Three key roles have been established within the centre a Director/ University Military Research Lead, University Education Lead, and a University Public Engagement Lead. Below is an introduction, information on the roles. These are not independent roles but rather a team who will work together to drive forward all three areas of the centre.
University Military Research Lead/Director for the Centre: Dr Gerri Matthews-Smith
Dr Gerri Matthews-Smith (G.Matthews-Smith@napier.ac.uk) currently acts as both Director of the Centre and the University Lead for Military Research. This role is about consolidation and development of Military research, cross–School, cross-university, nationally and internationally. This also involves working closely with the other two leads to promote the centre locally, nationally, and internationally. The current membership of the centre reflects that we are progressing well in this direction, but this will be built into the development plan. However, the role is also about supporting and developing funded research proposals and outputs.
Our research teams have completed several studies related to complex post-traumatic stress disorder, veterans in prison, and educational needs of Armed Forces children. We are nearing completion of our Military Transition in Scotland in partnership with the University of Edinburgh. This has supported the employment of the first Centre Research Fellow, and has also involved the development of an external advisory group comprising: Scottish Government, Veterans Scotland, and the Scottish Veterans office, representatives from the Tri- services, veterans, and representation from FiMT. Regular meetings ensure we are enhancing our opportunities to build strategic partnerships with the MoD and related personnel.
On an international level we have linked with two international military networks across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, and the UK. We are the Scottish representatives on both groups, the first a military education and wellbeing research network and the second a Military human resources research group.
University Education Lead: Dr Maggie Anderson
To promote educational development across the school Dr Maggie Anderson, Lecturer and Senior Fellow of the HEA within the Business School (Ma.Anderson@napier.ac.uk) is the University Armed Forces Academic Lead. The remit of the Armed Forces Academic Lead is to look for academic opportunities across the six Schools to develop and enhance education offering to the Armed Forces Community as a whole. A key focus of the education role to date has been the management of the University Short Course programme for the MOD since 2014. A recent bid for the next delivery of the USCP has been submitted in November 2022, offering both Business School and School of Computing courses.
Edinburgh Napier Business School has also developed bespoke courses for the RAF and the Education Role is to further develop these opportunities University wide, working with RIE and the Business Development Managers in each school. In order to widen access across the University to our military learners, we are keen to develop pre-study courses to provide first steps for those considering their next steps in education. We have a strong Armed Forces Network, offering support to those who come to study with us to keep their military connection.
University Public Engagement Lead: Claire Biggar
Claire Biggar (C.Biggar@napier.ac.uk) is based within the Student Wellbeing & Inclusion Team as the Staff Health and Wellbeing Consultant. Claire has taken on the role of Military Public Engagement Lead. Claire was instrumental in encouraging the Principal and Vice Chancellor to sign the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant.
Over the years, Claire has built up an influential external network within the Armed Forces Community in Scotland which includes the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, Veterans and Armed Forces Personnel Unit with the Scottish Government, Veterans Scotland, The Royal Caledonian Education Trust, Army Personal Recovery Unit, Career Transition Partnership, Commanding Officer with Army HQ at 51 Brigade and the Commanding Officer with the Edinburgh Garrison. Claire sits on several external working groups and committees to represent the HE sectors to the Armed Forces Community along with a colleague from Glasgow Caledonian University.
In 2018 the HE: FE Veterans Champions Network was established by Jim Castle (Glasgow Caledonian University) and Claire ensuring there is a representative from each Scottish university and many of the Colleges on the network.
Internally within the university, Claire has introduced an Armed Forces Champions Network to ensure there are colleagues in various departments who can be a point of contact for the Armed Forces community. Claire currently sits on the following working groups and committees:
• Co-Chair of the SFC Armed Forces and Veterans Community Group
• Firm Base Steering Group Scotland (hosted by the MoD)
• Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on The Armed Forces and Veterans Community
• Advisory Board for Military Transition Research Project
• Edinburgh Armed Forces Covenant Group (Chaired by Lord Provost)
• Lowland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association
• Secretary for the Edinburgh Military Education Committee
Research Fellow: Dr Linda Thomas
Linda is currently the full-time Research Fellow for the Scottish Transitions Study and is also the Research Fellow of the Centre. She chairs the Scottish Veterans Wellbeing Alliance Training & Capacity Building Group. She has extensive experience of working as RF on Unforgotten Forces which was a partnership approach (involving 17 partners) led by Poppy Scotland to better understand and provide support services for ex-service men and women over 65. She has published in the Journal of Veteran Studies and produced various reports on older veterans in Scotland. Additionally, she has extensive experience of working in various evaluation studies concerning military research, healthcare (General Practice and Primary Care), hard to reach populations (e.g., ethnic minorities), as well as Police Scotland.