Induction
Week One
Familiarise yourself with the environment you will be working in
Welcome to The Robert Gordon University. We hope you will thoroughly enjoy your time here as a research student.
The University is spread over two campuses: Aberdeen city centre is home to the main University administrative departments, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Engineering and the Built Environment and the Schools of Life Sciences and Computing. The rest of the University is based at the Garthdee Campus, approximately 2 miles from the city centre, resting on the banks of the River Dee, in a variety of state of the art buildings.
Your first week provides a good opportunity to familiarise yourself with the area you are going to be working in over the next few years. As such you should take some time to explore the building and campus you are based in and to find out what facilities are available nearby, for example the University Library. Your School will have copies of a DVD which has been prepared to help students with the Induction Process, and to receive specific information about the University. If you would like to view the Induction DVD, please contact your School Office.
A regular bus service links the City Centre Campus to the Garthdee Campus.
RGU Intranet
It may be useful for you to explore the RGU Intranet which is where you will be able to access information about the types of support and services the University offers. The intranet can be accessed from any computer on campus by clicking the link below.
Meeting with your Supervisory Team
The first week is also a good opportunity to have a meeting with your supervisory team. This will give you an opportunity to meet those who will support you and to discuss your work schedule for the first month. Take this opportunity to ask any questions you have or to discuss work patterns, holidays and breaks. After this meeting you should be able to get a tour of the school and be introduced to the members of staff and students you will be working alongside. It is also a good idea to find out where the School Office is located as it will become important as you begin to work on your research.
In addition to your Supervisory Team, academic support can also be received from the Centre for Student Access, which incorporates the services of Study Support Facility, the Disability Advisory Service, the Access Teaching Programme and Wider Access Development within The Robert Gordon University.
Health and Safety
Some Schools have very specific health and safety requirements and so it is important that you know the specific hazards of your working environment, how you would report an accident, the location of first aid kits and are able to contact authorised first aiders. Each School has a Health and Safety Coordinator who plays an important role in ensuring safe working practices are in place. Details on how to contact the H&S Coordinator in your area can be found below.
If you are unsure of any of these points ask your Principal Supervisor who will be happy to help.
International Office
The International Office is in the Schoolhill Building of the University and exists to ensure the welfare of our current international students. They will help make you feel welcome when you first arrive, and try to solve any problems that you may have, including with visas and immigration. The International Office can also put international students in touch with each other, and organises a variety of social events. For more information see the International Office web pages available from the link below.
Smoking Policy & Designated Smoking Areas
If you smoke it may also be useful for you to find out more about the University’s Smoking Policy and the Designated Smoking Areas which are available on campus. Further information on this policy can be found below.
