AUTUMN 2013 AUTUMN News andand viewsviews forfor the the people people of of Glasgow Glasgow Caledonian Caledonian Universit University y

LILY COLE On education and achieving her impossible dream. PAGE 04.

Creating the fashion leaders of tomorrow GCU British School of Fashion is launched. PAGE 10. Brighter futures begin with GCU.

Why have a strapline of ‘brighter futures begin with GCU’ if we don’t live by it? That’s why GCU, in partnership with the Open University, offers all staff the opportunity to undertake a language course, to expand upon their existing skills and open up the global opportunities available to them, through research, exchanges and beyond.

Visit www.gcu.ac.uk/oulanguages

Brighter futures begin with GCU

GCU 27094 Caledonian Magazine Ad 3.indd 1 19/09/2013 10:28 Welcome from the Principal and Vice-Chancellor I am delighted Contents to introduce this new and 04 Nothing’s impossible for Honorary Graduate Lily revamped edition Model and actor Lily Cole talks to The Caledonian about her social business of The Caledonian ambitions. magazine. 07 How young people make ‘sense’ of male violence Our University is Researcher Nancy Lombard takes her work to the US and the United Nations. embarking on a 08 Fringe benefits of laughing and learning series of exciting Professor Keith Stevenson and tutor Eddie McKean hit the comedy stage projects, driven at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. forward by the passion of our staff and 10 Creating the fashion leaders of tomorrow students, with an impressive array of Professor Christopher Moore on how the British School of Fashion has external partners. This is why I am so inspired the industry. pleased that this new expanded format 14 Helping to close the digital divide for our in-house magazine will provide A look at GCU’s vital role in bridging the e-skills deficit. the scope for in-depth features that can explore these developments with the 16 Advanced thinking helps bridge education gap GCU’s unique approach brings Glasgow’s ambitious pupils on to campus. added detail and rigour they deserve. This new edition’s lead feature 18 Why Richard is game to enter Uncharted waters certainly lives up to that billing, Top games designer Richard Lemarchand reveals how academia has brought new opportunities. an interview with a recent honorary graduate of the University, Lily Cole. 20 Business case for the common good Lily is an inspirational young woman, Professor Lesley Sawers talks to The Caledonian about how GCU is rising to business challenges. and her range of accolades and achievements has seen her personify 22 News Briefing: Iranian President is GCU alumnus in her actions the values espoused by The election of Dr Rouhani was just one of the GCU news stories that hit headlines across the globe. Chancellor Yunus and the University. Since becoming an Honorary Doctor of 25 Global watch: GCU launches campus in New York Letters, she has returned to deliver this Groundbreaking initiatives and partnerships have heightened the University’s international profile. year’s Freshers’ Address, and has had positive discussions with our Students’ Association about her 28 Dispensing with innovative gift economy website the need for daily impossible.com. The combination of injections commitment to social business, and her A £4million research project could roots in the fashion industry, are just pave the way for first human trials of diabetes treatment. two of the many reasons I am so looking forward to working with her in the coming year. This interview is just one part of the new range of features in the refreshed magazine, and with the opening of our 30 Surveying the future New York campus and the launch of the Douglas Little ensures that the student experience is key to the £30m Heart GCU British School of Fashion, I look of the Campus transformation. forward to reading some outstanding 31 Thinking differently: GCU’s new Strategy for Learning coverage of the great strides that we How the University is meeting the expectations of a new generation of learners. are making, and will continue to make, as a University. 32 Lifelong learning and the accidental academic Dr Nicola Andrew discusses the importance of real world experience and lifelong learning.

34 Back Story – Whistle while you work Senior lecturer and referee John McKendrick talks about his love for the beautiful game .

COVER PICTURE: Lily Cole in the Fashion Factory at GCU Glasgow. Picture: Bill Fleming Professor Pamela Gillies CBE BSc PGCE MEd MMedSci PhD FRSA FFPH AcSS Hon FRCPS (Glasg) Published by: Communications and Public Affairs, Glasgow Caledonian University.Designed and printed by: Print Design Services, Glasgow Caledonian University. Photography by: Peter Devlin, Paul Hampton, Josh Tucker, Gary Morrison, GCMB. Principal and Vice-Chancellor © Glasgow Caledonian University 2013.

[email protected] 03 COVER STORY

Nothing’s impossible for model student Lily

Model, actor and social entrepreneur Lily Cole on the value of honorary doctorates, creating fashion that lasts and how we can all do the impossible. Peter John Meiklem reports

n the mix of tradition and excitement that But more of that later. For now, Lily is The glamorous façade of the model Iis the university graduation ceremony, simply another graduate with big dreams, world fades after an hour in Lily’s company Lily Cole knows the role of the honorary and worries about whether she’s really got as she reveals her real-world passions, doctor is to inspire the audience as much what it takes to make them come true. including the pursuit of social justice. as be recognised for her own achievements. “Being handed the doctorate felt kind of Having used her fame since day one to Yet, at only 25, there is no hiding the weird. I don’t mean that in a negative way, promote a number of social causes, similarities between the young model, actor but it was a surreal experience to stand she’s given some serious thought to her and social entrepreneur and the 2000 there and have your autobiography read place in what can be a tough industry. other students who graduated alongside out while people are watching you. I spent “I was working in fashion and her in the summer. most of my time during the ceremony simultaneously I was working with a “Mum,” shouts Lily, fresh out of the looking at my mum. number of charities. I knew I wanted to post-ceremony lunch in GCU’s Britannia do something else, but I didn’t know what. Building, “where’s my bag? The one they I was contacted by loads of different gave me after the ceremony. Do you I know that sustainable charities at the start – and they all appealed have it?” It’s a conversation that could fashion is a paradox – to me,” she laughs. be happening in any one of hundreds of “I mean of course I want to save those homes and restaurants across Glasgow and there are lots of animals, and of course I don’t want the and beyond as new graduates gather “problems – but why not planet to blow up. Through that process with their loved ones to celebrate. I stumbled on the idea of how impactful Dr Cole – though it’s doubtful she’ll be try to find solutions? companies are.” using her Doctor of Letters honorific too “The way our world is structured right often (she comes across more down to “I’ve really got to earn that doctorate now, business and economics dominates earth than airs and graces) – is delighted now. I can see how all the things I’m much of the natural human landscape. with her GCU goodie bag and wants her working on are going to map together. I started to see a whole lot of problems mum, the artist and writer Patience Owen, That said, it’s all in the sky, until I can make with that. And whether I’m advertising for to help her track it down. it real, so it still seems kind of crazy.” a company, or buying things, I’m complicit The University, on the other hand, Judging by her CV to date, it shouldn’t in those problems. But I also have lots of is more than a little impressed by Lily’s be too much of a problem. Born in Devon, power, not just through modelling, but as renaissance woman credentials, a career Lily was first spotted while walking in a consumer too – the power to suggest path which has included a Vogue magazine London’s Soho district as a young teenager what kind of business I’d like the world to cover at 16; a double first in art history from and went on to sign with the prestigious move towards.” Cambridge at 23; roles in major movies; Storm modelling agency. Voted model It’s another cliché – the supermodel charity campaigning work and, most of the year at the 2004 British Fashion who just wants to ‘save the world’ – but Lily recently, becoming the driving force behind Awards, she’s worked with the world’s breaks the mould, having thought carefully a number of social businesses, including top luxury brands including Chanel, about her place within it. Fashion parody an ethical knitwear company, The North Louis Vuitton and Jean Paul Gautier, ‘Blue Steel’ she certainly isn’t, being more Circular, and a soon-to-launch project and was one of nine British supermodels likely to quote 19th century German writer which could revolutionise the way we do chosen to bring last year’s Olympic Goethe than any fashion luminary. ‘business’ with each other. Games to a close. It could all have been very different,

04 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK GCU Chancellor Professor Muhammad Yunus ‘caps’ Doctor Lily Cole at the University’s summer graduations in Glasgow. she says, if not for the influence of an decision was, I didn’t want to even think In her parallel life, Lily’s work in social inspirational teacher. With the modelling about going to university, but I had this business has been brought into new world at her feet, and bringing home pay most amazing history and politics teacher. focus by meeting Nobel Laureate and cheques most school kids could hardly He used to write these very witty long GCU Chancellor Professor Muhammad dream of, Lily says the decision to go back letters, and he wrote me this two-page Yunus. She launched her ethical knitwear into education wasn’t straightforward. letter, outlining why – in a very funny way line, The North Circular, after a ‘whimsical “I was really trying to decide whether to – I should at least apply. Once I got into conversation’ about her grandmother’s jump into modelling or I could have kept my Cambridge, I got into the same pickle love of knitting and the need to connect A levels going. That was a critical moment. as I did when I was 16.” consumers to the product they would Somewhere within me, I knew I always liked Lily says she “hasn’t wanted to model eventually buy. The resulting business learning, so it just felt right to continue in for a very long time”, so now splits her sells high quality knitwear with the knitter’s education. time between work in film and the creative name stitched to the front, drawing “Then, knowing how difficult that arts, and campaigning and social business. attention to the production chain >>>

[email protected] 05 continued from page 05 them when they break.” The idea behind it is as simple as that Committed to a ‘not for profit’ ideal, behind North Circular: use the power and the importance of quality. she says meeting Professor Yunus – of social media to help people do each Says Lily: “I know that sustainable who she is still “conspiring with on new other ‘favours’, to swap skills and talents fashion is a paradox, and there are lots projects” – helped clarify her thinking. in what economists have long called of paradoxes in me, and in the industry. “When we set up we didn’t know about “the gift economy”. Once you’ve There are a lot of problems, but why not social business. The point of it was to be downloaded the platform on to your smart try to find solutions? I do have a problem socially responsible, sustainable fashion. phone, it’s a simple case of posting what with trends: the fact that things stop being It was accidentally a social business. you need, what you’ve got to offer and – trendy after six months. That side of the Since I met Professor Yunus last year, of course – remembering to say thank industry is potentially unhealthy.” it’s just been a case of putting it in that you afterwards. Lily stops to pick at her pink dress, language.” “It looks like a natural progression chosen for the graduation ceremony: Her connection with Professor Yunus, [of her earlier campaigning and charity “This is by the British designer Giles alongside a friendship with Wikipedia work] but the idea was actually formed Deacon, I can’t remember what season it founder Jimmy Wales – led to them on a trip to the Thai/Burmese border. is, but it’s years old. It’s as relevant today as becoming advisors on impossible.com, I was with my friend Kate and we were it would have been three or four years ago. Lily’s social business which she unveiled to having a conversation about the financial It’ll be just as relevant in four years’ time. GCU students during Freshers’ Week 2013 crisis and it just seemed ridiculous that It’s about clothes being quality and fixing and is also currently on trial in Cambridge. societies were paralysed – there’s no reason why we can’t make things work without money.” This commitment to a world without cash explains the half tongue-in-cheek, half defiant title of impossible.com, though it’s clear that Lily believes the project to be anything but. Knowing she still has much to prove, Lily modestly says she was more “embarrassed” than pressured by being chosen to join a select group of GCU honorary graduates being recognised for their outstanding contributions in their specialist fields. “We didn’t have any honorary graduates when I graduated at Cambridge. It’s a really nice idea as you get speakers to come and guide and motivate – though I’m not really talking about myself here. You’re not just acknowledging the person’s work, but it gives the audience a voice to be inspired by.” Even with a life marked out by such unusual experiences, Lily says the GCU ceremony is one that will stay with her. And, as much as she is happy to leave her achievements in modelling behind, with her sights set on the huge challenges of a twin career in film and social business, she remains a firm believer in the power of the industry which made her name to continue to captivate, create and inspire. “It would be so terrible to penalise fashion outright as there’s such wonderful creativity. I was sitting watching the graduates go by; it was so fascinating to see how each of them has their own style. They all wear these orthodox gowns but then they have a different pair of shoes, a tattoo, or maybe their hair is dyed. Lily Cole with children on the Burmese border; as an Honorary Graduate of GCU; and with GCU Principal Professor Pamela Gillies, Chancellor Yunus and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales after Professor Yunus received the US You get insights into their personalities – Congressional Gold Medal. and I think that’s wonderful.”

06 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK CALEDONIAN INSIGHT

HOW YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE ‘SENSE’ OF MALE VIOLENCE Early Career Researcher Nancy Lombard, GSBS, recently delivered two keynote papers at the Universities of Stony Brook and Rutgers in the US. She was also invited to speak at the Children’s Aid Society, NYC, and at the United Nations. Here she explains the background to her research

en’s violence against women is an violence that takes place among their intervention of a teacher). The girls often Mendemic social problem within all peers and siblings (thereby not actually found their own experiences of violent societies and cultures. Feminist research labelling it as violence); and then justifying (male) peers, was invalidated by the lack and activism has maintained that to male violence using expectations of of adult recognition (and definition) of challenge and prevent such violence, inequity in gender roles endorsed by the actions. Their personal experiences changing attitudes and behaviour is key. heterosexual relationships. were ignored and minimised by those with My ongoing research examines what A key theme of my research findings the authority to do so; a finding that is young people think about men’s violence is the idea of ‘real’ (defined) and ‘unreal’ replicated daily in all women’s (and girls’) against women with a view to generating (named) violence and the processes young lives worldwide. theoretical insights and informing people use to differentiate between these. The themes of gender inequality, prevention work in this area. The papers I argue that young people subscribe to a male power, normative gender roles and presented were based on research I had constellation of factors that has to be in heterosexuality were pertinent in young conducted with young people in primary place to enable them to define actions as people’s understandings of men’s violence schools in Glasgow. violent; gender (men), age (adult); space against women. It is by anticipating and The fieldwork took place over six (outside); actions (physical violence); normalising these frameworks of male months, involving 89 young people in and consequence (injury and official power as acceptable, that young people five primary schools using participatory sanctions). constructed adult relationships in terms methods to engage and empower When (abstract) examples followed of power, regulation and control – and the young people. The main aims of this linear route they were more likely blaming women when things go wrong. the research were to confront and to judge them as violent. Incidents It became clear that young people challenge the ‘every-day’ occurrence experienced by the young people repeatedly accessed adulthood and acceptability of the social problem themselves (‘named’) were less likely to understand certain forms of of men’s violence against women; and to be labelled as violence, particularly if gender identity and construct adult to challenge the perception that 11 and they involved girls as ‘victims’ (of male heterosexuality as a rigid and narrow 12-year-olds are too young to ‘know’ about peers’ actions) and where there was framework, using heterosexuality as a lens violence or offer opinions on it. no official consequence (such as the to examine men’s violence against women. My research found that young people Young people accessed a discourse understood and made sense of violence in of difference when talking about men and different ways and these revolved around Girls, in particular, women. Much post-structural feminist three forms of explanation: naturalising discussion has looked at the differences the violence as an integral part of a man’s see their futures between women; sexuality, class, ethnicity, identity; normalising certain forms of “as limited. education, religion – yet age has never >>> [email protected] 07 How young people make ‘sense’ of male violence continued from page 07 Fringe benefits really been a focus. However, for the young people it was a difference they subscribed to, time and again. For them it was an explicit indicator of difference, between themselves as girls and of laughing an older generation of women. They used age as a signifier in their constructions of gender, judging that the more adult somebody was, the more fixed and restricted their gender identity became. and learning This is an original insight into the gender constructions of young people, as defined in relation to the ‘other’. As part of the Glasgow Bright Club, Professor This can be best illustrated with girls’ Keith Stevenson and Eddie McKean are among future ambitions. Girls in particular see a growing band of academics who have gate- their futures as limited and their ambitions curtailed because of their understanding crashed the comedy circuit to share funny of anticipated gender roles and future stories about their studies and their lives, relationships. Their own understandings as well as the odd career misfire along and expectations of gender were shaped by the way. Roisin Eadie reports their experiences and their anticipation of their future lives. The young people were most likely to hey have worked the one-liners and view their gendered identities as constantly Tperfected their timing to develop evolving and more fluid, with a range of routines with an irreverent spin that poke identities available to them rather than fun at themselves and their areas of being constrained by a singular identity. academic research. Yet they see these identities becoming Keith and Eddie appeared at the more rigid, and less plural, as they get Edinburgh Festival in August and they older, are in relationships and have hope more GCU colleagues will join them children. The heterosexual partnership and on the comedy boards. GCU’s Community the gender roles within such relationships, and Public Engagement Coordinator become more structured, fixed and rigid Susan Grant has embraced the and acceptable for the young people concept and organises (boys and girls) when aligned with regular Laugh and marriage, the private sphere of the Lunch Public home and children. Engagement The findings highlighted that where gender divisions and stereotypes were perpetuated, the young people were less likely to challenge men’s violence against women. The young people’s invalidation of their own experiences of violence (including minimisation of sibling violence) alongside boys’ use of violence and expectations of gendered privilege, demonstrate that the promotion of gender equality and the reduction of gender segregation is a necessity for Alas Keith and Eddie: striking a familiar ‘comic’ pose, GCU academics Professor Keith dealing with this social problem. Stevenson and Eddie McKean are serious about the benefits of humour in learning.

08 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK LAUGH AND LEARN

seminars to encourage academic and the same point about clinical trials I would cities across the UK as scientists, lecturers research staff to share their work and impress on my students” said Keith. and researchers jumped at the chance to research outside the campus gates. The Bright Club Scotland ran for 25 reinvent themselves on stage. “It can be difficult for people who have performances at the Assembly Rooms Eddie’s self deprecating routines focus spent years gaining specialist knowledge in August providing a fresh set of five on his research methods and motivations. of a subject to then make fun of it, but academics for each show. Eighty academics “I used to do a stand-up in the early Bright Club is a great way to take ideas to a from across the UK took to the stage 1990s so the chance for me to combine different audience,” said Keith, Professor of with routines ranging from Astronomy to comedy with my work is great,” said Eddie, Interprofessional Education in the School of Zoology. Keith notes that it is interesting to an Academic Development Tutor. Health and Life Sciences. see how well the younger PhD students and “There can be an attitude among PhD Adopting a grumpy professor persona Post Docs are able to use their analytical students or scientists that only their peers on stage, Keith’s ‘Mis-measured Man’ skills to pull a routine together. “It’s not are interested in what they are working on, routine at the Fringe was based on the true dissimilar to working on a research abstract but that’s simply not true. Stand up relies story of his reluctant participation in for a conference, really,” he added. on simple analogies and straightforward a clinical research trial involving vodka, Described as University Challenge language, which is another great skill that erotic fiction and a measuring device. with a dash of QI and a bucket load of Billy can be adopted by academics.” “The audience didn’t need specialist Connolly, Bright Club started in London and He jokes about the stunned reaction knowledge to find it funny yet it illustrated soon they were popping up in university of his parents and friends that met his announcement that he was to become a 37-year-old first time student. “I am a product of widening access,” said Eddie. “I’ll have a laugh on stage about the bizarre way I ended up at university but I don’t go out to offend anyone.” Both are regulars at the Glasgow Bright Club nights at the Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow’s West End, and contribute to GCU’s Laugh and Lunch seminars. “The seminars are a way for people to dip their toe in the comedy water,” said Keith. “If they want to take if further, Bright Club provides support from professional comedians. The audiences are warm and welcoming so it’s a nurturing environment for aspiring comedians.”

[email protected] 09 10 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK BRITISH SCHOOL OF FASHION

Creating the fashion leaders of tomorrow

GCU has a historic pedigree in fashion education which can be traced back to 1875 and now that expertise has been consolidated with the launch of the GCU British School of Fashion based at GCU London. Linda Robertson meets the School’s first Director and reveals its unique partnership with Marks & Spencer

“FASHION is about opportunity. It’s about fluent in the language of fashion business, imagination. Fashion is what we’re about.” whether it’s management, manufacturing, s one of the UK’s leading voices marketing or merchandising. Ain international fashion marketing “There are other universities in the UK and luxury brand management, and a that enjoy an international reputation in consultant for a string of High Street the area of fashion design education names, Professor Christopher Moore’s but not the actual business of fashion – knowledge and insight of the global fashion marketing strategy, brand development, industry is highly sought after. international growth and consumer As the first Director of the GCU British behaviour,” says Christopher. School of Fashion, however, his mission Worth £21 billion to the UK economy is manifestly clear: to create the fashion and supporting an estimated 816,000 leaders of the future. jobs, fashion is the largest employer of all At the School’s base in GCU London – the creative industries, according to the fittingly in Fashion Street, Spitalfields – he’ll British Fashion Council. help nurture and support new talent and “Fashion contributes more to the equip them with the skills to succeed in a economy than the publishing, car dynamic and hugely-competitive industry. manufacturing and chemical manufacturing “I would like us to present ourselves to industries” says Christopher. “It is a multi- the market as being custodians of fashion,” billion dollar business which requires he says. “We’re here to assist the fashion leaders and experts who understand the sector, to help develop people but we’re industry in detail.” here to provide a lasting effect.” UK and international industry leaders, Brands and labels undoubtedly depend including Marks and Spencer’s CEO Marc on the quality and creativity of their design Bolland attended the launch at GCU talent but success is about more than the London. Mr Bolland described the BSoF clothes on the rails or the accessories lining as the “best of British in its truest sense”. the shelves. They need the right people to Days later, during London Fashion Week, drive them forward. The British School of he returned to GCU London to unveil the Fashion will produce graduates who are M&S Studio located on the campus >>>

[email protected] 11 BRITISH SCHOOL OF FASHION

The main speakers at the GCU British School of Fashion launch were: Professor Christopher Moore, the School’s first Director, former Karen Millen and AllSaints designer Hannah Coffin, Marks and Spencer CEO Marc Bolland, and GCU Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies. continued from page 11 the ways they bring immense added value “Students recognise the input from to students and staff alike.” institutions such as GCU has been to and announce a £50,000 scholarship Programmes, designed by GCU’s develop and mould talented leaders, programme in support of the British School Glasgow School for Business and Society, people who have seen the changes in of Fashion. will combine theoretical learning and the market and its opportunities, and they Speaking at the launch event, Principal hands-on experience with the help of have been entrepreneurial in a way that’s and Vice-Chancellor of GCU, Professor brands such as Ralph Lauren and British responsible, concerned for the environment Pamela Gillies, said the School embodies institutions including Marks & Spencer, and the people who work within the fashion the University’s endeavour to promote House of Fraser, AllSaints and the Arcadia supply chain.” enterprise, innovation and learning, Group. Although based at GCU London, In the past, he says those who studied underpinned by a deep-rooted social the British School of Fashion will also within the area of fashion marketing were conscience. export the best of British fashion education typically those who had a degree in “The fashion industry is diverse, to GCU’s new campus in New York. textile technology and wanted to develop complex and highly-challenging,” said “GCU has been a pioneer in the field new skills. Now, the profile of student has Professor Gillies. “Students and industry of fashion marketing and luxury brand changed. leaders come to GCU in recognition of education. Twenty years ago we were the “We’re as likely to get someone who the quality and depth of the expertise, first to offer a post-graduate qualification perhaps started off as an accountant or knowledge and extensive networks we in fashion marketing and in 2010 we were a lawyer and then realised they can take can share with them. the first university in the UK to offer an those skills and disciplines they had in their “What has been so gratifying has been MBA in Luxury Brand Marketing,” says undergraduate degree into this new area of the unparalleled support of the British and Christopher. fashion marketing, retailing and branding,” European fashion industry at the highest “The British School of Fashion brings said Christopher. levels. together each strand of the work that we There are also the students who “We have been delighted to welcome do in the fashion arena. It’s a continuation arrive with a family background in textile so many of the industry’s most influential with a proper name, a clearer and more manufacturing or design distribution: figures as Honorary Professors of GCU. focused identity that will take us forward “We now have a real cluster of students They include Ray Kelvin of Ted Baker, Ian into the next generation and beyond.” from great fashion manufacturing Grabiner of Arcadia, Nick Robertson of Students come from all over the globe dynasties and being with us has allowed Asos, Belinda Earl of Marks & Spencer to study at GCU, particularly at Masters them to breathe new life into their and Patrick Grant of Norton and Sons. level. Where better to study the dynamics business and make them relevant to “Sharing their experiences through GCU of fashion than in the world’s style capitals a new generation. master-classes, for example, is just one of – London and New York? “I think that’s a great legacy.”

12 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK GCU London, in the aptly-named Fashion Street, was transformed for the night at a formal dinner to launch the GCU British School of Fashion.

[email protected] 13 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Helping to close the digital divide

To meet the demands of our 24/7 switched-on society, Scotland needs to recruit nearly 10,000 people a year – yet there are not enough skilled people to fill the jobs. Peter John Meiklem discovers how GCU is working to help address the digital deficit

hil Worms knows that Scotland has skills offer a great way to work with Pa problem. The Group Marketing communities. Director of cloud computing company “We know that teachers sometimes iomart, and Board Member of e-skills struggle, for example. They appreciate it Scotland, knows that despite the huge when our students go in and lead digital number of computers, tablets and smart media programmes that they don’t have phones which seem to be everywhere, the time, or skills, to do.” young people are missing out on When digital devices seem ubiquitous, life-changing opportunities. it’s surprising to learn that only 57 per cent “It’s really worrying. We estimate that of households in the West of Scotland have the IT industry will need 9500 people broadband internet access, according to each year up until 2015 to meet demand media regulator Ofcom’s latest figures. but we’re struggling to find people. Scotland has the lowest levels of digital Universities have a massive role to play. penetration in the UK. Nearly 25 per cent Addressing the digital deficit – GCU is developing key digital skills Not just lecturers, but students who of Scots are currently missing out on the make such brilliant role models.” economic, social and cultural benefits training children to use the new equipment. The good news is GCU is already that the internet brings, creating a digital GCU’s own Caledonian Club – which changing things by linking with a wide divide. Though this is in part down to works in communities in Glasgow and range of external partners including poor infrastructure, it’s a major handicap London where families don’t as yet schools, charities, Celtic’s community when it comes to learning and studying, have a tradition of going to University fund and GCU’s Caledonian Club. an economic headache, and in a world – has incorporated digital skills into its The projects are building on the where so much of our information is programmes since it began. University’s excellent reputation for consumed and created online it’s a The University has also committed to digital expertise. They will develop key problem for democracy too. becoming a partner in the Helensburgh digital skills for hundreds of young people The problem is worse in areas with Heroes project, which is aiming to turn a and transform the way technology is a low average household income and derelict building in the town – birthplace thought about. that’s where many of the GCU-linked of television inventor John Logie Baird – Dr Morag Ferguson, Community and projects begin. The Celtic Foundation – the into a Digital Academy and Entertainment Public Engagement Fellow, and Senior charitable arm of the football club – has Complex “The Heroes Centre” - teaching Lecturer in the School of Engineering kitted out Glasgow schools and GCU staff skills such as content creation, coding and Built Environment, said digital and students will soon have a role to play in and how to use search engines to boost

14 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK for hundreds of young people and transforming the way technology is thought about. Defining digital skills businesses. These projects are linked by 2012 into working with charities and third the same philosophy: making digital skills sector groups, helping Alzheimer Scotland, • How to operate common digital fun, accessible and promoting creativity. Gathering the Voices and the Scottish devices such as iPads, iPhones and GCU is also linked to the Computer Club Centre for Telehealth and Telecare. laptops, among others, to support for Girls project, supported by iomart. This According to Programme Leader for career development e-Skills initiative will boost the number of Games Software Development, Brian • How to create audio, music and female students entering digital courses. McDonald, it’s another example of how video “There’s a huge pool that isn’t being GCU’s digital skills expertise is being used • Basic programming – learning to tapped,” Morag explained. “We want to to engage. “We’re living in a society which write in programming languages, take away the fear factor and use student is becoming more digitally orientated. including programming for games placements to help pupils and teachers.” Kids are using this technology but without and for business Though the range of the projects is new, any formal training. What we want to do • Communication tools, such as Skype GCU has used digital skills to connect with is engage with them and make it more and Facetime new audiences for a long time. The Scottish relevant. Technology can be more than just • Graphic design for digital media Game Jam is now well established. The 48- an entertainment device – it can help • 3D animation and games art hour games design challenge expanded in young people to fulfil their potential.”

[email protected] 15 INSIDE STORY

Advanced thinking helps bridge the education gap

GCU already has one of the most impressive records on widening access. Now the University is at the centre of a unique initiative to help students successfully bridge the gap between high school and higher education. Roisin Eadie meets Rebecca Lavery, the Head of GCU’s Advanced Higher Hub

he £1million Advanced Higher Hub, people are staying on to S6 but fewer than Twhich launched in the Hamish Wood one in 10 will study for an Advanced Higher, building In August, is the first initiative of leaving many to repeat Highers simply to its type in Scotland. improve grades or to take classes unrelated Established through a grant from the to their further or higher education plans. Scottish Funding Council and in partnership Rebecca said: “We have brought with Glasgow City Council, there are now together a dedicated team of teachers and 150 pupils attending classes in Maths, our pupils are committed and determined English, History, Modern Studies, Biology, to succeed. They have already proved Chemistry and Business Management. themselves through their excellent Higher Rebecca Lavery, who is leading the Hub results and are ready to take the next step project, knows that the S6 pupils from 19 towards entrance to university. schools across Glasgow and GCU have “It would be naive to say that the much to prove. However, she is confident success of the Hub shouldn’t be judged that the combination of ambitious young purely on exam results, but it is important people, experienced teaching staff and to also recognise the great experience advanced university facilities will reap that being on campus brings. One of the rewards. reasons we don’t expect pupils to wear “I know that it will be scrutinised during school uniform is so they can enjoy a real the first year especially, but I am sure that sense of university life with full use of all the Hub will be a great success. Advanced the facilities, including the Arc, computers Highers are much more intense than and the library. They can meet up in the Highers. They demand a much deeper refectory before classes and it is great to knowledge and understanding of the see how their confidence is growing as they subject and act as a bridge to first year at become part of the GCU community.” university because they require pupils to be Rebecca has taught English for nearly 20 more responsible for their own learning,” years and for much of that time has been said Rebecca. involved in widening access initiatives. Advanced Highers also carry an From 1997, in her role as Principal Teacher enhanced UCAS points value, which of Pupil Support, she introduced access gives prospective students an edge when programmes at Lochend Community High applying to university but schools are not School in Easterhouse, followed by a similar always able to provide the range of subjects scheme at Coatbridge High School in North

that pupils are looking for. More young Lanarkshire. These initiatives continue Despite the rise of e-books and digital communications,

16 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK to have a real and lasting impact on the number of pupils progressing to further and higher education. Opening the higher education doors to those who achieve the required grades is only half the widening participation challenge, says Rebecca. It is just as important to ensure that young people from low participation neighbourhoods have a firm belief in themselves and their abilities, and that they are encouraged and supported to get the most out of their university experience and education from the minute they set foot on campus. “Having witnessed first-hand the incredible impact that access of opportunity can bring to the lives and futures of young people, I am passionate about widening participation. I have predominately worked with senior pupils and at each school I introduced new practices and initiatives with regard to widening participation. “At Lochend, with the support of its head teacher, I started the FE/HE class to raise awareness of further education and higher education opportunities. It supported pupils with ambitions to study at HNC and HND level as well as those who were applying to university.”

The Hub has brought some of Glasgow’s most ambitious and “determined young people on to the campus.

The UK Recruitment Outreach team (UKRO), which Rebecca is now part of, includes widening access initiatives such as the Caledonian Club, which works with parents and children, MAPS@GCU, a peer mentoring service for new students, and the Schools and Colleges Engagement TransitionTeam (SCETT), which works with target schools and FE colleges. It is hoped the Advanced Higher Hub will further enhance GCU’s reputation for reaching out to those who otherwise would lose out on the benefits of higher education. For Rebecca and her team, it has brought a raft of new challenges: “I am enjoying life at GCU and appreciate the tremendous support from the Academic Schools, the Estates department, the library team and across the whole traditional library facilities are also important for Advanced Higher students says Rebecca Lavery. University.”

[email protected] 17 INTERVIEW: RICHARD LEMARCHAND

Why Richard is game to enter Uncharted waters

A thrill-packed world of death- defying stunts and compelling plots was the lucrative day job for Professor Richard Lemarchand until academia beckoned in California. The GCU honorary graduate explained his conversion during a visit to GCU’s Glasgow campus

Uncharted success

Uncharted is an action adventure shooter platform game trilogy developed for PlayStation and Sony by Naughty Dog.

The first game Uncharted: Drakes Fortune was released in 2007, soon followed by Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. In 2011, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception sold nearly four million copies on its first day of release. The series follows the adventures of treasure hunter Nathan “Nate” Drake (a jeans-wearing, gun-toting descendant of Sir Francis Drake) and it has been hailed for raising the video game design bar with its visuals, playability and plot twists. Uncharted has won more than 200 awards and is estimated to have sold more than 17million copies worldwide.

18 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK he international games industry is the place that we have got to in the history Favourite game Tunambiguous in its assessment of of games design. The fact that young Richard Lemarchand: he is a genius. “One of my recent favourites is ‘FTL (Faster people can come together and make a Celebrated for his cunningly clever Than Light)’, an indie game about life on board whole game in 48 hours opens up new a spaceship. It’s the fact that the game so well story-lines and technical innovation, combines story-telling game mechanics but is horizons in terms of what is possible with Richard was the lead designer on completely open-ended, and all these beautiful games as an art form. When you look at moments of drama arrive purely from the Uncharted, the multi-million selling Sony system of the game. the amazing games that come out of the PlayStation video game trilogy produced Scottish Games Jam, in terms of diversity “The game that I often say had the most by California-based Naughty Dog. impact on me is ‘The Legend of Zelda: A Link of mechanics and subject matter, it just lets In a surprise move, after eight highly to The Past’ for the Super Nintendo. That was us know, loud and clear, what an exciting another game that combined game mechanics successful years and a raft of awards, and story-telling in such a way that opened up time it is for video games.” Richard has now written himself out of whole new beautiful vistas.” A passion for teaching – and learning the script at Naughty Dog, a decision that from – that next generation is obvious when made industry media headlines around Richard met GCU students to discuss their the world. His new role as an Associate “I now feel very lucky that I can take all ideas and take a look at course work. Professor in the Interactive Media Division my experience and help to bring along the “You have introduced me to something of the School of Cinematic Arts at the next generation of games designers.” here that I didn’t know about,” Richard told University of Southern California (USC), Sharing that experience was very one. “In industry, we’re only just beginning was an opportunity he says that was much on the agenda when Richard to get to grips with this kind of stuff,” simply “too good to pass up on”. visited GCU in the summer to accept he told another. Speaking to The Caledonian about his an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Richard reckons that the worlds of decision to leave the games industry to Technology. During his time on campus, video gaming and universities are moving take up the teaching and research role at he met students and checked out their ever closer, with each having a lot to offer USC, Richard said: “I had 20 amazing years work, toured the facilities in the School the other. working in the industry, every minute of of Engineering and Built Environment, “There is more free travel between which I loved. and delivered a master class (which the games industry and academia now. “But over the past eight years or so, was fully subscribed within days of its Certainly, when we look at work being done I have become very excited by the announcement). at GCU, we can see that there are many possibilities in the world of indie games GCU is fast becoming known across immediate positive benefits that the games and latterly, art games. It was a big the UK and internationally for its Games industry can take away from the research wrench to leave Naughty Dog, Jam events, non-stop 48-hours of creativity here. We’re in for a great future of very which was an amazing place. at which up-and-coming designers, intense collaboration between universities Yet the role at USC allows me developers and animators come together and video game companies,” he said to teach games design and to devise new games. Richard is excited “It’s an amazing time to be in games make experimental about the developments that they produce design and I’m having a great time in my games as part of a and the opportunities that are opening new life as a Professor. I was taught to be a research project. up in the games industry. games designer, and I’m now doing my best He said: “The Scottish Games Jam to draw on the great minds of everyone in at GCU is one that I feel very connected the world of games design and education, to. It’s one of the biggest games jams in and all of the books that have been written, the world and I was lucky enough to give as we continue to figure out what are the a keynote at the 2012 Jam, so I have best ways to teach the many different kinds always felt invested in it. of games design and development that “Games Jams are an amazing part of there are in the world.”

Games violence

“This is a issue that I and my game developer friends have wrestled with. It makes me often pause for thought when we reflect on the kinds of content that we see in contemporary video games.

“I guess that when we look at the history of human culture, especially the way that we tell stories that narrate our way of life and individual selves into being, we often find conflict – sometimes very intensely violent, whether it’s the plays of William Shakespeare or in the history of cinema.

Sharing success: Professor Richard “But as long as we’re having a mature Lemarchand believes games jams, such conversation about what is in the games that we make and play, then we’re in a good place.” as those staged at GCU, are an amazing creative opportunity.

[email protected] 19 INTERVIEW: LESLEY SAWERS

Business case for the common good

Her job title leaves little room for doubt: as Vice Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Business Development, Enterprise & Innovation, Lesley Sawers has been tasked with delivering innovative business models and opportunities for GCU. The former SCDI Chief Executive talks to Peter John Meiklem about the challenges ahead

rofessor Lesley Sawers’ office walls are positive outcomes that follow as a result Ppapered with flip-charts, quotes and of getting it right. mind maps which illustrate her approach She admits that competition in the to understanding the breadth and depth of education sector has never been fiercer. the work carried out at GCU. Lesley argues that universities cannot be “Coming from a non-academic as reliant on the public purse as they once background”, she said, “I’ve been staggered were and must adapt to the changing by the amount of great work that is going demands of the student market and on across the University. I have been education, and believes GCU is carving hugely impressed by our students and their out a distinctive niche based on its “for the achievements and also in the extensive common good” ethos. work that is underway across the academic “Our commitment to the common base and the obvious commitment good is one of the attractions that bring everybody has.” people here. There are major brands who Professor Sawers’ career has followed would aspire to have that level of universal a diverse path across a range of sectors. commitment that we have to a single vision She has had an extensive career in senior and cause. The way people do business positions both in the UK and internationally has changed. Business relationships are including Royal Mail, ScottishPower being redefined, corporate behaviours are and VisitScotland and joined GCU from being redefined, and the public sector is re- the Scottish Council for Development defining the way that it delivers services. and Industry where she had been Chief It [the common good] chimes perfectly Executive for almost five years. Previous with that change.” to that she led Glasgow Chamber of Only a few weeks into the new post, Commerce, the first female chief executive Lesley is ruling nothing in or out, in the Chamber’s 230-year history. aware of the fact that every business A Glasgow University political economy and organisation is unique and will graduate, she has a PhD in retail studies require different solutions from a from Stirling University. In 2012 she university partner. received an honorary doctorate from Although committed to a three-year GCU. With such a varied background, development cycle for her new mission, what attracted her to work here at GCU? she has her eye on a number of quick “I have always been attracted to wins: “We need to be more confident and organisations and sectors that have gone believe in what we are doing throughout through change. Operating in a dynamic the organisation. Everybody needs to start environment is something I understand and believing in our abilities and put their know how to do well – how you can deliver energy and resources behind making it real and impactful change along with all the work. This isn’t something that starts in

20 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK the corporate corridors. This is something which runs from the Principal right through the organisation. It’s a GCU team effort.” As she surveys the University landscape, at home as well as abroad, she believes there is a clear thread linking the diverse elements of GCU all the way through to her current role. “It all goes back to people. If you talk to any business they will tell you their biggest challenge is people. They can find funding, they can write business plans, they can generate investment, but their challenge is always finding good people. At GCU we rank highly in terms of graduate employability, we create work-ready graduates. That’s not a coincidence.” Lesley is aware that there will be challenges of ‘working with business’ especially within the context of higher education. She knows her role will involve not just to selling GCU to business, but selling business to GCU. That’s where she believes the opportunities lie. “Part of my role will be to convince people that it is about partnerships. We have to identify new revenue streams so that we can continue to develop our people, our campus, supporting our students, and enriching everybody’s working life. The only way we’re going to be able to do that is to secure new income which will enable the University to continually invest in our people, facilities, assets and students, building on our research base and academic expertise.” “To make this happen we need to work together across the team. This is about going out there and securing additional investment and identifying opportunities that we can then re-invest in our mission – for the common good.”

Social Media

“Twitter is a great tool. It is a great way to communicate your message, build networks and tap into knowledge and expertise. There can be a lot of noise in the Twitter world however if you have a structured social media strategy then it’s absolutely vital for a modern and engaging brand. As an institution, social media is vital for GCU as a key part of an integrated and structured communications strategy. This is the way people want to communicate, receive information and data, and engage on a local and a global scale.” Business opportunity: Professor Lesley Sawers believes there is massive potential in the University’s ‘common good’ mission.

[email protected] 21 NEWS BRIEFING

Iranian President is GCU alumnus

GCU continued to make headlines over the summer, particularly with the election of alumnus Dr Hassan Rouhani as President of Iran. Here is a selection of the main news stories, including a look at the increasing importance of how social media is being used by the University to engage quickly with students and staff

IRANIAN PRESIDENT’S OUTPERFORMING OXFORD GCU ROOTS Employability GCU’s impressive employability record caught the media’s imagination when HESA figures revealed that the University had Scotland’s second highest success rate for graduates finding work or securing a post graduate programme place. At 96.2%, GCU outperformed Oxford and Cambridge. In UK terms, GCU was ranked in 11th position.

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT Graduation Television and radio Alumni The election of Iran’s President crews joined photographers at media Dr Hassan Rouhani in June sparked calls prior to the four ceremonies during phenomenal media interest when it which Lily Cole, Katherine Grainger, emerged that he studied for his PhD at Professor Richard Lemarchand, GCU in the 1990s. Reporters from across Professor Anne Glover, Professor Brian the world approached the University with Duffy and Phyllida Law were awarded inquiries, including journalists from CNN honorary degrees. in America and the 20 Minutes news GCU graduates and their families programme in Switzerland. At home, appeared on BBC’s prime time too, there was excitement and curiosity magazine programme, The One Show. about the Glasgow connections of the Filmed during the ceremony and on new world leader. campus, the graduates talked about their experiences at GCU and their joy The University provided access to PHYLLIDA DELIGHTS Dr Rouhani’s thesis and posted footage at graduating. ALUMNI Honorary graduate, actor and of his graduation (above) on the GCU writer, Phyllida Law, a former student at the website. Dr Mahdi Zahraa spoke about his CHANCELLOR’S ADDRESS recollections of his former PhD student GCU founding institution, Glasgow and West and his comments were picked up by press Graduation Photographs of Professor of Scotland College of Domestic Science, and internet across the world. BBC crews Yunus in his Chancellor’s robes and was joined at the graduation ceremony by arrived on campus to film a special report extracts from his inspirational ‘You are her actress daughter Emma Thompson. which was broadcast on the weekend the Superman and Superwoman’ address They also attended a ‘Dough School’ President took office. featured in a variety of publications reception organised by the Development including in his home nation, Bangladesh.

22 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK Speaking to graduands, Professor of issues making the news, including Yunus said: “Graduation is one of the alcopops (Radio 4, Dr Alistair Forsyth, most memorable occasions in everybody’s Senior Research Fellow, Scottish Centre for lives. I must remind you all that you are Crime and Justice Research, Institute for the most powerful generation in human Society and Social Justice Research); history. You have the most amazing active ageing (BBC Radio Scotland, technology at your command and the Professor Dawn Skelton, School of ability to build a better world. You are Health and Life Sciences); Migration superman and superwoman. You can (The Conversation, Dr Umut Korkut, change it all.” Glasgow School for Business and Society); child poverty (Times Educational Supplement, Dr John McKendrick, EVERYBODY’S TALKING Glasgow School for Business and Society); Social Media It didn’t take long for newspaper industry job losses (BBC Radio graduation-related comments to pop up Scotland, Julian Calvert, Glasgow School on Twitter. With hundreds of graduands, for Business and Society); Scottish seaside guests and GCU colleagues tweeting resorts (Sunday Times, Professor John throughout the day, #gcugrads was one Lennon, Vice Dean, Glasgow School for of Twitter’s most widely used hash tags in Business and Society). Glasgow and the west of Scotland on July 3 and 4. GATHERING THE VOICES It was a further illustration of how the power of social media enables everyone to share their stories with a global audience, any time of day or night, and GCU is making the most of the opportunities that it offers.

HARNESSING THE POWER Communication The University’s Twitter account @CaledonianNews recorded a massive increase in followers during the summer. Much of that was down to the huge interest in Dr Rouhani’s GCU connection, but events at home played their part, too. In June, when the campus was forced to close for one day due to a power EBE In August, Glasgow Caledonian outage, social media played a major University welcomed Kindertransport role in communicating information to refugees who fled Nazi terror and grew up students and staff. With regular updates, in Scotland, their families, German Consul students and staff were kept fully informed Heinrich Schnettger and Stewart Maxwell about developments at the campus and MSP to the Saltire Centre to meet students when they should return. That situation and staff and raise the profile of the GCU- resulted in the creation of hundreds supported Gathering the Voices project. of additional GCU Twitter followers, The event (above) took place during many of whom have continued to engage the 48-hour development jam, which was with @CaledonianNews. held to create digital educational resources inspired by the experiences of Jewish

refugees who fled persecution as children and Alumni Relations Office. SHARING KNOWLEDGE in the 1930s and 1940s to start new lives As she accepted her Honorary Degree Academics A determination by in Scotland. of Doctor of Letters, Phyllida peppered her GCU’s academic staff to utilise Twitter, address with witty and timely one liners, Facebook and LinkedIn, the press, radio urging graduates to use their skills and talents HONOUR FOR PROFESSOR and television has raised their profiles, to contribute to the good of the world and KELVIN leading to increased calls on them to share society. Alluding to her days at the Dough their expertise and opinion to inform media GCU London Graduates celebrated School, she asked graduates to “clean up coverage across the UK. their academic success with Ted Baker the mess we have left in the kitchen”. Over the summer, GCU’s academics founder, Professor Ray Kelvin CBE, added expert comment on a wide range who was presented with a Business >>>

[email protected] 23 NEWS BRIEFING

PRINCIPAL AT THE PALACE HONOURS Professor Pamela Gillies, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of GCU, was awarded her CBE medal by Her Majesty The Queen at an investiture ceremony on Tuesday, July 2. She was made a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List in recognition of her services to public health and education. Speaking after the ceremony, which took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Professor Gillies said: “It was a surprisingly emotional experience to be awarded the CBE by Her Majesty The Queen, and I am deeply honoured to have received this award. I’ve been fortunate to work with truly exceptional colleagues during my career, including many here at GCU, and I was very conscious of their contribution on what was a very special day.”

Lifetime Achievement Award and Honorary secondary schools who have gained a place you have to really use the fact you’ve Professorship at GCU London in June. at GCU was up from 16 in 2012 to 30 in got everybody’s ear at the moment to make Professor Kelvin joined GCU Principal 2013 a rise more than 80%. sure you maximise your opportunities to and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pamela Eleanor Wilson, Director of UKRO, really make a difference out there,” Hugh Gillies, VIP guests and members of the said: “The SCETT programme extends Masters told the students. academic staff and graduates in a piper- our ongoing work in widening access and led procession from the GCU London our commitment to the common good in £2bn SUCCESS STORY campus in Fashion Street to Christ Church, our local communities. Rachel Hyslop, Spitalfields, for the graduation ceremony. who coordinates the programme, has worked tirelessly to ensure that the pupils had an excellent experience, FROM CALIFORNIA TO GCU which will impact positively on their EBE Students from California State future choices.” University Long Beach (CSULB) visited the School of Engineering and Built INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT Environment in July for a summer school in comparative forensic sciences. HLS In June, Scottish government The students tried out fingerprinting representatives and nursing students techniques, microscopic investigation and discussed the future of learning disability GSBS Asos co-founder Nick Robertson drug analysis and visited HM Barlinnie nursing education in Scotland at an event travelled to Glasgow to meet students Prison, the High Court, Glasgow Sheriff organised by the Department of Health and give his first master class in the Court and the Police Scotland Dog and Community Sciences. city. The subject was ‘Asos: Retail in the Training Unit. Hugh Masters, Associate Chief Nursing New Age’ and the event was attended Officer, and June Brown, Advisor on by students, staff and members of the Learning Disability Nursing, delivered SCETT SUCCESS Glasgow business community. the keynote speeches. Nursing students Professor Robertson was appointed an Widening access GCU’s UK Recruitment and lecturers heard that they were honorary professor to Glasgow School for and Outreach Team (UKRO), established uniquely positioned to influence the Business and Society earlier this year and in 2012, enjoyed great success during future of learning disability nursing in the his inaugural professorial lecture took place the first year of its SCETT (Schools and current Chief Nursing Officer’s Review in GCU London at an event attended by Colleges Engagement and Transition of Education undertaken by the Scottish some of the leading names in fashion Team) programme. SCETT reported that Government. and business. the number of pupils from its six partner “You live in quite a privileged time;

24 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK GLOBALWATCH Chancellor Yunus launches GCU New York campus

From North America to Bangladesh, the Middle East and China, GCU continued to build on its international activities, with the launch of GCU New York as the latest major development

NEW YORK GCU has become the first British university to launch a satellite campus in New York. The campus plans were unveiled by GCU Chancellor Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus at a reception in New York City in late September. GCU New York is a key element of the University’s global growth and trans- national education strategy and follows the successful launch of GCU London in 2010. GCU Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pamela Gillies, said: “This is an exciting period in GCU’s history and we are delighted to be at the vanguard of Scotland’s and Britain’s contribution to enterprise, innovation and learning in one of the great cities of the world. “Extending our global network is vital to future growth and New York will play a pivotal role in this. GCU New York will provide an important opportunity for us to work with Cara Smyth, VP GCU NY new academic and business partners; will significantly raise our international profile; and will offer valuable exchange opportunities to students and staff on both sides of the Atlantic.” Cara Smyth has been appointed the first Vice President of GCU New York. Cara is a former CEO of Menichetti International, a director of Burberry, and President of Jil Sander America. Cara is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts. GCU New York will initially offer executive education programmes and master-classes in key areas including

GCU New York will be based at 64 Wooster Street in the SoHo district of the city. The fitting-out of the campus is the business of fashion, luxury brand expected to be completed early in the New Year. management and finance and risk >>>

[email protected] 25 GLOBALWATCH continued from page 25 management. Following the granting of its full US educational licence, GCU New York will offer post graduate programmes including courses from the ground-breaking GCU British School of Fashion. A full report on the launch of GCU New York, including an interview with Cara Smyth, will feature in the next edition of The Caledonian.

OMAN Engineering students visit Glasgow Nine Caledonian College of Engineering students took up internships at GCU this summer. They were part of a group of 40 outstanding College students selected to study on its international internship programme. As well as GCU, students visited universities in Germany, France, India, the US, Malaysia and Australia. The nine students visiting GCU worked with School of Engineering and Built Environment academics on a series of research projects. Elaine Cabrey, Overseas Partnership Officer, said: “The School of Engineering and Built Environment was delighted to welcome the students. The internship aims to enhance their knowledge and skills in an area related to their studies in Oman. It also gives them an opportunity to interact and experience a different culture. Feedback from the students was very Settling successfully into Scotland are Bangladesh nursing students Satu Mondal, Rokeya Akter Bristy, Popi Rani Bhowmik positive”. GCU sponsors five students undertaking designs at Zhejiang Textile and Fashion perspective on design.” internships and four travelled under College and gaining an insight into the Rebecca and Claire returned to China Caledonian College of Engineering’s evolving Chinese manufacturing and on design industry work placements. Dr PMA Scholarships. retailing industries with fashion chain Intrex and manufacturer Kashion. GCU lecturers Carol Barry and Xiang INDIA AND CHINA CHINA Li led the trip. Said Carol: “Each student created a new piece for the show, Successful summer Taking Scottish fashion to complement an earlier piece created in Scotland to China for their BA Fashion Business, and, as Students from GCU’s partner universities Fashion students’ designs have been well as modelling their own work, had an in India and China visited the Glasgow showcased in China in a unique exchange. opportunity to choreograph the show. campus in August. More than 40 students Clare Carroll, Eilidh McMillan, Anya Herley “It was fascinating to see how retailing and staff from East China University of and Rebecca Lee joined students from GCU and manufacturing are evolving in China as Science and Technology, the University partner Zhejiang University of Media and it moves from a purely manufacturing base of Jinan, and Chitkara University were at Communications to model two of their own to focus on developing its own designers. GCU for a series of lectures, workshops creations at the institution’s fashion show. It is the first time GCU has presented and cultural activities. The students, who They then had an opportunity to travel a fashion show in another country and are studying finance and engineering, throughout the country, exhibiting their the opportunity gave students a global attended seminars and workshops in the

26 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK Higher Education Certificate and Higher Education. The programme was designed by GCU’s Scottish Centre for Work Based Learning in partnership with the Institution of Railway Operators and is being rolled out in partnership with the University of Johannesburg.

BANGLADESH Nurses take up scholarship places Outstanding students from Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing have joined GCU to continue their studies. Three Principal’s Scholarship winners Rokeya Akter Bristy, Popi Rani Bhowmik and Satu Mondal, and Rafiqun Nesa, whose studies are being supported by Omar Ishrak, CEO of Medtronic, Inc., a global medical technology company, have entered the final year of BSc Nursing in Glasgow. The students were welcomed to GCU by Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pamela Gillies. She said: “I was delighted to welcome our new scholarship students. They have overcome challenges as part of the landmark first graduating class from the College and will continue to blaze a trail in their studies in Scotland.” Meanwhile, School of Health and Life Sciences students spent three weeks in Bangladesh working at GCCN and the country’s clinics and hospitals this summer. Ten students shared their clinical skills and learned from practitioners in hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centres. Led by Michael Stephenson and joined by Programme Administrator Jenny Davidson, and Rafiqun Nesa. students of both institutions performed cultural activities and carried out a nutrition Glasgow School for Business and Society management programme will result in assessment of GCCN’s first year students. and the School of Engineering and Built significant capacity building and address Barbara Parfitt, GCCN’s Director, Environment. critical needs in the South African rail said: “The students fitted well into industry.” Bangla life. Although their placements Fiona Stewart-Knight, GCU’s Director were demanding, they embraced the SOUTH AFRICA of Business Academies, said: “For GCU’s experience.” partnership with Transnet to be featured Michael said: “We immersed ourselves GCU project praised to Ministers in the 2013 UK-South Africa in the communities in which we worked and at trade forum Bilateral Trade talks is a wonderful we all learned so much. It was fascinating The University’s collaboration with endorsement of GCU’s entrepreneurial to see the respect health professionals in South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail approach to university-to-business Bangladesh have for GCCN. was showcased at the South Africa UK education.” “Many of us are already planning to Bilateral Forum as an “excellent example GCU is working with Transnet Freight return to Bangladesh. The University offers of partnership” between the nations. Rail, South Africa’s biggest freight rail such a unique opportunity for its students UK Trade Commissioner Andrew company, to deliver the country’s first to work there and we would all love to see Henderson highlighted the project as an railways management degree to its staff. that develop and offer students, studying example of how the UK and South Africa Two hundred and twenty Transnet across the Schools, the opportunity to visit are working together to develop skills. staff will be recruited annually to the and develop their skills there.” Mr Henderson said: “This flagship talent BSc Railway Operations Management,

[email protected] 27 RESEARCH

Dispensing with the need for daily diabetes injections

A £4million research project could pave the way for the first human trials of a diabetes treatment that could end the need for daily injections. Peter John Meiklem reports

laine Marie Paul was diagnosed with was a treatment for her condition that Dr Scobie, a member of the Diabetes EType 1 diabetes when she was only 13. ended the need for the injections? Research Group in the Institute for Applied Now 41, she still remembers the feeling “I’d be nervous – who knows how your Health Research, said: “The idea is that of fear when she was taken into hospital, body is going to react - but if it meant that we could develop a medicinal product given a syringe and an orange to practise this was taken away from me then yes, that could be directly implanted into on, and told that she would need regular of course I’d welcome it.” individuals with diabetes.” injections for the rest of her life. Scientists on the £4 million XENOISLET According to Diabetes UK, Type 1 “An orange has the same consistency project – including GCU’s Dr Linda Scobie – diabetes develops when the insulin- as human skin so a nurse gave me one to are working on such a breakthrough. producing cells in the body have been practise injecting myself a 45 degree angle. The team will shortly begin pre-clinical destroyed. The body needs insulin to fuel I was fine the first time I had to do it. trials on an implant which is inserted under itself properly and without it glucose, It’s one of those things – do this or die.” the patient’s skin and contains insulin- the body’s main fuel, can build up to Elaine has to inject insulin four times producing pig cells, allowing the body to dangerous levels. a day, and though comfortable with her produce the necessary amount of insulin, Between five and 15 per cent of all routine – “I rule it, it doesn’t rule me” – potentially ending the need for injections people with diabetes are Type 1 and if left she explained the constant pressure can and, in the cases where it is required, untreated it can lead to a number of serious be tiring and inconvenient. So what if there whole pancreas transplantation. health issues, including heart problems, retinopathy, stroke, and kidney disease. Previous studies have shown that ??Header??Xenotransplantation transplanting human insulin producing cells is a successful way of treating the The transfer of any tissue, cells, blood condition. However, a human donor would products, organs from one species to another – have to donate their entire pancreas, in this case, from genetically modified pigs. It’s making the approach unfeasible, and even only in the past 25 years that it’s really been then it may require more than one donor. put forward as a potential therapy. Previously That leaves animal donors - in this case problems with ethical acceptance and cells called islets which are harvested immunological problems made things difficult. from genetically modified pigs, which are The first clinical trials were reported in Mexico kept on a farm in Italy. Since joining GCU and more recently companies in New Zealand from the Glasgow School of Veterinary and Russia have carried out transplants for Medicine, clinical virologist Dr Scobie has diabetes. The XENOISLET project follows on worked with such cells, contributing to the from this work. wider XENOISLET project by ensuring they remain pathogen, or germ-free, and that

28 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK the implant is safe for human use. The research team is led by Professor Pierre Gianello at the Catholic University of Louvain in Italy and includes three European life sciences companies, who will – if trials progress as expected – commercialise the technology. It is funded by the EC’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Dr Scobie is aware that the transplantation of living tissue from pigs to humans – a process known as Xenotransplantation – is controversial. Trials in New Zealand and Russia have been going on for the past four years and are due to produce outcomes shortly, but in Europe the process has only been used in unregulated tests so far. As a clinical virologist, Dr Scobie didn’t expect to be working in diabetes. But when the opportunity arose she grasped it with both hands: “With Type 1 diabetes the problem is about quality of life. It can lead to chronic complications which are not good for the individual. The use of this type of medical device would release them from those restrictions, allowing them to have a much freer and improved quality of life. For me, it was one of those things – do this or die

““As a virologist, I initially worked on veterinary viral infections, but through my associations with companies I got to meet a large number of people within the Xenotransplant community. It’s unusual for a virologist to be working in this field, but I’m here to ensure that the medical product we end up with is as safe as it could be. The fact I can be involved in producing something that has an end result we will actually see in a patient is really nice and doesn’t happen very often.” The pre-clinical trials begin in August. If successful, the team will apply for permission to hold a human clinical trial in three years’ time. As is common in university research, the benefit to patients seems a long way off. But, as Elaine Marie Paul recalls, the prize is worth the wait. “I take an injection in the morning before my breakfast; I take an injection in the afternoon before my lunch; I take one before my dinner and also a slow acting injection at night. It’s manageable, but there is always lots to consider. A product like this would make my life an awful lot Dr Linda Scobie: working towards a diabetes breakthrough with international partners. easier.”

[email protected] 29 CAMPUS FUTURES Surveying the future

For the past 27 years, Douglas Little has seen the campus change dramatically. Linda Robertson meets the man at the heart of GCU’s latest £30million transformation

e’s one of the most familiar faces Hon campus and the man helping to shape the future of GCU. Douglas Little has seen the University change beyond all recognition in the 27 years he’s been here and now he and his team are at the helm of one of the biggest makeovers yet – the £30 million Heart of the Campus redevelopment. For many, Douglas is the face of Campus Futures – a series of projects to upgrade and enhance the University estate, from improving laboratories and student accommodation to the installation of the CHP combined heat and power system. At the core is the ambitious Heart of the Facing up to the future: Douglas Little, Head of Estates, surveys a scale model of the new campus. Campus which will create cutting- edge academic teaching, learning in Glasgow, but London and now New painless as possible for staff and and research facilities and inspiring York too. students.” social spaces. “Over and above the day-to-day The hands-on nature of the job Major works include a showcase running of the University with 17,000 certainly helps: “I know most people University entrance, a 500-seat students, you’re also looking at the around the campus, which is great teaching and conference facility and Heart of the Campus redevelopment so – the interaction is what I enjoy the a contemporary restaurant space. you’re dealing with forward planning, most,” he said. “I get a great overview “When I came here 27 years ago dealing with architects, the project of how the whole University works and there were really only three main managers and externals – you’re I try to make sure that the Executive buildings – the George Moore, always thinking about the way forward know what we’re doing at ground the Hamish Wood and the William and how it will affect the students,” level but also to feed back to staff Harley - as well as an old sports hall, said Douglas. from the Executive of what the so it’s amazing to see how the campus “Maintaining the student forward thinking is.” has grown,” said Douglas. experience is the most important There’s also seeing something There are so many strands to thing. It’s different if you’re doing a tangible: “It’s taking projects from Douglas’ role as Head of Estates new build on a greenfield site, you can conception to the finished result,” and Buildings, from liaising with the just build and open it up and nobody’s said Douglas. “That’s what makes University Executive and the student affected but within the campus, you more passionate about seeing officers to overseeing on-the-ground you’ve got to keep the day-to-day this next project through as you estates staff who help him keep the business going. It’s a very intense want the University to grow and campus ticking over 24/7, and not just project – one we’ve got to make as expand.”

30 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK LEARNING AND TEACHING

Thinking differently: GCU’s new Strategy for Learning

GCU’s new Strategy for Learning is designed to meet the expectations of a new generation of learners and changing external needs. Here we give a brief overview of the SfL and, overleaf, examine the SfL working in practice and the importance of lifelong learning

he University has approved a new Strategy for Learning (2013-2020) Engaged T learning that will meet the changing expectations Responsible Divergent leadership and of the 21st century learner. The GCU thinking professionalism Strategy for Learning (SfL) was inspired by the University’s mission and vision to be a successful international university. The SfL replaces the former Learning and Teaching Strategy Personalised Entrepreneurship learning (LTAS), and was developed through a consultative process involving staff, students, college partners and employers and informed by international and national GCU developments, and effective practice in Inclusive, learning, teaching and assessment. Real world SfL accessible problem solving The new strategy is centred on a learning single goal: to develop graduates who will be ‘proficient in their discipline, enterprising, responsible and capable

of fulfilling leadership roles in different Global Broader and organisational and cultural contexts’. learning deeper learning

Professor John Flexible Wilson, Executive learning Dean GSBS and Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching, is confident thinking applied to real-world problems. performance indicators (KPIs). that it has moved with This in part will be facilitated through Based on a distinctive GCU Curriculum the times: “The SfL much greater use of technology and change initiative, the strategy sets out 10 Professor John Wilson builds on the 2008- significant changes in the University’s new Curriculum Design Principles. 15 Learning, Teaching and Assessment physical environment as reflected in the The SfL will entail investment in staff Strategy but marks a radical departure ambitious Heart of the Campus project.” and technology. Its success will depend from it, reflecting the demands of the The SfL will contribute to the on staff being able to respond flexibly external environment, the University’s University’s seven key strategic goals, and confidently to the pace of change. ambitions, and the changing expectations with a particular emphasis on globally The SfL is informing current portfolio of a new generation of learners. networked, excellence in education, review and refresh across the three “It is intended to enhance our students’ delivering for the business, public and Schools. ability to evaluate complex global voluntary sectors and a commitment to Access the full Strategy for challenges through developing divergent, the common good. It will also contribute Learning at www.gcu.ac.uk/gaq/ creative, responsible and entrepreneurial to the achievement of University key strategyforlearning2013-2020/

[email protected] 31 LEARNING AND TEACHING

Lifelong learning and the accidental academic Dr Nicola Andrew talks about her experience of lifelong learning and why she thinks GCU’s Strategy for Learning is the way forward for the 21st century student.

ince Dr Nicola Andrew made educated to cope and live with Now, there’s a much bigger focus Sthe transition from mental mental health challenges. on flexible routes to learning and health nurse to academic in 1997, My interests led me to become RPL (recognition of prior learning), she’s become a passionate advocate part of the health board teaching which is a key tenet of the Strategy of lifelong learning and enhancing team, and then on to HE. From there, for Learning. In the SHLS we use RPL the student experience. I’ve gone on to develop a lifelong perhaps more than anywhere else, She was GCU’s first academic to interest in teaching and learning and as we admit a range of people with become professionally recognised specifically for non-traditional learners. diverse work backgrounds. as a Senior Fellow with the Higher The first course I worked on was The Strategy for Learning really Education Academy (HEA) in addition predominately composed of mature focuses on developing employability to her responsibilities as a nursing women, all of whom were working. skills from day one of the student senior lecturer in the School of Health For the first time, I was exposed to journey, and shows how we can and Life Sciences, Departmental Lead a large group of mature learners support students in becoming for Learning, Teaching and Quality and that really seeded a passion for global citizens. Lead (LTQL) and School Lead for the looking at how older adults learn. It’s School of Health and Life Sciences something I have personal experience Education Research Group. of, having completed my doctorate It is a privilege She also played a key part in in my 40s. At the time, my husband introducing the AcceleRATE was doing his MBA and my son was to watch people framework to GCU, which outlines studying for his undergraduate degree, develop and grow the continuing professional so we referred to ourselves as the “ development opportunities for staff. lifelong learning family! in confidence

What inspired you to move from What are your thoughts on GCU’s What do you think the ultimate nursing into academia? Strategy for Learning? benefits will be for our students? Well, I once described myself as When the LTAS was originally written, As a university, one of the best being an ‘accidental academic’! we were in a different economic things about us is that we are rooted I never wanted to be a conventional climate and environment, one where in real world learning and really value nurse, but was very interested in people weren’t facing such high rates the life experience that our students looking at how people can be of unemployment and redundancy. bring, and I think this is clearly

32 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK View from here

MY NAME JANE FINLAY

I WORK AS Physiotherapy Lecturer, Psychology and Allied Health Sciences, SHLS

ONE OF MY TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES IS Preparing Year 4 physiotherapy students for the workplace.

WHAT? To assess the impact of ME Time (Maximising Employability time) on career adaptability of 4th year physiotherapy students. ME Time - workshops/seminars with reflection opportunities - is designed to address student despondency and mind- set about employment following a reduction in availability of “traditional” NHS jobs. Despite being proficient, students didn’t understand their employability status or opportunities outside the NHS. I plan to adopt a mixed methods approach using a reflected in the Strategy for Learning. crucial role in this. To this end, I have questionnaire - the Career Adapt- GCU has a broad commitment to developed the GCU PPACT Standard Abilities Scale (CAAS), pre- and post- education that makes a difference of Academic Advising, which ensures participation, to people’s lives, and that’s a theory that we are covering all areas of the to assess the I absolutely subscribe to. We give student journey, including personal programme’s students from a wide range of development, career planning, impact and to backgrounds the chance to achieve academic feedback and learning conduct focus and we support them throughout evaluation. groups or their time here. Everything that’s interviews to in the Strategy points back to this. What are your hopes for the future? gather data. I’m keen to see RPL extended to How does your work contribute what I call social RPL, where we can SO WHAT? to students achieving the SfL benchmark life experience as well While this research is designed to single goal? as professional and academic measure the impact of a measure Academic advising is one of my major experience. In our School, we have implemented to address a local issue projects. The advising process is there a big service user and carer forum, with the physiotherapy undergraduate from a student’s point of entry to GCU where many people volunteer to students, it will also contribute to the – at whatever point in their learning contribute to teaching and practical debate on the ability of interventions journey that might be. It considers assessments. It would be great to to change career planning attitudes. their personal as well as academic give them something tangible back It also fits with the Entrepreneurship development and is a key part of the in recognition of their impact on and Employability curriculum design student experience. the student and staff experience. principle in GCU’s Strategy for I’m currently working on the HEA It’s about giving our volunteers a Learning 2013-2015. ‘What Works’ retention and success tangible reward for them coming in programme, focusing on improving and giving their time, and help them NOW WHAT? student retention. We are one of build their career. I anticipate this might be interesting 14 UK institutions participating Right now it’s still at the embryonic to others involved in helping students in the UK (Glasgow University is stage, but it’s an excellent fit with the prepare for employment, including the only other Scottish one taking idea of our social mission and the idea Careers Advisors. part). Academic advising plays a of rewarding people.

[email protected] 33 BACK STORY

Whistle while you work

Who are you and what’s your day job? John McKendrick, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences, in the Glasgow School for Business and Society.

What’s your Back Story? I am a Category 1 Scottish FA Referee and during the football season I spend every weekend refereeing in the Scottish Professional Football Leagues. I have refereed over 200 matches in the SFL and SPL. Until recently, I was also Chair of the Scottish Senior Football Referees, Association (the ‘union’ for senior referees in Scotland).

Why do you do it? I first became a referee for a very particular reason – I managed a Boys’ Brigade team and I had to referee the team’s home matches. However, once I Loo rolls were thrown on the park at the last game of last season – SFL Division 3 when Rangers beat Berwick started, I discovered that I really liked it. Rangers and picked up the League Championship trophy. I spent a considerable proportion of my time removing loo rolls that the Rangers’ fans threw on to the field of play! I started at the age of 17 and then gave it up at 21 to finish my PhD. Once that was complete, I re-joined in my mid-twenties… front of 50,000 supporters at Ibrox. And what makes you hesitate and I’ve never looked back. This match was unique in so many ways, to give up the day job? but especially for the kiss and hug that Students are a lot less demanding than John Gilmour (a specialist assistant What’s the best thing about football supporters! (Is this the bit where referee) received from Andy Goram for I say that I love working with my students being a referee? correctly flagging offside a Milan attacker and couldn’t imagine life without lecturing?) Apart from the fact that a steak pie as he was about to score. If only more doesn’t taste any better than it does in a players were more grateful for the service dressing room at 4.45pm on a Saturday we provide! Any plans for hanging up afternoon? Well, being a referee keeps your whistle? you in shape – physically and mentally. What is your biggest refereeing I’ll keep going as long as they’ll have me. I love the challenge of constantly making achievement to date? They’ve done away with the official age decisions in a high-pressure environment. limit of 47, so who knows? I’m 44, so I’m 2004-05 Referee Scottish Junior Cup final It’s a great switch-off from work. pretty sure I have a few good years left in – Tayport v Lochee United at Tannadice me yet. What’s been your most Park. This is the most prestigious match that a referee can get before moving into memorable match? professional football. It was the perfect way Finally…what football team There have been many, but to date the to bring to an end five years’ officiating in do you support? most memorable one was Rangers Junior Football in Scotland. It was also my Scotland and ABE. Legends v AC Milan Glorie in 2012 in first match to be shown live on TV.

34 WWW.THECALEDONIAN.AC.UK We can all appreciate the importance of a brand. It indicates what a company stands for and what it will deliver. As a modern, vibrant, engaging institution, firmly founded on a commitment to the common good, Glasgow Caledonian University has updated its brand and visual identity to better reflect this.

With a new style of imagery, strapline and a spectrum of colours, our new brand signifies the progress we have made to date, as well as imagining what lies ahead. For our colleagues, our students and wider community and those we are yet to welcome, our new brand promises that brighter futures begin with GCU.

For more information, visit www.gcu.ac.uk/brand or contact [email protected] 96.2% graduate employment

At GCU we are proud to be an international centre of excellence in higher education, promoting employability and global citizenship in our graduates. Our commitment to unlocking talent and equipping our students with the skills they need to succeed in a competitive international marketplace has seen our graduate employability rate rise to 96.2%, among the highest in the UK and above Oxford and Cambridge.

To find out more, visit www.gcu.ac.uk

Brighter futures begin with GCU

Source: HESA Destination of Leavers Survey, graduates in employment or further study within 6 months of graduating.