Napier University Retired Staff Association (NURSA)

What is NURSA?

Established in June 1988 and originally called the Napier Club, NURSA's purpose is to enable members to maintain links with each other and with the University. In furtherance of that aim, events and activities are organised.

Who can join NURSA?

Anyone who has formally retired from Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh, Lothian College of Health Studies, Napier University or any institution that becomes part of Edinburgh Napier University. There are members from both Academic and Service Departments of the University. Membership is diverse and you will find former friends and colleagues within the Association. For information on how to join click here. 

Please note: when you follow the 'sign up' link, your individual activation code will direct you to NURSA rather than alumni content.

What does NURSA offer me?

Between October and June we organise an event each month. These are a mixture of talks by invited speakers and visits to local places of interest. Past visits have included The Scottish Parliament, The Royal Yacht Britannia, The Museum of Flight & Concorde, and Rosslyn Chapel.

Some examples of talks have included Renewable Energy for Scotland by Kerr McGregor, Web Proficiency by Alison Crerar, The Genius of Schubert by Neil Butterworth, and Scottish Photography Past and Present by Robin Gillanders. All of the speakers are experts in their area and their presentations have led to lively questions and debate which were thoroughly enjoyed by the members. 

During the session, there is an informal Coffee club on the first Wednesday of each month at the Craighouse Campus where we meet for general chit-chat and some laughs.

NURSA Christmas Lunch

In December there is a Christmas lunch at Craighouse which is a very well attended event, has a very convivial atmosphere, and is an excellent opportunity to socialise with former colleagues over drinks beforehand and during the lunch.

Member Services and Benefits 

Members receive regular mailings advising them of forthcoming events. The mailings include a copy of Newsletters so that members can keep up to date with University developments.

NURSA members have the right to use the University Library Services, upon production of their membership card.

All NURSA members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting - normally held in September. A member of Senior Management addresses the AGM, and members will elect the Committee to organise events. It is an opportunity for you to shape the future direction of NURSA.

Announcements and Information

February 2012 - Paul Holland is the new NURSA Secretary.

New Committee and updates since AGM 2011 

Future and Current Activities

For more information, please contact alumni@napier.ac.uk

Birds of Prey in Lothian and Borders - illustrated talk on 18 October 2011. Please click here for more information

Guided tour of the National Museum of Scotland, 16 November 2011 - click here for details.

Christmas Lunch - will be held on 14th December 2011 - Details, Menu and Booking Form.

The Merchant Company - guided visit, 18 January 2012. Click for details.

Coffee Club - held on the first Wednesday of each month (Oct-Dec and Feb-Jun), at 11am in the Chapel Dining Room at Craaiglockhart.

Previous Events

2011 AGM
This year's AGM was held on 12 September. For details, please click here.

Change to NURSA constitution
To read the recent alteration to the NURSA constitution, please click here.

Guided Tour of the Botanic Gardens - 21st June 2011 / NURSA update
To read about this event, and more information about future NURSA activities, please click here.

Tour of Inch House - 5th May 2011
To find out more, please click here.

Print Room visit - National Galleries of Scotland. 5th April 2011
To find out more, please click here.

Sighthill Campus Event - 7 March 2011
NURSA members toured the new campus and attended a reception, hosted by Dr Jenny Rees. The event was a chance to thank NURSA for the gift of a tapestry, now on display in the LRC at Sighthill.
To read more, please click here.

Jane Austen talk by Maureen Kelly - 23rd February, 2011
Maureen is a former member of the Business School staff, and is President of the Scottish branch of the Jane Austen Society. She has collected a wealth of information about Jane, her life and work, and gave an illustrated presentation on the subject of the most popular and loved novelist in the English language.

NURSA AGM 2010, 31st August 2010
Information about plans for 2010/11 and suggestions about future activities.

'Scottish Windows, Asian Skies' - on the 24th June Dr Ian Wotherspoon of Edinburgh University 
                                                    gave a talk about his experiences in the Colonial Service. 
                                                    For more information, please click here.

Library Visit - On the 10th May there will be a tour of the National Library of Scotland, with particular focus     on the library's huge archival storage and retrieval system. For more information, please click here.

'Medicine from the Mud' - talk by Dr Brian Moffat. For more details, please click here.


Scottish Parliament visit - on the 16th November 2009, David McLetchie MSP gave a guided tour of the
                                         Parliament in it's tenth year of existence. To read about the day, please click here.

NURSA AGM 2009 -  to view details of matters discussed, Please click here.
                                For a brief outline of the meeting, please click here.

Architecture Talk - Dr Simon Green, of the Royal Commission on Ancient and  Historical Monuments of Scotland, 
                              gave a lecture focusing on Edinburgh's 18th/19th century educational buildings. 
                                                                            
NURSA Present Gift for New Campus. For more information, click here.