Learning Environment
As home to Edinburgh’s largest number of business students, it’s important that The Business School at Edinburgh Napier University provides the best possible learning environment.
As well as a stunning and unique architectural design, The Business School provides a friendly, open environment where staff and students come together to work and talk. It also boasts the most modern teaching and learning facilities in Scotland.
We have invested large sums of money in information technology so that our students can access all the information they need at any time of night or day.
Teaching Facilities
Edinburgh Napier University has made a major investment in state-of-the-art audiovisual and IT equipment in the new Business School to improve the teaching and learning support environment. At the heart of The Business School there are two huge lecture theatres with the capacity to hold 400 and 200 people respectively.
Both lecture theatres have calculated lighting, specialised acoustics, natural ventilation and ergonomically designed furniture. The lecture theatres and all classrooms have a PC, data projector, a screen, video player and ACTIVpanel which is an interactive platform.
Our software opens up new possibilities and enables our students, amongst other things, to download material created during a class from whatever source via WebCT. WebCT is a software package, which allows students access to course modules, news from lecturers and web links. All public areas in The Business School have WIFI, allowing easy Internet connection.
There are 3 state of the art digital language labs each of which can accommodate up to 20 students at a time. Each lab is equipped with the latest software which allows our language lecturers to create highly interactive classes.
With our satellite, you can watch live TV on 16 different channels across Europe. We offer 13 satellite channels and three terrestrial channels. Of these 16, you can choose between 3 different German channels; 3 Spanish; 3 Italian, 3 English and 4 French channels. Edinburgh Napier University provides earphones in the language labs and at our bank of flat-screen monitors in the library area. A large range of video and audio resources have been digitised and stored on the University server. You can access these to practice your language study.
There are various study areas located in this attractive and pleasant environment, where you can study independently supported by with hands-on technological support. In addition to the IT teaching lab there is a drop in computer area with 100 terminals and a cyber café located in the spacious and light atrium. The library also has on-line search facilities.
Information Technology
Edinburgh Napier University has made a major investment in state-of-the-art audiovisual and IT equipment in The Business School to improve the teaching and learning support environment. All lecture and teaching rooms have a PC, data projector, screen, video player and ACTIVpanel.
Our software opens up new possibilities and enables our students, amongst other things, to download material created during a class from whatever source via WebCT. WebCT is a software package, which allows students access to course modules, notes and news from lecturers, discussion groups, assessments and web links. All public areas in The Business School have WIFI, allowing easy Internet connection.
Once you have matriculated, and wherever you are in the world, using the University’s personalised student web portal, you will have access to: WebCT; the Napier intranet; a Napier email account; the library system - enabling you to check catalogues and reserve books; your own student records via the web; to matriculate, update your personal entry and access your results; and also Email and telephone support from the central C&ITS Support Desk.
In addition, you will have access to the Jack Kilby Computer Centre, conveniently located at one of our other central campuses which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
University Communications
Within the University, staff will use either WebCT, the University email or notice boards to communicate important information to you. Checking these facilities regularly will help to ensure you don’t miss out on anything important.
Most information on the modules that you study will be available from our virtual learning environment WebCT, which allows you to access module information and communications from your module leader over the Internet at any time. You will be able to access WebCT once you have matriculated (registered) as a student at Edinburgh Napier.
Robertson Trust Library
The library is situated at the centre of the stunning redevelopment of the Craiglockhart Campus. Its contemporary design incorporates areas for group discussion, individual and silent study, all in an attractive new environment. In addition to computer, printing and photocopying facilities, the library offers wireless access for those with wireless enabled laptops or PDAs.
The library stock, reflecting the subjects taught at Craiglockhart, comprises: accounting and finance, economics, hospitality and tourism, languages, law, management, marketing, mathematics and statistics. These are complemented by a full range of electronic resources.
For many of our services (available online from our INFORM website), you don’t need to even come into the library at all, but someone will always on hand to help you if you do. Our aim is to help our students become confident, individual learners. We’ve got self-issue and self-return machines so you can use our services without delays and there’s also a special service if you’re studying from a distance. We’re also developing strong links with other libraries to improve access to city-wide collections, if required, for more specialist honours or research work. Books can be renewed on-line, at the library or by telephone.
Our library will be one of your most important study resources during your time here and from day one, you’ll get lots of help finding your way around our services.
Buying Books
Edinburgh has several major bookshops. The biggest are Blackwells at South Bridge and Waterstones on Princes Street. It is sometimes cheaper to order books from on-line stores such as Amazon although you will need a debit or credit card to do this.
Blackwells also run bookshops in some of the University libraries during the first few weeks of each trimester, and information can be found on the library notice boards.
Relax
The Business School is located in idyllic surroundings on Craiglockhart Hill in a peaceful residential area near parks, shops, restaurants, cycle routes and the Water of Leith. Being close to the City By-Pass, escaping to the countryside is very easy and quick. The Pentland Hill Regional Park is only ten minutes away, which provides pasture for sheep, grouse moor and forrestry together with recreational areas (including the artificial ski slope at Hillend), mountain biking and hill walking.
The breathtaking design of the Business School takes into consideration the surrounding environment and has incorporated many 'friendly' features to promote and maintain the conservation of the local community. For example, in order to reduce traffic congestion and pollution there are unlimited cycle racks and allocated spaces for motorcycles.
Eating Places
The Business School has numerous refreshment options, which cater for all appetites and range from grabbing a quick snack in between lectures, from the Hydra Café or the coffee kiosk in the foyer, which both now serve Starbucks Coffee; to a sit down, hot menu in the Chapel dining room. There are also vending machines throughout the building as well as the Edinburgh Napier Student Association Shop. There is ample seating and meeting areas - including outdoor seating in the garden area - where staff and students can mix informally to share ideas.
Sport
If you are the sporty type – or would like to become a bit more active - you can join the Sports Union for an annual fee of £10 and gain access to a variety of Sports Clubs. Membership entitles you to apply for a free Edinburgh Leisure Card. Access to a variety of Edinburgh Leisure facilities including swimming pools, pulse centres (gyms) and golf courses can then be purchased for discount prices.
Our state-of-the-art Fitness Suite at Craiglockhart has a range of Inclusive Fitness Initiative accredited equipment anf facilities including Cybex cardio-vascular and resistance machines, individual cicuit training equipment and Power Plate Acceleration Training. Membership of the Fitness Suite is just £80 per academic year (or £30 per trimester) to Edinburgh Napier students. For more information or an application form, please see the Sports site or contact the Fitness Suite on 0131 455 4437.
