Graham Milne shared memories of taking the College Rugby team to an international universities rugby tournament in Bilbao, Spain. He talks about the journey there by bus, feeling lost once they got there, beating the English team in the first round, and the feeling of coming third in the tournament. He also talks about how things have changed at the university since his time there, and the importance of taking advantage of the social aspects of university as well as the educational benefits.

0.00 Start of the interview
0.20 Didn’t initially want to do Civil Engineering. Wanted to do Architecture at Dundee University. Dad owned GMB. Failed first year of his degree and did a Higher National Diploma in Civil Engineering instead
1.10 Great honour to be picked by peers to be captain of the rugby team. Great responsibility too – need good attitude, discipline. Wouldn’t see himself as the best player, but had other skills – leadership for example.
4.20 He received a letter from Spain looking for teams to promote rugby in the Basque area of Spain through a tournament. The application he put forward was a little embellished. But to his surprise the team was selected. Initial doubts - didn’t know how they would get there – didn’t think they could do the country credit. Had to try to get funding to travel, but accommodation, food etc would be supplied by Bilbao University. Managed to get the funding but it was a very hard task – some of it came from the College, but most of it was raised externally. They took the Bus to England, cross English Channel, then to Spain via Stagecoach. Train to Arun [???] station. Left there on their own in the middle of nowhere not sure if there would be another train to get where they needed to go. Managed to then catch a train to Bilbao, but they had no-one able to speak Spanish and there was no-one to meet them there in Bilbao. They were afraid of armed police walking around the town due to threat of terrorism (Basque separatists). They felt lost, he “nearly had a mutiny” from the team (i.e. people threatening to go home and not take part). But someone managed to phone University of Bilbao and a bus was arranged to their accommodation.
9.20 First game against England (Salford Uni), and Scotland won. Their opponents had a more professional set up (coach, medics, better equipment etc), but were over-confident, and had gone out the night before, so they were not in good shape for the match. Dundee “took them apart”.
11.20 He feels his team had great camaraderie, team spirit. Great feeling to win Bronze medal. Only sadness is that some players that he had promised would get a game, decided after that first match that they were not good enough and opted out of playing, choosing instead to cheer from the sidelines. He regrets they didn’t get the experience of playing in the tournament.
13.20 He didn’t stay in college accommodation, but stayed at home in Dundee, and had the benefits of that. He managed to see the College’s accommodation, and, compared with what his children have experienced at university, thinks there is a big improvement in what is provided now.
15.10 College / Uni is all new for students, and next steps are work, then rising in your profession, for example, taking part in professional organisations (like the Chartered Institute of Civil Engineers). Planning is important – plan to get where you want to go, encourage others to join your profession. He is a STEM Ambassador (Bridges to Schools) – and has shown school pupils how to build suspension bridges, and conduct disaster recovery exercises. Make sure you contribute to your profession.
19.05 He remembers the whole experience was one of enjoyment. Take advantage of the social aspect as well as the educational one, so join a society or a club that will introduce you to your circle of friends for the next few years. This also applies when you get into the world of work or moving to a new area – it’s all new, and joining a club helps you get into that new environment.

Highlight on Civil Engineering and Surveying – study in cost management in reactive maintenance in buildings, and computer monitoring system for measuring the length of time before road repairs become necessary, Students Association AGM – increasing efforts on the government changes to students associations, plus elections of Women’s Officer and LGB Officer. Report on International Food Night.

0.00 Start
0.45 Jeff Ferguson interviews Bill Crabb a chartered surveyor and lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, Surveying and Building about his study in cost management and control in reactive maintenance in buildings.
3.45 Jeff Ferguson interviews Dr Ali Shart in the Department of Civil Engineering, Surveying and Building about the programme he had developed for use with a deflectograph machine for measuring the length of time before road repairs become necessary.
8.30 Jeff Ferguson speaks to Professor Suzanta Sarkar, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Surveying and Building about the course and career opportunities there. The conversation covers the Higher National Diploma courses, further study opportunities, for example the Masters Degree in Wastewater and Environmental Management, or postgraduate research for an MPhil, PhD. The BEng degree Civil Engineering is unique in Scotland in that it is a sandwich degree (with work training placements contributing to the degree).
12.10 Quiz – students from Economics and Law “Ian, Peter, Gareth, and Steve” (no surnames given). Questions on their specialist subject and general knowledge.
18.05 Brian Lindsay’s news roundup. Report on DIT Students Association General Meeting, inc motions re lack of sports facilities for the increasing numbers of students at DIT. Proposals were made for purchase of an all-weather multi-purpose pitch, a grass pitch, and negotiation with the local district council for concessionary rates for things like swimming, golf and tennis. A DIT ten-pin bowling league was also proposed. The motions were passed. Proposals were passed to intensify the existing campaign against the planned government measures concerning SA funding, to have a gala day celebrating the qualities of SAs and publicise the campaign. Proposals were also passed to create new posts on the SA – a women’s officer and a LGB officer (it being felt these two groups were under-represented in the Institute). Two bi-elections were held for Deputy President, and Shop Vice President. The winners were Kirk Potter and Jo Williams respectively.
19.45 International Food Night at the Union where foreign students representing 30 countries prepare and present food traditional to their culture. E, W, N & S parts of the globe are represented. Entry costs £4.
20.10 Sports News – Rugby Team match cancelled due to non-appearance of the opposition. Football team was beaten 4-3 by Fintry in a close match, and have 9 points in the League from 8 games.
21.05 End

Highlight on forging international links – establishment of MBA programmes overseas, joint overseas research programme in studying dry rot, franchising courses overseas, overseas studying opportunities and facilitating international students studies at DIT. DIT rugby player Andy Nicoll won an international cap playing for Scotland against the All Blacks.

0.00 Start
0.40 Brian Lindsay speaks to Graham Martin in the Dundee Business School about DIT’s international links being forged through the School through the establishment of MBA programmes in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Europe (Cyprus, Greece). Dr John Palfreyman in School of Life Sciences speaks about his research programme with Danish and English partners studying dry rot, and the benefits of developing international links for both research and benefits for students. Tony Dinning speaks about his experiences in Perugia in Italy. Graham Martin explains the process of franchising courses abroad, particularly the experience supporting colleagues in Kazakhstan with this. Alex Buchner a postgraduate student from Heidelberg in Germany speaks about his experiences studying Software Engineering at DIT. Grahame Martin expresses the view that the international links demonstrate DIT’s credibility as a higher education institution.
9.00 Quiz – students from Civil Engineering and Quantity Surveying. Neil Stewart, Cameron Findlay, Arthur Bell, Ian Beet. Questions on their specialist subject and general knowledge.
14.50 Brian Lindsay’s news roundup. DIT Student Association President commented negatively on proposals in the Education Bill to reform student unions outlined in Queen’s Speech for the upcoming parliamentary session. DIT Anti-Racism Society running a bus to Saturday’s anti-racism demonstration in Glasgow. DIT Football team’s match against the Dundee College of Further Education postponed to next Saturday due to bad weather; DIT Rugby Club holding a cheese and wine night on Monday. Andy Nicoll was picked for the Scotland Rugby Team on Saturday and gained an international cap playing against the All Blacks (New Zealand). Scotland was beaten 51-15.
17.22 End

Christina Howie speaks about her experience on the Nursing course at Dundee College of Technology, the close friendships she developed with fellow students, the social life (including the rugby match with the engineers), her subsequent career as a nurse, how things have changed, including improved attitudes towards nurses in light of Covid.

0.00 Interview starts
0.10 Why she wanted to be a nurse – came from a medical family (could train in local hospital or get a degree)
1.10 Why they had a computer course on the degree (story about the computer room)
1.50 She picked Dundee because it was the closest to home
3.05 Course was new and intense; theory from September to May and practical work in the summer (paid)
3.50 Story about the year she didn’t want to be a nurse anymore (skin test an vaccine) (potential scene for stop motion animation)
5.00 Lecturers as former nurses vs lecturers with teaching experience
6.20 Her most treasured memory – the friendships (the first 2 girls she met and stayed with are still her friends)
7.35 Abertay building a mix of old and new, doesn’t miss the building but the nice memories created
8.57 The building was new and modern for its time vs the old hospital she could have practiced at
10.52 After finishing the degree she got a job as a nurse straight away, worked at most of Dundee’s hospitals
11.50 Horrible things nurses are exposed to; each nurse has her own thing (sputum)
12.32 Civil engineering and the nursing having fancy parties together
13.17 Having rugby matches with the rugby team and going to their games
13.10 Society of nurses and charities the science department was involved in
14.05 Career choices then were banking, teaching or nursing; there are more choices now but she probably would have still chosen nursing (medical family)
16.16 Nurses always required, especially now with COVID, some robots used – telling patients to sit down
18.02 Shows pictures (with uniforms and class), badge

Ahmar Ghafoor speaks about his time studying Mechatronics at Dundee Institute of Technology / Abertay University. He speaks about the societies he was involved with - Dungeons and Dragons, Sci-Fi society; his project to design and build a computer; the changes that university status brought; how the university has changed since then; his subsequent career working in mobile technology.

0.00 Interview starts – Ahmar Ghafoor, former student at Abertay, student during the transition to University status
What did you study and why?
Went to do an HND in Electrical engineering because failed GCSEs
0.50 Abertay was the first place to do Mechatronics – MSc sponsored by NCR and so was a joint Abertay and Dundee Uni degree
2.00 Was there anything else you ever considered studying?
Wanted to go to Warwick but family moved to Dundee, really wanted to do Mechatronics
3.20 What groups were you involved with?
Dungeons and Dragons; some people imported episodes of Star Trek: Next Generation from America and they’d all watch them in the pub on the big screen
4.30 What’s your proudest moment/achievement?
Design a computer and it worked first time, completed his MSc project in 2 weeks
5.10 Did you notice anything change when Dundee Institute of Tech became Abertay University?
Yes, more investment in the labs, library was built, there was a joke that there were “more computers that books”
6.20 What do you think the experience at Abertay would be like for students now?
Don’t have to carry so many books now, everything is online
6.40 Are you still in touch with anyone you met at Uni?
Colin McLean who is a former lecturer of his, once a year say hi to some people, Camilla at NCR
7.20 Is there anything in everyday life that I would use that you have worked on?
Mobile phones, 10 years in Nokia, worked on the first GPS Bluetooth chips in mobile phones; very first contactless payment designs but was shelved as was ahead of its time
8.20 Would you prefer to go to University as it was then or with the improved technology there is now?
Prefer it with improved technology, in those days you couldn’t get online if your Mum was on the phone; don’t need to go into Uni now,
9.07 Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories?
Sixth Sense film had just come out, was in a lift with some girls who were talking about it and they gave away the whole plot including the twist at the end. He still watched it that night!
10.10 Are you still friends with anyone from university?
Not really friends with anyone from Uni, moved away and there were a lot of mature students
10.43 What did you do after you left University?
Now works with the robotics team with Dyson, working on the next generation of robotic vacuums, works on the wireless communication to connect it to internet;
Before that CMR Surgical who made robots to aid keyhole surgery; UPTOS – machine that scans your eye
12.35 When a graduate it’s difficult, but afterwards it’s about learning how to learn – filtering, knowing how to find the information;
Never be scared to say I don’t know, the team will help;
Reasons for going into engineering - all about problem solving, need interpersonal skills too
15.20 What was your favourite thing about University?
Dossing around; when they got high speed internet, some would bring in their home computers and download things
After Masters had a researcher post, which can be very lonely, it was nice to share problems with others,
Gave him access to a lab even after he left to work at NCR
16.20 Did you ever get in trouble at University for anything you and your friends were doing?
Didn’t get in trouble at Uni, because it’s different
16.48 Were you involved in any sports clubs at Uni?
No sports at Uni, but now run a cricket club, never into sports until had kids

“Work of the Centre for Waste Water Management (“what happens when you pull the plug”); Brian Lindsay interviews the European editor of the anti-fascist magazine, Searchlight; students from civil engineering contest the quiz”

Highlight on the work of the Wastewater Technology Centre developing new initiatives for wastewater management, and its consultancy work with national and international clients, plus interview with Graham Atkinson, European Editor of Anti-fascist magazine, Searchlight.

0.00 Start
0.45 Jeff Ferguson speaks to Richard Ashley, Co-ordinator and Research Director of the Wastewater Technology Centre, a semi-independent centre within the Department of Civil Engineering, Surveying, and Building. Its objective is to act as a centre for excellence in Scotland for the water industry and to develop new initiatives for wastewater management. One area of expertise is in computer-modelling and monitoring of underground drainage and storage systems. He speaks about the effect of European law on requirements to treat wastewater and sludge before being discharged back out to the North Sea, national proposals to create water boards after Council reform taking effect in 1996, and public health issues related to mixing domestic wastewater and storm water in cities.
08.30 Richard Ashley speaks about the services of the Centre to their large list of clients – a research base undertaking work out of the ordinary for normal consultants, disseminators of information through its substantial international working activities on research groups and consultancies in European countries. The consultancy element might bring new overseas opportunities for extending their work if the Scottish water industry is privatised. Other groups in the country deal with specific areas of wastewater management (e.g. industrial effluent), but the Wastewater Technology Centre at DIT is the only one that has a holistic approach to the whole discipline.
10.20 Quiz– students from Civil Engineering: Scott, Graeme, Joanne, and Phil (no surnames given). Questions on their specialist subject and general knowledge.
16.25 Brian Lindsay’s News Round-up. Brian interviews Graham Atkinson, European Editor of Searchlight (a magazine specialising in research and documentation of the activities of organised racist, anti-semitic, and fascist organisations). Graham was speaking at a meeting of the Anti-Racisim Society where he spoke about the alarming rise of violent fascist activity in Germany.
18.00 The Students Union distributed free condoms at the last disco for World AIDS day, in order to raise awareness of safe sex, HIV infection, and AIDS. No sports news due to bad weather last weekend postponing fixtures such as the big cup match between DIT and Dundee College.
18.58 End

13 videos and text summaries of reminiscence interviews conducted with former staff and alumni of Abertay University by Abertay 25 Young Ambassadors, and current staff and students of Abertay University. Interviewees were as follows:

1. Sumant Mathure
2. David Ross
3. Richard Irvine
4. Alastair Scott
5. Nick Hamilton
6. Alexander (Sandy) Robertson
7. Graham Milne
8. Christina Howie
9. Ahmar Ghafoor
10. William Mohieddeen
11. Rebecca Wade
12. Jenny McNeill
13. Louise Giblin

6 stop-motion animation videos were created from the interviews and these are as follows:

1. Craigie High School - William Moheiddeen
2. Craigie High School - Nick Hamilton
3. Craigie High School - Ahmar Ghafoor
4. Dundee Young Carers - Louise Giblin
5. Larisa Olaru-Peter - Jenny McNeill
6. Hope Busák - Sumant Mathure

The 11 radio shows follow a rough format of an item highlighting innovative research or projects at the Institute, details of courses available and job prospects after qualification, a quiz pitching students from different departments against each other, and finally a weekly news round up segment highlighting elements of student life, including entertainments, societies, sports, and student association news on issues affecting students such as changes to maintenance grants and restrictions on funding of student activities.