Minister for Further Education, Higher Education & Science Richard Lochhead MSP meets students at Merchiston
Minister for Further Education, Higher Education & Science, Richard Lochhead MSP received an insight into Fresher’s Week at Edinburgh Napier today (11 September) when he visited Merchiston campus.
Spending two hours on campus, Mr Lochhead met a number of students, many of whom have recently returned to the University as the new academic year commences.
His tour took in a Getting Started induction workshop for the University’s new cohort of BA (Hons) Television students who have come from college, alongside meeting with a number of care experienced young people who have arrived at Edinburgh Napier through widening participation and college routes. Courses represented were Engineering, Social Sciences, Architectural Technology and Criminology.
The Scottish Government recently announced its intention to widen access to the Care-Experienced Bursary by removing the upper age limit of 26 from the next academic year 2020-21. The bursary itself is worth £8,100.
The move comes just weeks after Scotland’s higher education institutions announced care-experienced applicants who meet minimum entry requirements will be guaranteed an offer of an undergraduate place at university.
Mr Lochhead’s tour also saw him take in part of the Software Engineering hackathon, which saw engineering students work in teams to come up with a solution to a problem in just one day.
Representatives from Edinburgh Napier’s Student Association (ENSA) also met with the Minister, as they outlined their plans for the year ahead alongside sharing more on the extensive programme of events they have developed for students to mark Fresher’s Week.
This week marks the first week of term for many students at Edinburgh Napier, with the University welcoming thousands of new faces to campus for the first time.
Mr Lochhead was keen to encourage new students to seek out the support and advice that is out there to help with their transition into university life.
He said: “I can feel the buzz in the air and I can see the excitement on the students’ faces who are here for the first time. I want to wish them all the best for the years ahead and for this new and exciting chapter of their life.
“Starting university can be daunting of course and I’d just advise all Fresher’s to look at what’s available in terms of advice and support because it is out there. I know universities like Edinburgh Napier are bending over backwards to make sure people can access the advice and support they may need particularly just as they arrive at university for the first time when it’s that little bit more daunting. It’s really important that students take advantage of the advice and support that is out there.”