All our campus libraries are closed today.
See Library opening hours for details of when each library opens again.
Look forward to seeing you again after the holidays.
All posts by Moira Stephen
Happy New Year 2018!
Posted by Moira Stephen on 01 January 2018
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2018/01/01/happy-new-year-2018/
Vision: Service Downtime Announcement
Our Managed Hosting Company (Blackboard) will be performing essential maintenance at their datacenter in Amsterdam on Tuesday 19th December 2017
This has been scheduled
From Tuesday 19/12/2017 at 22:00 GMT to Wednesday 20/12/2017 at 04:00 GMT
While Blackboard will keep downtime to a minimum, Vision will be unavailable at some time during the maintenance window, and should be considered to be at risk throughout.
See System Status page for updates
If you have any queries regarding this upgrade please contact ithelp@hw.ac.uk
Posted by Moira Stephen on 15 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/15/vision-service-downtime-announcement/
Microsoft authentication upgrade: 18th December
Information Services will be upgrading to a new version of Microsoft’s authentication service on Monday 18th December 2017 at 17:15 GMT.
The Office 365 service will be at risk for up to an hour while the upgrade takes place.
Users may be asked to login to Office 365 on their devices (e.g. phones, tablets) following the change.
See System Status Page for updates.
If you have any queries regarding this upgrade please contact ithelp@hw.ac.uk
Posted by Moira Stephen on 15 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/15/microsoft-authentication-upgrade-18th-december/
12 Reads of Christmas: Scottish History
As a university with its roots firmly in Scotland, many staff and students are interested in the history of Heriot-Watt University, the city of Edinburgh (arguably one of the most beautiful capital cities) and the small by spectacularly beautiful country of Scotland.
Heriot-Watt University
If you want to know more about the history of Heriot-Watt University you could start with the 12 Reads of Christmas: Our History and then explore our Heritage and Information Governance web pages
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is such a popular tourist destination that you will find lots of books and websites full of information. You could try: –
- A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith’s Edinburgh by Alexander McCall Smith
Or if you prefer to explore the hauntings, phantoms and poltergeists of the city how about - Haunted Edinburgh by Alan Murdie
Scotland
You’ll also find a quick Google search brings up lots of Scottish history books, but if you are interested in an easy to read overview of the history from start to finish you could try
- A History of Scotland by Neil Oliver
or - Scotland: History of a Nation by David Ross
If you are on the Edinburgh campus, you could check out the events organized by the Chaplaincy – many of these give you the opportunity to see and experience Scottish culture and history.
You might also be interested in: –
Posted by Moira Stephen on 13 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/13/12-reads-of-christmas-scottish-history/
12 Reads of Christmas: Our History
This recommended read takes you on a tour of some of the key dates in Heriot-Watt University’s history.
You may recognize some of the names below as many of the buildings on the Edinburgh campus are named after key people associated with our history.
Key Dates
| 1821 | Edinburgh School of Arts, the world’s first mechanics’ institute, founded by Leonard Horner and Robert Bryson in Niddry Street.
Their names can still be found on buildings at the Edinburgh campus: 16th October First lecture in chemistry given at St Cecilia’s concert hall in the Old Town. |
| 1836 | First working class representative joined the Board of Governors |
| 1837 | Move to Adam Square |
| 1851 | Watt Subscription Fund donates funding to School as Edinburgh’s monument to James Watt |
| 1852 | School becomes Watt Institution and School of Arts |
| 1854 | Watt Club alumni association founded:
Peter Slater’s Watt statue unveiled. Staff and students celebrate at the Guildford Arms. |
| 1869 | Women students admitted – thanks to campaign by Mary Burton |
| 1872 | Foundation stone laid for Chambers Street Building |
| 1874 | Mary Burton is the first woman to join board of Governors |
| 1885 | Merger with George Heriot endowment to create Heriot-Watt College, with 2,000 students, 15% of whom were women. |
| 1887 | First Professors appointed in Chemistry, Physics and Mechanics and Engineering |
| 1902 | The College becomes a Central Institution, teaching to degree standard |
| 1928 | Heriot-Watt College becomes independent from George Heriot Trust. Students’ Representative Council established. James Cameron Smail became Principal. |
| 1966 | Heriot-Watt gains University status by Royal Charter. The College Principal, Hugh Nisbet, became the university’s first Vice-Chancellor. |
| 1969 | Riccarton estate gifted to the University by Midlothian Council |
| 1971 | Research Park opened: first university research park in Europe |
| 1973 | First phase of development at Riccarton |
| 1989 | Orkney Campus opens in Stromness |
| 1992 | Relocation to Edinburgh campus at Riccarton complete |
| 1998 | Merger with Scottish College of Textiles to create Scottish Borders Campus |
| 2005 | Dubai Campus opens |
| 2014 | Malaysia Campus opens |
| 2016 | University celebrates 50th anniversary of Royal Charter |
See Also
Posted by Moira Stephen on 10 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/10/12-reads-of-christmas-our-history/
HWU Staff desktop: EndNote upgrade to version X8.0.1
The version of EndNote on the HWU Staff desktop will be upgraded from Version X7.7.1 to Version X8.0.1 on the 16th December 2017.
The upgrade will allow staff to benefit from new features offered on the more recent version of software and standardise on the same version as is on the Student desktop. Some staff have already opted to upgrade – so this upgrade will only affect staff who have not yet upgraded.
Automatic upgrade of EndNote X7.7.1
EndNote X7.7.1 will be uninstalled from all staff desktops on the 16th December 2017.
EndNote X8.0.1 will then be installed automatically (provided EndNote X7.7.1 un-installed successfully).
Install EndNote 8.0.1
Members of staff with no previous version of EndNote installed can install the software at any time.
- Go to the Software Centre (type Software Centre into the Search field at the bottom of the Start menu)
- Locate and select EndNote X8.0.1
- Click Install
First time use
When you first launch EndNote X8.0.1 you will be prompted to accept the license agreement.
Accept the license agreement
- Select the I accept the license agreement checkbox and click Next
Welcome to EndNote window
Once you have accepted the license agreement the Welcome to EndNote window is displayed.
You can close the Welcome to EndNote window and start working in EndNote straight away, or you can explore the steps in the Welcome to EndNote window and set up your library for syncing and sharing.
The Welcome to EndNote window can be displayed at any time – it’s in the Help menu.
Welcome to EndNote
The Welcome to EndNote window will be displayed once you have accepted the license agreement when you use EndNote X8.0.1 for the first time.
The window provides prompts to help you get started syncing, sharing, learning and connecting with the EndNote community.
Sync to your online library
If you are an existing user, you will have an EndNote online account. You can set up syncing with your online library from the Welcome to EndNote window
OR
You can close the window and sync with your online library at any time,
- Open the Edit menu and choose EndNote Preferences
- Select Sync and enter the details for your online library
Share your library
You can set up your library to be shared with colleagues from the Welcome window (click the arrow to the right in the Welcome to EndNote window) to move on to the next step.
You must have your library synced (see above) before you can share.
You can also set up sharing at any time
- Open the File menu and choose Share
- Enter the email addresses of those you with to share with
See Library Sharing for more info
Learn more
The final step on the Welcome screen links through to the EndNote Guide. You can explore it at any time.
Learning to use EndNote
- You can find lot of training options on the EndNote guide
- Alternatively, we will have Power Hours on EndNote next semester
- Or ask an Academic Support and Liaison Librarian
EndNote for Personal Use
Staff and students can purchase a personal copy of EndNote for home use – see Software for Personal Use for details.
Posted by Moira Stephen on 06 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/06/hwu-staff-desktop-endnote-upgrade-to-version-x8-0-1/
12 Reads of Christmas: Track Santa
For a bit of light relief during your exams, and a bit of fun to have with the family, enjoy the lead up to Christmas by tracking Santa with NORAD.
- Find out how it all started at NORAD Tracks Santa
- Keep up to date at the NORAD Track Santa web site
- Follow on Twitter
Posted by Moira Stephen on 06 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/06/12-reads-of-christmas-track-santa/
12 Reads of Christmas: Practise safe shopping
Busy with exams and juggling them with doing your online Christmas shopping?
Take a few minutes to remind yourself of some to the things to watch out for to help you stay safe this festive season.
Safe Shopping
Slow down a bit, and remind yourself of the things you should be keep an eye on and be aware of to help ensure you have a great time shopping.
See Get Safe Online’s reminders
Hackable gifts
There will undoubtedly be a lot of hackable gifts under a lot of Christmas trees this year – laptops, tablets, drones, connected toys for the kids, and more gadgets and appliances for the home that connect to the Internet. It’s all exciting stuff – but comes with a serious security warning.
Before you dive in and do your purchases or get connected, remember to
- Research before you buy – check and see if your intended purchase has any reported security issues (Google it!)
- Change the default password on each device – and keep it unique and secure
And don’t connect to bank accounts or other private/personal accounts over public Wi-Fi
See also
- A Cybersecurity Carol: Key Takeaways From This Year’s Most Hackable Holiday Gifts
- Enjoy you Christmas Devices
Posted by Moira Stephen on 04 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/04/12-reads-of-christmas-practise-safe-shopping/
Reminders: help us to help you!
We know this is a hectic time of year for all of our students.
To help you out we’ve summarised some of the facilities and information available to try and make the next couple of weeks a bit easier for you.
Study Spaces
You can check out the opening hours of all our libraries at Library opening hours
Edinburgh campus
The Edinburgh campus library remains open 24/7 until the 14th December. In addition to the Library, LC1 and LC2 there are lots of other study spaces available across campus. See www.hw.ac.uk/studyspace and Study Space (Edinburgh campus) for details.
Study environment
All our campus libraries have gone into revision/exam mode – to create an environment where you can get your head down and make the most of your revision time. If you’re on the Edinburgh campus check out the zoning at the library at Making the Most of the Space.
Revision and exam tips
See Revision and Exams if you need some advice and coping strategies or search through InformS for tips, revision or exam.
Exam stress drop-in sessions (Edinburgh campus)
Just drop in from 14:00 – 15:00, Monday 27th November until Friday 15th December at Student Wellbeing Centre, Hugh Nisbet Building.
Finally…
Remember that you can ask our Service Desk staff in the library or your Academic Support and Liaison Librarian or your Effective Learning Advisor for help at any time.
Good luck with your exams!
Posted by Moira Stephen on 03 December 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/12/03/reminders-help-us-to-help-you/
HWU VPN upgrade: 2nd December
The Edinburgh campus VPN service will be unavailable between 09:00 – 17:00 GMT while we perform a software upgrade and maintenance.
The upgrade will improve the management of the service and facilitate future integration with the Malaysia campus service.
After the upgrade
Own PC/laptop
Users will be prompted to upgrade the VPN client at log in – follow the prompts to receive the upgrade.
HWU Managed Laptops
Users with managed laptops may be prompted to upgrade the VPN Client at log in.
If prompted
- Cancel the prompt
- Log in to the VPN as normal. The VPN client will upgrade automatically at a later date.
See the System Status Page for updates
If you have any issues/queries please contact ithelp@hw.ac.uk
Posted by Moira Stephen on 29 November 2017
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2017/11/29/hwu-vpn-upgrade-2nd-december/
InformS 