The recent Half-Yearly Meeting of the General Council took place in the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) followed by lunch in the Playfair Library. The University Rector, Simon Fanshawe, chaired the meeting and the Convener, Gordon Cairns gave his inaugural report from the Business Committee.The Principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, presented the Annual Report from the University, based on the University's Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for 2024/25.The Secretary of the General Council, Dr William Duncan, noted the key dates for General Council elections and statutory meetings:Elections for vacancies to the Business Committee will be held in February 2027 and nomination forms should be received by Wednesday 18 November 2026.Future dates for Half-Yearly Meetings:Saturday 13 June 2026Saturday 20 February 2027A recording of the meeting, which includes the reports from the Principal and the Convener of the General Council Business Committee, is available to view below.As usual following the Half-Yearly Meeting, members of the General Council, alumni partners, family and friends attended the General Council Lunch in the Playfair Library to hear Professor Marion Thain, Director of EFI, deliver the after-lunch talk on the theme of Future University.The recording of Professor Thain's talk can be viewed below.Some feedback received:congratulations on a superbly organised dayThank you for all your hard work in preparing for yesterday’s excellent half-yearly meeting - much enjoyed The General Council Half-Yearly Meeting - Saturday 14 February 2026 Professor Marion Thain, Director of EFI, gives a talk on Future University. This article was published on 2026-02-20
