margins’, which foregrounds co-creation in enabling marginalised student voices through decolonising, anti-racism and social justice as part of pedagogy. He authored ‘Disrupting the Discourse: A Co-creation Framework for Decoding the Culture in Higher Education.’ He manages the Changemakers, a student partner initiative working with students to embed racial and social justice principles as part of the curriculum. Kevin also uses storytelling, podcasting and digital content creation as part of his platform Lounge Akademics, and collaborates with companies and brands committed to social justice as part of knowledge exchange activities and consultancy.

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Research Images Exhibition - 150 QMU Conference

We invite research students and staff to capture an element of their research in a single A3 image

Interestingly, Succinctly, Meaningfully, Beautifully

and to explain / express how your image is relevant to your research in up to 150 words (including an image title if you wish).
Your entry could convey a concept, some data, your methods, a result. It could express the rationale for your work, or its impact.
A group of staff and doctoral students will curate the entries, aiming to display as many as possible at the QMU150 Conference (19 June 2025). We expect to have some prizes for particularly impressive entries!

Submit your entries by Friday 6th June to RKE_competition@qmu.ac.uk

Thank you!

Jayada Gallege

(PhD Student - Health School)

Member of 150 conference planning group

In this week's Student News:

Octopus.ac

Octopus.ac is a new publishing platform for scholarly research, which is funded by UKRI – the UK government research funder. It also includes research problems derived from Areas of Research Interest, published by UK Government departments, that potentially form the bases of future research projects. For further information, please click here.
  

In this week's Student News:

Congratulations to the National Student Survey prize winners!

The two survey prize winners, each winning a £50 Amazon gift voucher, are Linda Kinross and Matthew O’Carroll. Well done!

Thanks to all that completed the survey. The survey results will be released on the 9th of July. QMU and the Students’ Union will use the anonymised data to identify what we do well and what could be better, to help bring about changes which will improve the overall student experience. More widely, the survey results provide important information for regulatory bodies about the quality of higher education across the UK.

QMU Student Surveys

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Inclusive Tandem Cycling Club: opening up the joy of cycling to those living with a disability

Staff and students are invited to a Come and Try Cycling Event on Sunday 8th June,  from 10am to 12noon, at Queen Margaret University.

Are you an experienced cyclist, looking for a new challenge, ready to share your skills and support others on group rides? Could you be a pilot rider with us, riding on a tandem up front?
We also welcome stokers – those riding on the back of a tandem. This is ideal for people living with a disability who find it difficult to ride solo. (All riders must be 18 or over). 

Please contact us for information and to let us know if you have any support needs, email: intandemel@gmail.com 

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INSIGHTS Talk: Dr Catriona Oates 'More-than-human centred reflection' (In-Person / Online)

In this INSIGHTS Talk, Dr Catriona Oates will be in conversation with Vikki Hill, Interim Director of LEAD, to discuss her recent article More-than-human centred reflection: Addressing the fiction of reflective practice in teacher education. 
The article aims to extend the debate around the contested concept of the ‘reflective practitioner’ which is a core concept that has influenced practice-based learning across a range of disciplines including social work, nursing and teaching.  Catriona will explain how she has reframed this as a ‘more-than’ human’ (Strom and Viesca, 2021) endeavour. You are encouraged to read the article prior to the session, but you are also very welcome to attend if you are unable to. You can access the article here.
Or: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00345237251317373
And here's the link to book your place.  

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Large Student Event taking place on Friday 23rd of May 2025 – Guthrie’s catering and seating area will be closed from 14:00hrs

Please note due to a large student event taking place on Friday the 23rd of May the following areas will be closed or have a slight adjustment on opening times. 

Catering seating area:
•    Part of Guthrie’s seating area (pond end) will be closed all day
•    The remainder of Guthrie’s seating area will be closed from 14:00hrs – please can we kindly request you find alternative spaces for seating from this time 
•    Microwaves within Guthrie’s will be removed from 15:00hrs and not accessible until Saturday 24th of May morning 
•    Nook lounge (vending machines and seating area) will be closed from 14:00hrs – if you would like to purchase any refreshments during this time the Hux & Maggie’s café and bar will be open as normal.  
•    There will be no change to Maggie’s Café and Bar and the Hux opening hours – they will be open as normal

Normal seating set up will resume on Monday 26th of May. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and would appreciate you understanding on this important annual event. 
Thank you

Conference and Events Team  

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ELS Summer Resit Programme: Applications now OPEN!
 
The Resit Support Programme will be running from Wednesday 25thth June – Tuesday 8th July this year. This is two weeks of flexible support (online options available) to help you succeed with resit exams and assignments. You will be able to:

•    Work with a personal study mentor who will offer help and feedback.
•    Reflect on areas to improve and develop your skills. 
•    Identify resources to draw on to support your own learning goals
If this sounds helpful for you, please apply online at: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/student-services/effective-learning-service-els/help-with-resits/ 
By Tuesday 17th June.
 
Who can attend?
All students are welcome to apply, though priority is given to 1st and 2nd year students. 
 
Contact ELS@qmu.ac.uk for more information. 

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REMINDER: QMU Peri-Meni-Stories

Join us for a summery morning of (peri-)menopausal solidarity, commiseration and joy! 

All QMU students and staff, both academic and professional, are invited to join in an informal, creative and playful event to reflect upon and express (peri-)menopause experiences through crafting, zine making and autobiographical maps and/or storytelling. No prior artistic experience necessary – your story is yours to tell however you wish.
 
We previously announced this would take place on 12 June, but there is a clash with diaries and room bookings. As such, we have moved this to Monday 16 June, at 10am-1pm.  

When: Monday, 16 June: 10am-1pm 

Where: Room 3155, Art Room 

Who: All people and women with stories about (peri-)menopause 

What: Bring glue sticks, markers, stickers, glitter, stationery, magazines, anything to create. Paper and other supplies will be provided.  

Organised by Becca Freeden, Rebecca Finkel and Stefanie Van de Peer

For any questions, please contact Stefanie: svandepeer@qmu.ac.uk  

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ADHD & Enterprise: Thriving as Neurodivergent Creators and Changemakers

ADHD & Enterprise: Thriving as Neurodivergent Creators and Changemakers is a unique in-person course designed for people with ADHD (diagnosed or self-identified) who want to explore personal growth and entrepreneurship in a way that works with their brains. Taking place over 3 energising sessions from May to July 2025, this programme combines ADHD education from Procrastination Station, peer support, and enterprise training with movement-based activities from Axe Boom Boom - all designed to boost focus, creativity, and motivation.

Course dates: Wed 28 May, Mon 16 June, Wed 23 July
Apply by 12 noon, Friday 23 May
For more information, and to apply, visit: https://www.brightredtriangle.co.uk/adhd-and-enterprise