Principal sells off artwork to fund students' travels

A UNIVERSITY principal has stepped in to help pay for students to travel abroad - by selling off her own artwork.

Professor Petra Wend, principal of Queen Margaret University, has raised more than 2000 and has helped send students to Uganda and Brisbane.

The keen artist has painted four pictures of the QMU campus through the seasons, which have been reproduced on gift cards and are being sold to raise funds to support the travel bursaries.

Professor Wend, who joined QMU as principal two years ago, is no stranger to using her artistic talents to help raise cash.

When she was a student, she sold commissioned portraits to help fund her own degree.

The proceeds from the card sales will go directly to the Vice Chancellor's Fund, which was set up to broaden students' horizons and enables those who could not otherwise afford it the opportunity to study abroad.

Prof Wend said: "I wanted to combine my passion for painting with raising money that would help support students.

"We came up with the idea of the Vice Chancellor's Fund, which would help support students' travel abroad as part of their studies if there is no known funding available and if the students themselves had no means of financing the travel.

"I wanted a fund which would allow students make the most of every opportunity available to gain work or research experience abroad through contributing to their travelling expenses.

"A PhD student wanting to do qualitative research in another country but can't afford the expense, or a student offered work experience by a contact abroad, could be supported to ensure that these opportunities are not missed."

So far, two bursaries have been awarded to QMU students.

One has enabled a student to use her dance movement psychotherapy skills to help children in an orphanage in Uganda, while the other has supported a student on a speech and language therapy placement in Brisbane.

Professor Wend added: "I didn't want a lack of finances to prevent students from taking part in a programme abroad that would help with their degree and their overall learning.

"Both of these trips abroad are enriching the students' studies and helping them gain valuable experience."

One hundred per cent of the proceeds from Prof Wend's card sales go towards supporting students through the Vice Chancellor's Fund.

The fund is part of the 135 Club, a fundraising campaign marking 135 years of Queen Margaret University's history.

Professor Wend, who said she has been delighted with everyone's reaction to the cards, added: "I think people are surprised that a principal is using her skills in this way to support student development."

The cards are available from the university shop or by contacting Isobel Lister on [email protected].

They are either available for 1.50 each or in packs of four for 5.50.