SPORT FOCUS
Positive participation
How the exceptional sport environment at Heriot-Watt University plays a powerful role in student experience
Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus is home to Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. This cutting-edge facility brings together elite sporting facilities, student opportunities, and a thriving community where performance sport and everyday participation exist side by side.
Sport and physical activity are central to creating a positive university experience, supporting not only physical health but confidence, connection and wellbeing. Research from the BUCS Student Active Wellbeing Survey 2024-25 highlights the importance of sport in university life. It found a high percentage of students reported that participation has a positive impact on their student experience, and that active students report lower levels of anxiety and a greater sense of belonging.
The survey also highlighted the significant impact of sport on retention rates and how sports participants gained a higher percentage of first class and upper second-class degrees, supporting better graduate outcomes, and Heriot-Watt’s own data is backing up these findings.
Students playing rugby at Oriam
A hub for sporting excellence, collaboration and innovation
The partnership between Heriot-Watt and Oriam provides students with access to outstanding facilities, opportunities to engage in sport at all levels, and the chance to be inspired by the country’s leading athletes and teams training on campus.
The world-class facility is home to partnerships with Scotland’s leading sporting organisations, including Scottish Rugby, Scottish Football Association, Scottish Squash and Tennis Scotland. By providing elite training environments, sports science expertise, and opportunities for research and learning, Oriam supports Scotland’s athletes, coaches and emerging talent. Its collaborative approach with Heriot-Watt connects high-performance sport with student experience, community participation and the future development of Scottish sport.
“A strong example is our partnership with Scottish Rugby, which continues to grow, with both the men’s and women’s rugby programmes now benefiting from the high-performance environment at Oriam,” explains Heriot-Watt alum, and Oriam Executive Director, Ross Campbell. In 2025, Scottish Rugby announced that its Scotland and Great Britain men’s sevens programmes would also be based at Oriam, further strengthening the partnership.
Helping to make a young female Scottish rugby star
As home to Scottish Rugby’s centralised women’s training programme, Oriam is playing a key role in supporting the next generation of international players. Among those benefiting from this environment is recent graduate and Heriot-Watt Sports Scholar, Molly Poolman, who studied Sport and Exercise Science and represented Scotland at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Her experience reflects the unique ecosystem created at Heriot-Watt where students can combine academic study, elite sporting opportunities and access to a community committed to developing future talent.
“My first Women’s Rugby World Cup was an experience I’ll never forget — exciting, surreal, emotional, and definitely challenging. Playing 60 minutes against Canada, ranked second in the world, was a huge highlight, as well as helping Scottish women to qualify for their first quarter-finals in a rugby world cup in 22 years!” Molly comments.
Molly’s time at Heriot-Watt saw her balancing both full-time academic studies alongside chasing a dream of playing for Scotland. “Being a sports scholar allowed me academic flexibility, but it was definitely challenging,” she explains. In her third year, Molly accomplished her dream and started moving towards becoming a full-time professional rugby player. “I think being a part of the Scottish rugby female pathway and growing up within that environment, I have become a very resilient and determined person, and that helped drive me to complete my degree. I can't believe my four years at Heriot-Watt are finished, but I'm not gone completely, with training being at Oriam I'm still on campus just as much as ever,” she comments.
Alum, Associate Professor Mark Ross, who is Director of Research and Programme Lead Sport and Exercise Science, highlights the unique offering at Heriot-Watt: “With our world-class facilities and close partnership with the Sport Scholarship team, we provide athletes like Molly with the flexibility and support they need to balance elite sport with academic success.”
My first Women’s Rugby World Cup was an experience I’ll never forget – exciting, surreal, emotional and definitely challenging.”
Molly Poolman
Learn more about our Sports Scholarships and get in touch if you’re interested in supporting a future sports star at watt.club@hw.ac.uk.
Molly Poolman with teammates for the 2025 Women’s World Rugby Cup.
Molly was a Heriot-Watt Sports scholar.
Alumni leading and influencing the development of sporting talent
Rugby has underpinned a great many memorable experiences, friendships, and opportunities to lead and influence the development of sporting talent throughout my life.”
Keith Wallace
For Heriot-Watt alum Keith Wallace, rugby has been a lifelong passion. A chartered engineer, chartered director and President of the Scottish Rugby Union, Keith credits his Heriot-Watt education as a foundation for a global career. “While I didn’t get to experience Oriam when I was studying at Heriot-Watt, I can certainly vouch for the positive impact of sport on my life,” Keith explains. “For me, rugby is the game that keeps on giving. I got my first boots in 1969 and played for my local club, Haddington in East Lothian, in the front-row from 1970 until my most recent (and final!) appearance in 2020.” Keith admits that while studying at Heriot-Watt one of the highlights of his time “was missing lectures to watch the unbeaten Wallabies team of 1984 and the All Blacks of 1985 train at the Edinburgh Campus”.
Keith’s distinguished career saw him advise on and help deliver major rail projects around the world in over 30 countries, before leading transformational change programmes for train operators. His passion for strategic leadership and good governance has shaped his work across numerous organisations. This includes being a former President of The Watt Club and a Member of the University Court where he helped approve the initial business case for Oriam. Through his current role at Scottish Rugby Union he continues to support the growth of the game in Scotland. “This role combines two of my passions – rugby and governance,” he comments. “Rugby has underpinned a great many memorable experiences, friendships, and opportunities to lead and influence the development of sporting talent throughout my life,” he adds.
“I think it’s fantastic that Oriam hosts the Scottish Rugby squads and that sports scholars, such as Molly, can benefit from the exceptional sport environment that Heriot-Watt offers. I’m also delighted that Oriam is playing a role in the development of the women’s game: I was one of a record 30,498 crowd at Murrayfield Stadium for the Women’s Six Nations Scotland v. England game, and I nearly blubbed seeing the emotion in the team at the reaction they got just getting off the bus!” Keith comments.
Keith with members of the Women’s Scottish Rugby squad.
As SRU President, Keith hosted Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, at the Guinness Six Nations Championship, Edinburgh 2026.
Trying all 34 sports on offer
Former Sports Union President, Vinny Pemberton, recently graduated with First-Class honours in Geography. His dedication, passion and commitment to sport at Heriot-Watt was described by his colleagues as “inspirational”.
“Being part of the Sports Union and Oriam genuinely shaped my time at Heriot‑Watt,” Vinny comments. “It pushed me, supported me, and gave me memories I’ll carry for life. We worked to invite everyone into that experience, regardless of background, ability, or starting point.” He feels strongly that being involved in sport “isn’t just about competition or chasing performance”. Enjoying new experiences, learning skills, meeting people, and “feeling part of something bigger” are all aspects of engaging with sport that can create “moments of connection and confidence that can make a real difference to how people feel throughout their studies,” he enthuses.
Vinny tried all 34 sports on offer at the University. “I used to play Rugby league as a winger, but I didn’t pursue rugby here. When I joined the Sports Union, I tried all the sports I loved, but towards the others I had a ‘definitely not!’ attitude! But I think you can learn a lot about yourself by just giving things a go. I turned out to be a good kicker in American Football and cheerleading was a real surprise!”
In his role as Sports Union President Vinny dedicated himself to championing access and inclusion, working hard to support as many people as possible to engage with sport and to help all the clubs thrive. “My philosophy is get involved because you just don’t know where it might lead you,” he explains.
My philosophy is get involved because you just don’t know where it might lead you.”
Vinny Pemberton
Vinny, with former Heriot-Watt University Principal, Richard A. Williams, at the Sports Union Blues Awards.
Vinny enjoying the 2026 Sports Union Ball.
Driving a culture of physical activity and wellbeing
While Oriam is the home of sport and fitness for students at Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh campus, we are driving a culture of physical activity and wellbeing that aims to engage students and staff through a broad range of inclusive activities, across our global campuses, supported by evidence-based practice and alignment with the University’s ethos.
Share your memories of sport at Heriot-Watt and inspire the next generation! watt.club@hw.ac.uk
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