Message from the Vice Principal

Professor Christopher Whatley

Another new year unfolds and with it comes much promise for the University of Dundee’s College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) and our seven constituent Schools

People are what make universities the places they are. When high calibre staff leave us it’s always a matter of regret, although when they’ve gone to even more prestigious institutions elsewhere we can take some pride in the fact that we appointed them in the first place and have subsequently nurtured their development.

Much more satisfying is when first-rate individuals decide to join us at Dundee. I’m delighted therefore to welcome Dr Pieter Bekker who has been appointed to the Chair in International Law in the Graduate School of Natural Resources Law, Policy and Management.  Joining us in February will be Professor David Finkelstein, who has been appointed as the new Dean of the School of Humanities. Pieter and David will be joined by several other new academic appointees within CASS in 2012.

But this is not to overlook the recognition that’s been achieved by many of our current staff.  One measure of this is research grant awards.  Amongst the big grants won recently and which will be funding work during 2012, are Professor Fabio Sani’s £403k from the ESRC, Professor Mike Bonell’s £285k from NERC and Professor Colin Reid’s £264k from the AHRC. 

Another form of recognition is that accorded to Professor Patricia Wouters, Director of the Dundee UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science. Prof essor Wouters has been invited to participate on the international law programme at Xiamen, one of the leading law schools in China. Her expertise in water law is seen as essential in ensuring the peaceful management of trans-boundary resources and the water security of China and its neighbours. Also in relation to China our Architects in the School of the Environment are in discussions with Wuhan University about delivering a 4-year degree in Architectural Studies.

As Head of College I’ve been enormously gratified by the effort staff have put into the development of new teaching programmes of which the above is just one example. Teaching and learning after all are the essence of what universities are for. Often the best experiences for students come from being taught by first-rate researchers and in topics where Dundee can offer unique knowledge and skills. The School of Humanities’ MLitt in Comic Studies, now in its second year, is an example of this. Another is the brand-new MLitt in Theatre Studies, which is a joint enterprise with Dundee Rep; what other universities can offer the involvement of an internationally renowned real live theatre on their doorstep? A timely development is the new MLitt Global Empires which, like Theatre Studies, is now recruiting for September 2012.

Our professional disciplines have not been left behind. The School of Business, for example, has just launched an MSc in Professional Accountancy – the first masters degree of its kind in the UK to be awarded full ACCA accreditation.  Similarly the MEd offered by the Schoolof Education, Social Work and Community Education is the first in Scotland to have met the quality assurance standards of the International Baccalaureate.  In addition, the School will deliver with partners in Greecea 4-year BEd programme and in the School of the Environment, Architecture has just launched a new MSc in Advanced Sustainable Urban Design.   

It’s not necessary to sign up for a year-long programme (or longer) to benefit from and learn more about the exciting and innovative research being carried out by colleagues in CASS. Looking forward there are a number of eye-catching events planned where visitors are welcome – in the shape of colleagues from elsewhere in CASS and the rest of the University as well as the interested public – and which I’d commend to you.

Each of the seven Schools holds a series of research seminars. Just one example is the Schoolof Humanities with its popular Arts and Humanities Research Institute evening lecture series with a full programme of events that can be found at http://www.dundee.ac.uk/humanities/artsandhumanitiesresearchinstitute/ahrilectureseries/

Another example is the Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience (CECHR), which will be holding its annual symposium on 2 February in West Park conference centre. A series CECHR Global Futures lectures planned for 2012with more details of speakers and dates to be announced shortly.

The University’s Saturday Evening Lecture series is now well-established, and attracts large audiences. CASS will be represented in the 2013 series by the involvement of Professor Kirsty Gunn (Creative Writing). In an interdisciplinary event on 18 February she will be appearing with Sue Black (Forensic Science, Life Sciences) and Calum Colvin (Duncan of Jordanstone).  The session is entitled In Memoriam, the title of a book that has reached across the University and brought together students and staff with internationally renowned authors to celebrate the lives of some of the people who have donated their bodies to science.

The School of Psychology will continue to hold a regular series of Café Science events that draws audiences from across the University and the local community, debating a range of many topical subjects.  More information can be found on the School’s website.

What I hope this message does is alert you to just a few of the reasons I’m looking forward to the rest of 2012.  I’ll end by wishing everyone who’s read this far a very happy new year.  I hope that 2012 turns out to be a good one for you.