2 July 2007

Visit of Her Majesty The Queen

Her Majesty The Queen today (July 2nd) visited the University to open the new £15 million education and teaching block at Heathfield and to join a thanksgiving service to mark the University’s 40th anniversary.

Her Majesty was welcomed to the University by the Chancellor, Lord Patel, and the Principal, Sir Alan Langlands, before the opening ceremony for the new teaching block.

There she witnessed a deeply affecting performance from 12-year-old Rachel McArthur and members of staff from Education, Nursing, Social Work and Community Education before unveiling a commemorative stone.

Her Majesty then attended the service of celebration and thanksgiving marking the University’s 40th anniversary.

Sir Alan told Her Majesty, "It is an honour to welcome you to the University - almost 40 years to the day since we were incorporated by Royal Charter on 1st August 1967."

"For forty years the University of Dundee has committed itself to the advancement and diffusion of knowledge, wisdom and understanding through its teaching and research."

"Today, as knowledge becomes ever more specialised, its integration has never been so crucial. Looking forward, we will encourage our students to understand the relationship between what they study and what they experience. We will continue to research without preconceptions, working across different cultures, communities and disciplines and always for the public good."

"We look forward with confidence and enthusiasm, ready to build on all that has been achieved so far."

The new £15million teaching block forms a new northern gateway to the University campus and offers one of the most advanced teaching facilities in the country. The building provides new teaching accommodation for the School of Education, Social Work & Community Education, which is being relocated from the Gardyne Road campus, and for the School of Nursing & Midwifery.

The building houses 40 teaching rooms of various sizes all equipped with the most advanced audio visual teaching aids, and four lecture theatres are provided, including a major 350-seat theatre.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk