Celebrating our Learning and Teaching Conference winners

At the Learning and Teaching Conference, we shared innovations that enhance student’s learning experience across our University community. Some of these ideas and approaches stood out from the rest and were recognised by delegates on the day and the conference planning group as the top submissions. Here we celebrate the winners of the abstract and poster competition.

Sarah Henderson and Katrina Forbes-McKay – Developing an emergency contact scheme for student wellbeing

Katrina Forbes-McKay, Lecturer and Course Leader (MSc Applied Psychology), and Sarah Henderson, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader (BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences), were awarded best abstract, with their research into student perspectives on the introduction of an emergency contact scheme.

Sarah said: “This is a critical issue as concerns have grown over wellbeing and mental health issues experienced by university students, especially after the COVID-19 lockdown. We surveyed more than 100 students from various Applied Social Studies’ undergraduate and postgraduate courses and the majority of students (96%) were in favour of the proposed scheme.”

Katrina added: “We are fully committed to understanding the wellbeing and support needs of our students, and we hope that this study can inform the development of a University-wide emergency contact scheme. Being awarded the best abstract gives student wellbeing the recognition that it deserves.”

Hannah Moneagle - Grampian Community Law Centre

Hannah Moneagle, Director of the Grampian Community Law Centre, Practicing Solicitor and RGU Lecturer, presented a poster on the work of the Centre at the conference. This focused on community clinic assistance during the cost of living challenge, and the climate clinic supporting the climate and biodiversity crises; both clinics are the first of their kind in Scotland.

The poster also highlighted how the Grampian Community Law Centre supports students’ skills development to assist with future employment prospects and the work the centre is doing to engage the local community.

Hannah said: “I was delighted to find out that our Centre’s poster won the Best Poster prize at the RGU Learning and Teaching Conference. I have gifted the prize to our Student Media Manager Steven, who puts in many extra hours and goes above and beyond to safeguard our social media presence and communications. This learning thing is a team game, after all!”

If you missed the conference you can find all the session recording and posters here. 

Lynn Kilbride, Vice Principal Academic Development & Student Experience, also shares further insight from the event here.