Tag: QMU

QMU graduate is Employer Apprentice of the Year

Lisa Walsh, a student who graduated from Queen Margaret University (QMU) in July, has been awarded the Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) Apprentice of the Year Award.

Lisa received the accolade after four years on QMU’s Graduate Apprenticeship BA (Hons) Business Management course, which she completed while continuing to accelerate her career. 

As a result of participating in the programme, Lisa was able to enhance her business skills and in-depth knowledge and apply them in her workplace, which in turn, helped her thrive at SSE, where she continued to improve and climb the corporate ladder.

She also received this year’s Dean’s List prize for her high course achievements within the Business, Enterprise and Management division at QMU.

Lisa said: “The Graduate Apprenticeship has been a genuinely life changing opportunity for me. As an adult learner I had been out of formal education for nearly 20 years, and it was quite daunting to take the step back into learning. 

“However, the experience I have had at QMU has been amazing. Although challenging, having an employer who believed in me and the fantastic support from QMU, has made this an experience I will never forget – for all the right reasons. My confidence has grown, and I am grateful for the career opportunities this has given me. Thank you QMU and SSE!”

Fitting into work commitments, QMU’s Graduate Apprenticeship degree provides a practical and integrated way to develop expertise with a current employer, who will benefit from having a more highly skilled employee.

The programme helps apprentices learn the higher-level management skills that companies will need, and consolidates that knowledge with real-life work experience.

Now in a major role as Learning Systems and Services Manager at the multinational energy company, Lisa’s award highlights her ambition and motivation to continue her studies alongside her full-time employment. 

On the day of Lisa’s graduation from QMU, she celebrated with her family and classmates at an impressive ceremony held in Edinburgh’s beautiful Usher Hall, attended by QMU’s Chancellor and TV presenter Dame Prue Leith CBE. Lisa was one of 1300 students who graduated in person from Queen Margaret University across three ceremonies in July.

Dr Lynn Waterston, Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Business Management Graduate Apprenticeship, said: “Lisa is an outstanding student, and the award is testament to the hard work and dedication that she has shown throughout the course, as well as her employer and the teaching team who work to ensure the success of the graduates on the programme.”

The SSE Apprentice of the Year Award is presented to apprentices at Modern and Graduate levels during Scottish Apprenticeship Week each year. Lisa was awarded with her accolade in March 2024 at a formal, online event.

Judy Preece, Apprenticeship Performance & Quality Manager for SSE, said “Lisa thoroughly deserved to win the Apprentice of the Year Award.  The award not only recognised her dedication and commitment to her studies, but also how her career has developed as a result of Lisa’s continued desire to succeed.

“As a large employer, we are proud to support the Graduate Apprenticeship pathway – it is one of our key learning pathways used to develop our future workforce to support our journey to net zero.”

Nursing graduate recognised with palliative care award from St Columba’s Hospice

A new nursing graduate from Queen Margaret University (QMU) has gained recognition for her sensitive and compassionate care of people near end of life with an award from St Columba’s Hospice Care.  

Ailsa Timoney, who graduated with Master of Nursing from QMU in July this year, was presented with the St Columba’s Hospice Care Palliative Care Nursing Award. 

Twenty-six-year-old Ailsa from Edinburgh undertook a 10-week placement at St Columba’s Hospice in Edinburgh, as part of her QMU degree course.

She was surprised how much she enjoyed the placement at the hospice, as she anticipated that it would be a really sad experience. However, she found the work really rewarding, so much so that she would consider moving into a palliative care position at some point during her career.  

Ailsa said: “Working at St Columba’s wasn’t what I had expected. It was really fulfilling to be able to provide a good level of person centred care to each individual patient, and I know this really helped the individual, as well as their families, in the journey towards end of life.” 

Discussing her university experience, she said: “I really enjoyed being a student at QMU – everyone is so supportive and friendly, and it’s such a welcoming community. The four-year undergraduate master’s course was both challenging and very worthwhile, and the academics and the degree prepared me well for entering the nursing workforce. I received great support from staff. There was always someone available to help and guide me through the course.   

“I’m thrilled to have received the award from St Columba’s Hospice Care – it’s such a special place and I learned so much on my placement with the team there. I’m now excited to be coming into the nursing profession and starting my role as a community nurse.” 

Georgios Tsigkas, Programme Leader for the Master of Nursing course at Queen Margaret University, said: “This award recognises the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm and professionalism that Ailsa demonstrated throughout the full four years on the course.

“She is a great ambassador for our nursing programme, and through her work and attitude she epitomises the values of QMU in wanting to make a difference to the lives of others.” 

Ruth Magowan, Head of The Division of Nursing at QMU, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with St Columba’s Hospice Care, which is the first University Hospice in the east of Scotland.

“Our partnership aims to enhance the delivery of person-centred palliative care through integrated research, teaching and clinical practice, and we are delighted that Ailsa has been able to benefit from her time with Hospice, and proud that her attitude and hard work have been recognised by the team there.  

“Ailsa has proved to be an exceptional student and we know that she will go out into the nursing workforce and make a very positive contribution to person-centred care. The Hospice award is the icing on the cake for Ailsa, and gets her career off to a flying start!”