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

Building Economics, Cost Planning and Cost in Use - Notes
Public Building Sheets 1 and 2

Worked Examples
3 Apt Detached Bungalow – Probable Cost
5 Apt Detached Bungalow – Probable Cost
4 Apt Detached Bungalow – Probable Cost
4 Shop Units and 4 Houses – Probable Cost
4 Apt House Loch Earn – Probable Cost
5 Apt House Loch Maree

Cost In Use – P A Stone (handwritten copy)
Cost Planning of Buildings – D J Terry (hand and type-written copy)
Building Economics – I Seeley (hand and type written copy)

EXAM PAPERS Part 1 1972 – Construction and Materials Papers A and B 18/5/1972 and 19/5/1972; Structural Design 22/5/1972; Public Health Services 23/5/1972; Land Surveying 24/5/1972; Economics 25/5/1972 and Principles of Law 26/5/1972. (7 Papers)
Exams Part 1 1971 Booklet
EXAM PAPERS Part 2 1973 – Law of Contract 18/5/1973; Environmental and Electrical Services 23/5/1973; Structural Design 24/5/1973; Construction and Materials Papers A and B 25/5/1973 and 28/5/1973; Public Health Services 29/5/1973; Quantity Surveying 30/5/1973 and Economics 31/5/1973. (8 papers)
Exams Part 2 1972 Booklet
EXAM PAPERS Part 3 1974 – Construction and Materials Papers A and B 21/5/1974 and 22/5/1974; Environmental Services 23/5/1974; Accountancy 24/5/1974 am; Specification 24/5/1974 pm; Law for Quantity Surveyors 27/5/1974; Quantity Surveying Papers A and B 28/5/1974 and 29/5/1974; Principles of Valuation 30/5/1974. (9 Papers)
Exams Part 2 1973 Booklet
EXAM PAPERS Part 4 1975 – Computer Studies 22/4/1975; Quantity Surveying Papers A and B 29/5/1975 and 30/5/1975; Economics and Cost Planning 2/6/1975; Professional Practice and Project Management 3/6/1975; Estimating and Price Analysis 4/6/1975; Arbitration and Committee Procedures 6/6/1975. (7 Papers)
Exams Part 4 1974 Booklet

Worked Examples (format is Drawing No; Drawing Title; Model (all references in brackets are to the Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works Edition 5 (SMM) Sections)

13 Oriel Window (K)
14 Stone Work in Ashlar with semi- circular Arch (K)
15 Stone Work (G,K)
16 Stone Work – Glasgow High School (K)
17 Stone Work Panels and Pillasters (K)
18 Cupboard below Fume Cupboard (N,P)
19 Details for above 18 (N,P)
20 Details for above 18 (N,P)
21 Timber Curtain Walling Details (P)
22 Timber Curtain Walling Details (P)
23 Trusses to Octagonal Roof (N)
24 Trusses to Octagonal Roof (N)
25 Stairway (P)
26 Timber Screen (N,P)
27 Stone Tracery Cottingham Church (K,Y)
28 Panelling (N,P
29 Panelling
30 Panelling
31 Panelling
32 Panelling Details (P
33 Panelling Details
34 Marble Catafalque (U)
35 Mansard Roof (M)
36 Mansard Roof – Copper Roof Details
37 Alteration Works (C)
38 Demolitions and Alterations (C)
39 Forming Window Openings (C,K)
40 – 48 incl Plumbing (S)
No number Boundary Wall - Civil Engineering (Civils)
No number Carriageway – Civil Engineering (Civils)

Alexander (Sandy) Robertson shared his memories of studying Mechanical and Production Engineering at Dundee Technical College, including his accommodation in "digs", and using early computers. He shares anecdotes about lectures and various lecturers during his time there.

0.00 Interview started
0.20 Studied Mechanical and Production Engineering – father owned a garage in Nairn
1.10 Showed us his certificate
1.25 Donald Macgregor, his friend from Nairn, did civil engineering
1.50 Things going on at the time - Vietnam War. NCR (National Cash Registers) laying off staff in Dundee
2.30 Talked about new technology that he used – showed a slide rule that he used as a calculator.
3.40 “Everything was new technology to me”
4.20 Funny memories – filling out form for new course, someone wrote “occupation - Poet Laureate”, so he was challenged to recite a poem to everyone else.
5.30 There were hundreds of engineers but they all had to do a common course in Chemistry. Chemists don’t normally do complicated formulae (unlike physicists and engineers), but one day when Dr Hargreaves did, the engineering students all cheered. Dr Hargreaves turned around and said “Don’t cheer! Just throw cigarettes!”
6.40 Tutorials – one student trying to impress his tutor, trying fancy equations to solve a problem – nothing worked. An old tutor in “Plus fours” (trousers tucking into socks) suggested using Ohms Law – “you’ve tried everything else, even though it won’t work you might as well try it.”
8.00 Meeting a support tutor, who asks the students how they’re doing. One student had no problems, but the support Tutor kept asking, “Are you sure?”. Eventually, in desperation – “Maybe you could listen to some of my problems.”.
8.50 1966 college computer. I remember a lab on programming the digital computer. Paper tape of an inch wide, punched with a programme. Basic stuff. Another computer we used more and earlier – an analogue computer. More of a continuous computer, plugging in wires to create circuits (like an old telephone exchange).
11.20 At Aston in Birmingham, he used a computer with punch cards. In early days in Dundee, the computer was huge – filled a whole room.
12.20 AR asked Stuart and Aaron if they used computers much. They used computers a lot – for technology, and English for example.
13.30 Societies – “I had friends that played rugby. I don’t remember being in any societies. We had parties, get togethers, played golf. Societies were not something we had in the 60s.”
14.40 Accommodation – we had to find our own accommodation. Stayed in a Church of Scotland Hostel on Hilltown. Had a cubicle. Amongst other people – bakers, plumbers etc. The baker made the porridge early in the morning – hard once they got to it. Then he stayed in an apartment (flat) with his friend Donald MacGregor, then he was in digs (shared rented accommodation) with a schoolteacher at Kirktown Secondary School, Miss Wallace – Kirktown won Top of the Form in 1967 – she coached that team. Knowledgeable person that helped him get through his final year at the College
17.20 Not been back in Dundee since 1970. He thinks the accommodation has changed. Courses have changed. Very different now.

Worked Examples (format is Drawing No; Drawing Title; Model (all references in brackets are to the Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works Edition 5 (SMM) Sections)

43 Boundary Wall (D,F,G,
44 Banda Drawing Lead Flat Roofing, Zinc Roofing, Copper covered flat roof, Copper covered flat roof with standing seems (M).
45 Lead flat Roof with Sloping upstand (M)
46 Lead Flat Roof with Box Gutter (M)
47 Copper Hipped Roof (M)
48 Parapet Gutter in Lead (M)
49 a and b Plumbing (S)
50 Stone Dressings (K)
51 Window Openings (G,F,K)
52 Stone Work (K)
No number Hot Water Installation (S)
1 Basement Excavations / Underpinning (D,H,G) (Civils)
2 Retaining Wall (D,F,J,G,K) (Civils)
3 Chimney Shaft (D,G,F,
4 Precast Concrete Piling / Concrete Building RICS Final Exam 1963 (E,F
5 Entrance Door (F)
6 Concrete Balcony (F)
7 Loading Bay (F)
8 Concrete Stair (F)
9 Reinforced Concrete Building (F)
10 Structural Steel Work Sheet 1 (Q)
11 Structural Steel Work Sheet 2 (Q)
12 Structural Steel Work (Q)