Newsletter March 2026

Good luck As the teaching activities for the January Semester come to a close this week, we wanted to wish all our students the very best for the coursework and exams you’ll be completing in the weeks ahead. In particular, all the best to our Honours students across Edinburgh, Dubai and Malaysia as you finalise your dissertations. We hope you’re pleased with what you were able to achieve, and good luck with those last ever assessments! Although formal classes are almost done, remember that your lecturers and support services are always here to help. Get in touch if you have any questions or need any guidance. Good luck! Ongoing support We know that our community has been affected by the situation in Middle East, including our colleagues and students in Dubai and those with family in the region. Students can get a summary of the support available at https://heriotwatt.sharepoint.com/sites/Newsletter/SitePages/Support%20for%20students%20affected%20by%20global%20crises.aspx, including a short video from Professor Richard Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. And celebrations Earlier in the month, many in our community marked the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr. Our warmest wishes to all staff and students who were celebrating (https://heriotwatt.sharepoint.com/sites/Newsletter/SitePages/Eid%20Mubarak%202026.aspx). And looking ahead to the start of next month, Happy Easter to those celebrating and a reminder the UK campuses are closed for Good Friday and Easter Monday. In the news Voices of Impact: Women Who Teach, Lead, and Transform  Dubai campus strengthening applied psychology research through regional collaboration Honouring the women leading change at Heriot-Watt Improving lives through Health and Care Technology research Dubai campus to host the inaugural Social Capital 2026 virtual conference BuildWell network launching soon to transform UK housing estates  Sports Scholar of the Month – Kori Fital Latest publications Our latest publications are listed here, but you can find a full list via the Heriot-Watt Research Portal. Andrzejewski, D., Fries, J., & Pietschnig, J. (2026). Executive Function Flynn Effect are Independent of Psychometric ⁠g in Aging Populations Across Europe (2005-2022). Intelligence & Cognitive Abilities. https://doi.org/10.65550/001c.157760 Cooper, L. (2026). Identity and entitlement in accounts of (morally) normative and informational social influence for sustainability. British Journal of Social Psychology, 65(2), e70061. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.70061 Elhag, S. M., Rookes, T. A., Niechcial, M. A., Ziyachi, M., Wang, R., Iyobuchiebomie, M. S., & Gow, A. J. (2026). Preventing Cognitive Frailty: What People Know and What They Are Willing to Change. Brain and Behavior, 16, 3: e71307. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.71307 Research & engagement Conferences and outreach Our Psychology Research Seminars and events run in a variety of modes: in-person, online and hybrid. Events in the coming weeks are listed below, with fuller details available on our events page. Check the details to see if you can join the event on your campus or online. This month, Social Capital 2026, the 1st conference of the International Social Capital Association (ISCA), was hosted from our Dubai campus. A number of University colleagues were involved, from the organising committee to chairing, presenting or participating in sessions across the two-day event. On the first day, Dr Zoe Fortune from our Dubai team presented in the Mobility, Migration, and Transnational Solidarity stream. Zoe’s presentation, “The Role of Social Capital in the Wellbeing of Domestic Workers: Findings from the UAE and South Africa”, presented research in collaboration with colleagues in Dubai, Dr Gary Pheiffer, as well as Stellenbosch University. You can read a summary of Zoe’s presentation below: Objectives: Domestic workers, including nannies, cleaners, and drivers, make up a significant share of global migrant labour, accounting for a large portion of household and caregiving responsibilities. In the UAE, they are estimated to perform up to 80% of parental duties, yet their wellbeing remains poorly understood. Many face long working hours, job insecurity, isolation, and limited access to healthcare. These structural and interpersonal challenges have profound implications for both physical and psychological wellbeing. Methodology: This qualitative, cross-cultural study explores the role of social capital and social cohesion in shaping the wellbeing of domestic workers in the UAE and South Africa. Twenty-five telephone interviews were conducted with Malawian domestic workers in South Africa, and sixteen in-depth, face-to-face interviews with Ugandan and Filipino domestic workers in Dubai. Findings: Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, the study identified themes of unmet expectations, workload strain, employer relations, and cultural adjustment, alongside experiences of exclusion and racism. Across both contexts, social capital, particularly through friendship networks, nationality-based groups, and church communities, emerged as a critical source of emotional, informational, and practical support. These cohesive community ties provided belonging, resilience, and a sense of shared identity, buffering the negative effects of isolation and marginalisation. Implications: Findings highlight the centrality of social cohesion as an informal wellbeing resource, underscoring the importance of strengthening community and policy mechanisms that enable connection, trust, and mutual support among migrant worker populations. On the second day, Professor Alan Gow from our Edinburgh team gave a Distinguished Talk in the Health, Wellbeing, and Human Flourishing stream focussed on “The importance of social connection for brain health”. Alan described approaches to identifying potential lifestyle and behavioural determinants of brain health and opportunities to target those within interventions, with a specific focus on social connection. After his talk, Alan joined a panel discussion including Dr Ahmad Al Khayer, Cambridge Health Group, UAE CEO and Chair of Rehab Medicine that considered “Social Capital and Mental Health”. Student life The Psychology Society in Dubai produce Psyched!, a monthly magazine led and run by students. A dedicated team pull together articles contributed by students on topics related to Psychology. The February issue, “How we think, how we act” can be read at https://online.fliphtml5.com/psyched25-26/lkpe/index.html, with articles exploring behavioural and cognitive psychology. To get involved in future issues, you can contact Magazine Leads Kulsoom Usman (ku4000@hw.ac.uk) and Archana Praveen (ap5001@hw.ac.uk). One of our undergraduate students in Edinburgh was recently profiled as “Sport Scholar of the Month”. Kori Fital, completing her 3rd Year on our BSc Psychology, is described as “an emerging force in Scottish karate, having recently represented Scotland at the 2026 European Youth Karate Championships, where she displayed exceptional discipline, technical precision, and a growing maturity on the international stage”. The profile describes Kori successes in national and international competitions as well as insights into how she balances training and studying. Kori noted “My goal this year is to maintain consistent performances throughout the season, work towards selection for the Senior European Championships and the Commonwealth Karate Championships, while also staying on top of my university coursework”. You can read the full profile at https://oriamscotland.com/kori-fital-scholar-of-the-month/. Student voice In “Student voice”, we hear from our students. Every contribution is different, so if you have something you’d like to share in a future newsletter, get in touch. This month we hear from two of our outgoing Student Ambassadors at our Edinburgh campus. Contributor: Daniel Hirst (BSc Psychology, Edinburgh) Working as a Student Ambassador for the Heriot-Watt Open Days was a true full-circle moment. It filled me with immense pride to reflect on my university journey while engaging with the next generation of students. Alleviating the stress of prospective students and showcasing the many strengths of Heriot-Watt University was a meaningful way to express gratitude to the psychology department, which has supported me throughout my time at university. Choosing this university has been one of the best experiences of my life. Being part of the Psychology department has gifted me with lifelong friendships and professional mentor relationships that I know I’ll have for life. Sharing my passion for this course, easing the worries of aspiring students, and seeing the MASSIVE difference this role makes for those ready to take their next academic step is incredibly rewarding and is much more that just a role on your CV but a true chance to be able to be the voice and support that you know you would have liked when starting university and that in itself is the most rewarding part. Contributor: Izzy Reid (BSc Psychology, Edinburgh) Starting my final year as a student ambassador felt like a real ‘full circle’ moment. When I started at Heriot-Watt, and particularly as a direct entrant, the induction week was so important for getting to know people and understanding how everything worked at the university. Having students at the induction days provides a more relatable perspective for them; they are able to ask questions they might not otherwise feel comfortable asking. I’ve found that even now, the group of students I was working with will still come up and chat if I see them around, so you know that it really does make a difference. After induction, I have also been helping out as an ambassador at the open and offer holder days. These have been great experiences to chat to prospective students, and answer any questions they have. Again, they are able to ask questions pertaining to student life, which makes this role invaluable. Overall, I would thoroughly recommend the opportunity to be a student ambassador. You are able to make a real difference in helping students to settle in during their first few weeks, and showcase what makes Heriot-Watt a fantastic place to go to University. The Department of Psychology is part of the School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, with campuses in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia. Our research is is grouped by three main themes: Cognition, Brain and Behaviour; Lifespan Health and Wellbeing; and Work, Society and Environment. Find out more at https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/our-schools/social-sciences/psychology or follow updates on our social media channels.