NEWS
IN BRIEF
New Chair of Court
appointed
A DISTINGUISHED EDUCATIONAL
LEADER and academic has been
announced as QMU’s new Chair of
Court.
Dr Frances Dow
CBE MA DPhil
FRHistS FRSA took
up her appointment
as Chair of the
University Court in
March 2016 and will
serve for three years
in the first instance.
She replaced Keir
Bloomer BA MA FRSE, the outgoing Chair
of Queen Margaret University’s Court, who
has served in the position with distinction
since October 2010.
Dr Dow was appointed to the role after
public advertisement and interview by an
appointment panel, whose membership
included staff and student members of the
University.
With a strong background in higher
education and recent involvement in
healthcare improvement, Dr Dow brings
to the role wide-ranging experience
in academic leadership and in
governance. Dr Dow was a member of the
Queen Margaret University Court between
2005 and 2012, and its Vice-Chair in
2011-2012.
Dr Dow has enjoyed a number of public
appointments, including since 2014
ministerial appointment to the Scottish
Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards
for NHS consultants, and membership
of the Appointments Committee of the
General Teaching Council for Scotland.
In 2013, Dr Dow chaired the Independent
Review of Healthcare Improvement
Scotland’s inspection of the care of older
4
QMYOU / News in Brief
people in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
Previously she chaired two Scottish
Government Health Directorates steering
groups on the regulation of healthcare
support workers and on Professionalism
in the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health
Professions. From 2007 to 2011, she was
Chair of the Marshall Aid Commemoration
Commission, which oversees the award of
Marshall Scholarships to highly-qualified
US graduate students for study anywhere
in the UK. Dr Dow was awarded the CBE
in the New Year Honours List 2012 for
services to UK/USA relations.
Dr Dow is currently Vice Convener of the
Business Committee of the General Council
of the University of Edinburgh, a Trustee of
Scotland Inheritance Fund and a member
of the Council for At-Risk Academics.
The latter assists overseas academics,
often refugees, who are threatened with
discrimination or persecution.
Commenting on her appointment Dr
Frances Dow said: “It is a great honour to
be appointed to chair the Court of Queen
Margaret University. QMU’s excellence
in research, teaching and knowledge
exchange, and its commitment to social
justice, are well established and I look
forward to working with fellow Court
members, staff and students, to enhance
its renown as a leading centre of ideas and
influence.” ❒
QMU wins top Business
Innovation Award
Q
2016.
MU has won the top Edinburgh
Chamber of Commerce
'Innovation in Business' award
QMU beat off stiff competition from
businesses and organisations across
Edinburgh to clinch the top accolade.
An expert panel of independent
L-R: Miriam Smith (Business Development
Manager, QMU); Colin Henderson (Partner
Manager for CityFibre on the Edinburgh CORE
project – sponsor of award); Professor Petra
Wend (Principal and Vice-Chancellor, QMU) &
Joe Goldblatt (Professor of Events Management,
QMU)
industry judges singled out QMU for
its innovative business partnership and
engagement work, including the new
Scottish Centre for Food Development
& Innovation at QMU, the new Student
Tourism Ambassador Role Scotland
(STARS) initiative at Edinburgh Airport,
supporting graduate start-up companies
in the creative industries sector and the
University's ambitions for the use of the
land across the campus.
The judges were looking for a high
degree of creativity and dynamic approach
to new market growth and those who had
successfully developed and implemented
innovative products and services.
QMU was recognised for clearly
demonstrating its vision to be an
organisation of ideas and influence by
addressing the future market needs. The
judges also highlighted QMU's dynamic
‘can do’ attitude and its delivery of
excellent results.
David Birrell, Chief Executive, Edinburgh
Chamber of Commerce, said: “Edinburgh
and Scotland needs to continue to
embrace innovation and focus on raising
expectations, to allow us to remain
competitive on an international level. It
was therefore great to see some of the
exciting initiatives in the city showcased
in the hotly contested ‘Innovation in
Business’ category. QMU’s focus in this
area is inspiring.” ❒