Five Things for a Friday

Five Things for a Friday 16.10.26

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:08:51 +0100

There has been one or two coughs and splutters around the office this week - ironically after health and wellbeing week and before the Global Horizons event (which was earlier this year) Thanks to everyone who participated and thanks to all those members of the team who put both events together.

Next week we have an away day out of the office, which we missed as everyone was so busy during the summer with Welcome Week. I've also had the chance to catch up with all staff over the last couple of weeks which is a great part of my learning. Everyone works so hard for the benefit on students at Napier and its good to see what projects everyone is working on.

I'm currently working on a budget for next year and a annual report for our financial year 2025/26 for the auditors. We have moved this process earlier in the year so it is still fresh in everyone's minds. This follows reports to our Board and to the University Court. Coupled with the conversations with staff I'm comfortable we are in a good place and constantly striving to do better.

If you check out the website you will see the latest on the third Film Festival, new and improved approaches to Student Council, opportunities to be a programme rep which will put you in a good place with employers attending the careers fairs, the University Catering survey and how to manage your money and some money saving tips. It's all happening.

Behind all that Sports Clubs, Societies and student groups are all having discussions and sessions to improve your student experience. There truly is something for you. Do not sit back and think your degree will be enough. It won't. Push yourself further and have a little fun along the way.

Sermon over. I'm going to put my head over a hot bowl of steaming water, knock down a lemsip and feel sorry for myself. Have a great week.

Five Things for a Friday 01.10.26

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 10:55:10 +0100

FIVE THINGS FOR A FRIDAY

TUESDAY AT STIRLING UNIVERSITY

On Tuesday this week, I went to Stirling to meet with colleagues, student officers from across Scotland, NUS, Scottish Colleges and Universities Scotland to discuss the Future Framework, Student Funding for the next 20 years. I really enjoyed listening to everyone’s valuable contributions.

WEDNESDAY AT EDINBURGH NAPIER

On Wednesday, I discussed with our staff our approach to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including how we advise students on its use, academic integrity, and how we can avoid causing unnecessary stress for you at results time. We have seen a huge spike in academic integrity cases relating to the use of AI over the last 12 to 18 months. This month alone, our Advice Team has seen 119 students, although not all of these cases have been related to AI.

We also began reviewing the training sessions staff have attended and how we can incorporate good practice from across the sector into the work we do to improve the student experience at Edinburgh Napier. I will be conducting follow-up meetings with all staff to discuss where we feel we are as an organisation now, what we do well, where we can improve, and how staff can develop that through the work they do. The staff have been working really well at the moment and I hope that translates into an improved student experience for you.

THURSDAY AT EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY

On Thursday, I was at the University of Edinburgh, meeting with other CEOs from across Scotland. We had the opportunity to hear about the approach the Students’ Association took to developing the Teviot Union building. We also spoke to NUS about the future of the organisation and ways to improve it within the Scottish context, discussed solutions to challenges facing our sector, and had the opportunity to network and share how things are going during this academic year.

BACK AT ENSA

Back at ENSA, you can check out the Latest Newsletter.

We’ve seen queues ‘out the door’ for our expanded student pantries, while sports and society memberships are up, with taster sessions and funded development opportunities for sport and new societies, alongside additional staff support.

We have also been reviewing Welcome Week, which saw 4,700 engagements over the week, introducing you to the University. There are several opportunities for you to get involved, engage with others and stand out from the crowd beyond your degree.

STUDENT INTERVIEWS

Finally, it has been a delight meeting students at interview and getting a sense of how you feel about being a student, what you would like to see from the University and what you would like to see from your Students’ Association. Thanks to everyone who put their names forward for the opportunities we have.

Five Things For Welcome Week

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:44:06 +0100

Welcome Week is here

This week the office has been buzzing with a hive of activity - societies, sports clubs, students interns, content creators, sabbaticals and staff members all working together to make Welcome Week one of the best yet. Our Events and Campaigns Manager Zsuzsanna Toth and her team of students have produced a great first week (and first trimester) for you. (Note to self - need more space!)

Society support increases

Societies have more support this year to help strengthen the societies we have and help you create some new ones. Speak to Kiera Lay, our new staff member, or sabbatical Emeka. That means Craig Stephen can now concentrate on Sports Development with Megan Robertson and sabbatical Austen. We will all be at the Welcome Fair on Tuesday during Welcome Week, as will all the Sports Clubs and Societies looking for new members. Sports Clubs and Societies are a great way to make new friends and take your mind off that degree when you need it most.

Cost of living support

To help with the cost of living Catherine Jones has expanded our Fairshare deliveries to receive free food on campus at our weekly Pantry and also expanded our Swap Shops. We are also looking for Eco Volunteers to help support this initiative which is also great for the environment so why not get involved. Details here Eco Volunteers

The Student Voice

Daniel Wright has been working with our new Sabbaticals Blessing and Emeka to streamline and strengthen student voice on campus. These changes will be introduced over first trimester. Patrycja Stanny has put together a video with the sabbatical team on how we can help you and how to enjoy the best part of being at University https://youtu.be/Adjp3744Q2Q?si=Tk6MnkYfTQZuMMvC

More about Edinburgh Napier Students Association

You can meet the rest of our team here and I'd like to thank each and everyone of them for the planning they have put into this academic year from the end of January until now. Here's a copy of our updated video which explains everything we do and other members of the communications team, the finance team, our administration team and our Advice Team.

Tony Foster, ENSA CEO

5 Things For A Sunny Friday

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:30:11 +0100

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Congratulations to everyone who has graduated from Edinburgh Napier University this summer. The sun was shining, the ENSA Knight was out and I hope you and your family and friends had an enjoyable time. Don’t forget to get your ENSA Honorary Life Membership card, extend student life a little longer and support the next cohort of students – details here Life Memberships

NSS

The NSS results are out and on the Students Association question we went UP 1.9% to 76%. We aim to get over 70% every year. Good news! Read the full NSS report from Daniel Wright here and then see what we have achieved this year here in our Impact Report ENSA_ImpactReport_2026.pdf and what we are doing next year in our updated Community Plan StrategicPlan_2026-27_update.pdf which also includes our new strategic objectives at the end.

UNIVERSITY STRATEGY

The University has linked in with the Students’ Association to work with students on the University Strategy consultation. We have already had an initial meeting but a report that went to Court and next steps are explained here Napier's Next Strategy

MERCHISTON ON THE MOVE

The news is out about plans for Merchiston and the move to a site at the Gyle. You may have caught it on the news. Yes it was discussed at Court and at an open meeting on 16th June and yes we haven’t seen any communications to students, just an email to staff. Things are at an early stage and we will keep you informed as best we can. You may have also read stories about merger by stealth but that is not the case. We will keep you informed of developments there too!

ON BOARDING

Contracts, advice, legal action, non payments, building work, new events, committee chase ups, auditors – you name it we have been dealing with it this week. But the best bit has been the induction of our new sabbaticals Emeka and Blessing who I think will do a fantastic job representing students this year, so a big hello to them. We are also saying hello on Monday to our brand new staff member Kiera Lay. Kiera will be our brand new Societies and Community Development Manager, who will look after our Societies, while Craig and Megan (along with Austen) will be dedicated to Sport. You asked for this support and we delivered! Plus Austen has manged to get over £15,000 extra funding for sports in 2026/27. It’s all good news but its keeping everyone busy while you (hopefully) are enjoying the summer break.

Talking of summer breaks this is the final Five Things for a Friday for a little while – we will be back in September. I wish all our staff and students a great summer holiday.

Tony

Five Things For A Friday 19.06.26

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:30:45 +0100

UNIVERSITY COURT

The University Court met over the last fortnight and agreed the University budget and the Students’ Association grant. The Students’ Association would like to thank the University for their continued support. Here are the facts and figures of the year ENSA_ImpactReport_2026.pdf

ENSA BOARD

Our ENSA Board met this week. Staff were in attendance to talk about their year and what plans they have moving forward. The Board is a great sounding board for us all and it was a productive meeting. It was also nice to see two new sabbaticals in attendance, Emeka and Blessing, joining Austen and new University Court representative David Scott.

STAFF MEETING

Each Wednesday we have a half hour diary meeting with everyone to see what has gone on the week before and coming up in the next week. It helps us avoid repetition, making sure we sing from the same song sheet and identify if there can be some joined up thinking between departments.

That is followed by the Senior Leadership Team and a Planning Meeting in the afternoon which covered on mental health agreements, onboarding, governance, policies, ENSA booklet content, excellence awards review and graduations. Everyone is quite busy but we know at one point in the week we can catch up for an hour and a half and make decisions to move the organisation forward.

We got to catch up with the catering team and how we can support them and I also attended an EDI meeting. What struck me is what a culture change it will make with the staff and sabbaticals working together to take complete ownership of that change. In the last few weeks we have done blind interviews and provided people coming for interview questions in advance to avoid anxiety and allow for people to consider their answers and communicate in the best way they can.

REFLECTION

When I first came to the organisation, nearly two years ago, I took time to speak to everyone individually and got to know them and their thoughts about working for ENSA and what we could achieve together. I hope what I was told in that moment and the contribution they have made since that seed was planted (to me) has helped us be a better organisation that will continue to improve.

WHAT NEXT

Evans is flying the Napier flag in China (check out his socials for all the latest), Chika is taking a well earned break with his new daughter after an amazing year. Sport will be given time to develop with a team dedicated to it. We also have some news on additional funding which I hope Austen will be able to share with you soon. We’ve put some new funds into a dedicated Societies and Community staff member who can help support and develop societies. The role will also look at ways we can work with community groups across Edinburgh that align with your objectives. Interviews are for that role on Monday.

One last Five Things For A Friday before the summer break next week. See you then!