At Edinburgh Napier we prepare students for future success through opportunities to examine and engage with real-world problems.
Dynamic learning experiences provide our students with a more profound understanding of the practical applications of the concepts they are studying, helping them to become better prepared for the challenges of the professions they will enter.
A unique collaborative learning experience saw thirteen students from Edinburgh Napier’s Department of Built Environment embark on a world-first bio-based construction project. “This project was a real eye-opener for me; not just in terms of the construction techniques but also the experience of the rich cultural tapestry that influences the built environment. It expanded my view of the world,” comments Moses Okon Nseabasi, who acted as the construction project manager during the build of the innovative bamboo-timber composite grid-shell structure.
Supported by the Turing Scheme UK, the project involved the students in a month-long placement in China, working alongside their peers from Guangxi University of Science and Technology and Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology. Professor of Structural Engineering, Johnson Zhang, who led the project, is a leading researcher pioneering innovative bamboo-timber composite structures for buildings. “Actively involving students in new construction technologies like this is inspirational, sparking curiosity and motivation about greener built environments,” he explains.
For Moses the experience had a direct impact on his employability in a competitive job market:
“The skills I honed helped me secure a full-time job in Scotland shortly afterwards.” Project participant, Zara Rafiq, a Masters student at the time, commented: “It ignited a passion for international collaboration, cross-cultural exchange, and innovative research that has undoubtedly shaped my professional pursuits. My horizons were broadened in ways I could never have imagined!”
Professor Zhang subsequently brought a team of 31 students from Hong Kong’s Technological and Higher Education Institute to the Merchiston campus to build another grid shell. “This constituted a European first,” he explains, “and possibly a record-breaking time for a complex build; we completed it in just four days.”
Watch this video with Professor Zhang to learn more about the project.
Are you curious to see how this project came to life?
Watch this 4-day time-lapse video showcasing the construction of Europe's first bamboo-timber composite gridshell!
A dynamic project involving students on Edinburgh Napier’s Publishing Masters, saw them publish a commemorative publication to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Edinburgh’s designation as the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature.
“This project was a unique and highly stimulating challenge, which opened up a range of real-world experiences and networks for our students,” explains Avril Gray, Associate Professor in Publishing and publisher at the university’s imprint, Merchiston Publishing. “Working with the words of founders, Trustees and managers of Edinburgh City of Literature, as well as liaising with authors, literary organisations, and the Super Power Agency (a Scottish literacy charity focused on young people), the students operated as a professional editorial, production and marketing team, driving all aspects of delivery of this significant publication.”
“Working on this project has been such a rewarding experience from start to finish. What has truly stood out is the collaboration involved: it has been incredible to see how each team has collated their efforts to produce this historic book. It has been an incredible project to be part of,” comments MSc Publishing student Lucy McNaughton.
Edinburgh Napier’s postgraduate Publishing programme is highly regarded for its learning experiences, which are considered examples of best practice in education. This project created a limited-edition publication that will be presented to Cities of Literature across the world.
The ENList programme in our Business School is an exciting way that the University’s alumni can provide stimulating ‘live project’ learning opportunities for current students. Alumnus, Diana Cichy, Managing Director of CICHE International Trade & Investment, took up the opportunity to progress a crucial market research project. “My company is an international consultative organisation based in Hong Kong that assists SMEs achieve global expansion. We were looking to expand into Germany and needed to evaluate the potential of this new market,” she explains.
This real-world challenge was taken on by a group of third year Business School students who worked to produce a detailed market research report analysing the potential for expansion. “I really enjoyed working with the students,” Diana commented. “The research they undertook was detailed, focused on the cement market, and looked at the competitive landscape, legal requirements, opportunities for growth, and cultural context for our proposed expansion. The resultant report was highly professional.” Having greatly enjoyed the experience, Diana has since become an alumni champion for Edinburgh Napier in Dubai and continues to engage with the Business School