SCOTLAND’s first Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement has been launched at Edinburgh Napier University, paving the way for more collaboration to benefit the Scottish armed forces community.
It comes ahead of Armed Forces Day tomorrow, and will build on the education and support the university already offers – it will also provide service personnel with a community hub on campus.
This centre is being launched at the university’s Craiglockhart campus, tapping into Edinburgh Napier’s rich military past, as Craiglockhart was a hospital for officers during the First World War.
It was there that the meeting of great minds Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon took place, inspiring some of their most renowned poetry. The War Poets Collection is now hosted at the campus.
The centre will further develop Edinburgh Napier’s reputation as a military-friendly university, where researchers have already been pivotal in describing a new condition called Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) that can affect military personnel.
Edinburgh Napier is also actively involved with two international military networks focussed on research into education, wellbeing and military HR, and has identified more opportunities to share knowledge around widening education opportunities for service members and veterans.
Napier was the first Scottish university to receive the gold award from the Ministry of Defence in recognition of their commitment to the armed forces community, including ex-service personnel and their families.
Dr Gerri Matthews-Smith, university military research lead and centre director, said: “Thanks to the historical significance of the Craiglockhart campus, and the work done supporting armed forces education and research, Edinburgh Napier has always had strong links to the armed forces.
“The opening of this new centre demonstrates Edinburgh Napier’s commitment to the future of the armed forces and cements the foundations of our future activity supporting ex-military personnel in their transition to civilian life.”
Keith Brown, Secretary for Justice and Veterans, added: “The Scottish Government is wholehearted in our commitment to supporting our armed forces, veterans and their families in Scotland. These communities are an integral part of society with a considerable contribution to make.
“The launch of Napier University’s new Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement is exactly the sort of innovative project which supports our wider commitment to make Scotland a destination of choice for veterans and their families.”
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