Queen Margaret University wins UCU Scotland branch organising award

Rob presented the award to Mari Giatsi Clausen, Fiona O'May and Jeremy Valentine, the QMU delegates to the Congress.

The QMU branch has been rewarded for its significant effort to recruit new members, increase membership density, utilise creative recruitment methods, and support and nurture a diverse, representative and vibrant branch committee.

QMU secured a recognition and procedure agreement in the past year and is growing quickly, recently reaching 100 members.

The annual rate of joiners (as a percentage of members) is higher than any other branch in Scotland, and the branch have created a job share for their president position. Maria Giatsi Clausen and Oonagh O'Brien have shared the post which has worked well.

QMU's imaginative recruitment and organising initiatives have included recruitment postcards (featuring photos of members and their reasons for joining) and branch initiated International Women's Day events.

Longstanding QMU branch member Eurig Scandrett has been instrumental in building the branch, and he will soon take up his new post as vice president of UCU Scotland.