About Edinburgh Napier University

Key dates

Edinburgh Napier University is a modern and vibrant institution dedicated to supplying educational services, which are relevant to the needs of today's students and employers. Key dates in the history of the University are as follows:

1964 - Napier Technical College opened its doors to students at Merchiston under the leadership of Dr Joseph Dunning. About 100 academic staff taught around 800 full-time equivalent students, most of who were studying on part-time City and Guilds or National Certificate courses.

1966 - The institution was renamed Napier College of Science and Technology.

1974 - Edinburgh College of Commerce, based at Sighthill, and Napier College of Science and Technology merged to become Napier College of Commerce and Technology.

1988 - The institution was renamed Napier Polytechnic and became the first institution in Scotland to gain full accreditation from the Council for National Academic Awards and to receive permission to validate and monitor its degree courses.

1992 - The Further and Higher Education Act was passed in March 1992 and permission was granted to use the title Napier University.

1996 - The former Lothian College of Health Studies and the Scottish Borders College of Nursing was merged with the University to create the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

2001 - The Jack Kilby Centre, a purpose built 24 hour, 500PC computer lab was opened.

 2004 - The new Business School was opened at Craiglockhart.

2009 - Napier University changed its name in law to ‘Edinburgh Napier University’ on 25 January 2009.

University structure

The academic work of the University is based upon Schools, each headed by one of its academic staff members appointed through a process agreed by the Principal and Vice Chancellor. The 9 Schools are grouped into 3 Faculties:

• the Napier University Business School;
• the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Creative Industries;
• and the Faculty of Health, Life and Social Sciences.

The non-academic areas are broken down into the Research Centres and Professional Services.

Roles and responsibilities

Chancellor

The Chancellor of the University is the titular head of the institution and confers degrees and other awards of the University.

University Court

The University Court is responsible for determining the overall strategic direction of the institution. It establishes the budgetary framework, appoints the head of the Institution and exercises general oversight over the Institution’s performance and development. The Principal, on the other hand, is responsible for the executive management of the institution and its day-to-day direction.

Chairman of Court

The Chairman of Court is responsible for leadership of the governing body. As Chairman s/he promotes its well being and efficient operation, ensuring that its members work together effectively and have confidence in the procedures that have been laid down for the conduct of business.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor

The Principal is Chief Executive of the institution and is also designated as the Accounting Officer by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). The Principal leads the development and implementation of the Academic Strategy of the University and as such chairs the Academic Board and the Principal's Executive Group among other bodies. The Principal also leads the University Development Campaign and is the chief representative of the University externally.

University Secretary

The University Secretary has a key role to play in the operation and conduct of the Court, and in ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed.