QMYOU Alumni Magazine Issue 78 | Page 27

Students benefit from first ever Ryder Cup Bursary Scheme S O M E L U C K Y Q M U s t u d e n t s a re benefitting from a four-year bursary investment deal from Ryder Cup Europe. Five QMU students are amongst the first in the world to receive financial support linked to the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland. Just before Christmas, five third year students, who study on the BA (Hons) International Hospitality and Tourism and the BA (Hons) Events Management, each received a one-off payment of £1,000. Ryder Cup Europe has made a commitment to QMU to fund five tourism, hospitality and event student bursaries per year for a total of four years. The bursary scheme means that a total of twenty QMU students will benefit by receiving £1000 each. Lennoxlove Book Festival comes up trumps yet again Nurses celebrate 30th anniversary of degree O VER 60 NURSING alumni gathered at the University’s campus in August 2013, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the nursing degree programme at QMU. Professor Joe Goldblatt, of our Alumni and Development team, and lecturers past and present, were very pleased to join the graduates in celebrating this special anniversary. The alums took time to share photographs and stories about College and University days. They especially enjoyed the tour of the campus and the opportunity to see all the new innovations used to teach nursing at QMU nowadays. The comments were universally positive about the building, food and drink, programmes and the event. Professor Goldblatt commented: “My simple definition of a successful event is when the guests refuse to leave. This was the case on Saturday when they were still going strong at the stopping point.” For further information on planning a course or class reunion, please contact the Alumni Office, E: alumni@qmu. ac.uk or T: 0131 474 0000 ❒ B RITAIN’S MOST EMINENT m o u n t a i n e e r, S i r C h r i s Bonington, paid tribute to John Muir, the father of the environmental movement and founder of America’s national parks, in a lecture at the Lennoxlove Book Festival 2013. Held in November at Lennoxlove House, East Lothian, the festival was, for the fourth year, part sponsored by QMU. The 2013 festival highlights included Alan Johnson, the former home secretary, discussing his poverty-stricken childhood; Kirsty Wark talking about her favourite books, and William McIlvanney, the godfather of crime writing. Other guests included impressionist Rory Bremner, actress Patsy Kensit, and interviewer and broadcaster Jeremy Paxton. From history to fiction, cookery to politics, and from crime to children’s entertainment, the Festival had something for everyone. Also, for the first time, the Festival included The Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book Awards, Scotland’s largest literacy prize, worth £30,000. Professor Alan Gilloran, QMU’s Deputy Principal, said: “It is always a pleasure to support an event that bursts with life and vigour and that continues to grow and appeal to a wider audience. It was also a wonderful opportunity for QMU staff to get involved in chairing some of these very lively and entertaining sessions.” ❒ The bursaries will help the students pay for their travel and accommodation costs and ensure they can access courses relevant to The 2014 Ryder Cup. Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “The 2014 Ryder Cup will bring major benefits to the local and Scottish economy and we want to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. The bursary schemes will help support QMU students with their living expenses. We hope that these students will go on to contribute to the Scottish tourism and hospitality industries for years to come.” S h o n a R o b i s o n M S P, M i n i s t e r f o r Commonwealth Games and Sport, said: “The Ryder Cup is more than just golf, and good hospitality and management can help make the event truly great. This investment places young people at the heart of our legacy commitment and will give young people new skills in their chosen career path and the best training to go on to work, whether it is in the hospitality and event management industry, or as the next generation of industry leaders.” International Hospitality and Tourism student, Calum McEachern, was delighted to receive a Ryder Cup bursary. He said: “I take on quite a lot of paid employment to support my studies. However, the bursary will relieve some of the financi