QMYOU Alumni Magazine Issue 85 | Page 7

Celebrating ten years at the Musselburgh campus In October 2017, the University celebrated the 10th anniversary of its move to its purpose-built campus. T EN YEARS AGO, QMU welcomed its first cohort of new students to its newly built campus, situated by the east of Edinburgh, in Musselburgh. Over the last decade, QMU has responded to our fast changing world with agility, positivity and a practical approach. Dr Olivia Sagan Head of Division of Psychology and Sociology Since relocating, the University has seen its student numbers grow, and has moved up the rankings in terms of research output. Currently, QMU is ranked top in Scotland and third in the UK for employment of our undergraduate leavers. QMU’s vision is to be ‘a university of ideas and influence’, and over the last ten years its reach has extended with graduates using the skills and knowledge they have acquired at QMU to make a positive influence on the lives of individuals and communities in Scotland, the UK and internationally. In addition, the University has seen increasing numbers of students study for its degrees through partner institutions abroad, including Nepal, India, Singapore and Greece. Dr Sagan is a chartered psychologist and former psychodynamic counsellor with 20 years’ experience of working with adults with long term mental health difficulties. She has extensive At its new campus, and through partnership with East Lothian Council, the experience working with trauma and distress University became the first Scottish university to host a Business Gateway. This within specific populations, including refugees, development is part of a much wider programme of work to foster entrepreneurship the homeless, women experiencing chronic and support the Scottish economy. depression, individuals with eating disorders Alongside this, the University has also implemented ground-breaking initiatives and people with combined physical and to demystify higher education and to encourage widening participation, including mental illnesses. She is regularly involved the Children’s University and the South East Scotland Academies Project. in overseas humanitarian work. Olivia’s phenomenological, user-led research The attractive landscape around the campus buildings has matured. The grounds explores the strategies that people have become a haven for wildlife, and students and staff enjoy sharing the gardens develop over time through which they with the local community. make meaning of their mental health To mark the 10th anniversary, the University ran an exhibition on campus celebrating difficulties and life experiences. the stories of some of its current students and graduates who have experienced studying Her projects to date have included at the new campus. These stories were shared via QMU’s social media and you can also longitudinal studies of the ways in see some of them highlighted in the ‘Where are you now?’ section on pages 26 - 29 of which adults with severe mental this magazine. illness and limited verbal ability Discussing this anniversary, Dr Richard Butt, Deputy Principal of QMU, said: “The 10th have employed autobiographic anniversary has offered us the opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved in the last writing and visual art making 10 years, both at home as well as globally, and to reconnect with our alumni and share their outside of the clinical domain. success. The anniversary also presents us with the chance to express our gratitude to our new community which has embraced and supported QMU, helping us put down strong roots in East Lothian. By building strong partnerships locally, we are all more than a sum of our parts. “Our move to our new campus and our QMU150 strategic plan have helped us develop a new found confidence, allowing us to become more ambitious in our outlook and helping realise our vision of being known as a university of ideas and influence.” Dr Butt concluded: “Whether you are a QMU alumni, current student, friend of QMU or are new to the University, please do connect with us on social media and learn more about the QMU story. Our Alumni Relations team is also keen to hear about the success of our graduates, so do share your news and achievements with us by emailing E: [email protected] ❒ QMYOU / 10 Years On Campus 7