New bursary
aims to
improve
communication
of children
from
disadvantaged
backgrounds
T
HE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY *CASL
Research Centre at QMU, which
promotes research into speech
and non-verbal communication, has
recently received a generous donation
from Speech and Language Therapist,
Mrs Carol Spragge.
The four year funding will support ‘The
Carol Spragge Dissertation Bursary’, a MSc
project which will explore communication
difficulties and intervention in children from
socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
The project’s focus is to assess the
communication skills of primary school
children from socially disadvantaged
backgrounds and provide them with targeted
speech and language therapy to consolidate
and improve their communication skills. It
will be carried out by a newly qualified
Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) who
has recently graduated from QMU’s PgDip
Speech and Language Therapy.
Alumni Ambassador for the
‘Trees of Life’ Campaign
Barbara Prater, a recent BA (Hons)
Psychology graduate from 2013,
became a donor to the 150 ‘Trees
of Life’ campaign. The aim of the
campaign is to create a special
grove of trees on the campus to
commemorate the 150th anniversary
of QMU in 2025.
Barbara said: “QMU is such a friendly
university. I learnt so much and made
such great friends during my time
there that I wanted to give something
back in return. By donating and
planting a tree, I am ensuring that, in
years to come, future students will be
able to stroll along this beautiful tree
lined avenue – and I will have helped
in its creation. My tree will improve the
biodiversity of this amazing campus
by offering birds, butterflies, moths
and furry creatures a place to live.”
Barbara recently endorsed the ‘Trees
of Life’ campaign by making a video
to help raise awareness of the project
– please see the website http://www.
qmu.ac.uk/treeoflife/ for details.
If you would like further information
about the 'Trees of Life' campaign
or to discuss further opportunities
for giving to QMU, please contact
the Development team on
E: [email protected] or
T: +44 (0) 131 474 0000. ❒
As part of the bursary, the successful
student will register for a further qualification,
the MSc in Speech and Language Therapy.
The opportunity to undertake a funded MSc
dissertation project will be of immense
benefit to the student who is chosen to
carry out the work. Data gathered by the
student will enhance the breadth and depth
of the study, whilst the learning opportunities
open to the chosen student will be greatly
enhanced by working alongside professional
practitioners in a challenging and rewarding
clinical environment. The work carried out
will also result in the student contributing
to academic publication, which is crucial
to the early career development of those
wishing to impact significantly on practice
within the field.
If you would like to discuss different
ways of supporting student development
at QMU or to support other aspects of
the University’s work, please contact
Lisa Gillespie, Development and Alumni
Manager, on E: [email protected] or
T: 0131 474 0000
(*CASL – Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language)
QMYOU / Alumni & Development News
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