ADES welcomes launch of Scotland’s first Centre for Military Research and Education
Scotland’s first military research and engagement centre is being launched in Edinburgh. The announcement came as the nation marked Armed Forces Day on 26 June.
The Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement will pave the way for more collaboration to benefit Scotland’s Armed Forces community.
The facility is part of Edinburgh Napier University and will build on the education and support the university already offers.
The centre will also provide service personnel with a community hub on Napier’s campus at Craiglockhart, where there was a hospital for officers during the First World War.
It was there that Wilfred Owen met Siegfried Sassoon and their friendship helped to inspire some of their most renowned poetry, with the War Poets Collection now housed on the campus.
Napier hopes the centre will further boost its reputation as a military-friendly university, where researchers have been pivotal in identifying a new condition, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), that can affect military personnel.
Dr Gerri Matthews-Smith, university military research lead and centre director, said: “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.
“We are currently working on a variety of projects, including Military Transition in Scotland, and working alongside the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) National Transitions Officer for children and young people of Armed Forces families in Scottish schools. This comes following years of engagement with local schools, like Colinton Primary, to highlight to children of military families that they can aspire to a university education. This new centre will be essential in allowing us to continue working on research that benefits the military community.”
Carolyn MacLeod, ADES National Transitions Officer Scotland, said: “I welcome this development for Scotland and look forward to working in collaborative partnership alongside the Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement.
”This provides an exciting opportunity to draw together good practice, data, and knowledge to promote evidence-based engagement and support for Armed Forces families and children.”
Edinburgh Napier is also actively involved with two international military networks focused on research into education, wellbeing and military HR, and has identified opportunities to share knowledge around improving education opportunities for serving and former Armed Forces personnel.
Napier was the first Scottish university to receive the gold award from the Ministry of Defence in recognition of its commitment to the Armed Forces community, including Service families.