Local engagement

Our aim: to work with the city and the West of Scotland region to support social, cultural and economic development through the international profile and reach of the University.

Glasgow is one of the most exciting cultural cities in the UK. The University plays an important role as a strategic partner in promoting the development of the City and the West of Scotland and is committed to the region’s economic growth, social development and cultural offering. 

Cultural support - The Hunterian

The University plays an important role in Scotland’s cultural life through Scotland’s oldest public museum, the Hunterian, our Art Gallery, the Mackintosh House and Gilmore hill G12.  The Hunterian is committed to providing international access its art collections and is active in collections exchange around the world, including major loans of artworks to Madrid, Munich, Barcelona, Siena, Paris, London and San Francisco. The Hunterian is a lead partner in the Lunder Consortium for Whistler Studies, a partnership between UoG, The Freer/Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington DC, and Colby College Museum of Art, Maine.

The Confucius Institute

Our new Confucius Institute provides Chinese language classes, and promotes a deeper understanding of China and its culture though a range of lectures and events. It was established in partnership with Nankai University and supported by the Chinese Ministry of Education's Office for Chinese Language Council International (Hanban).

Research centres and networks

Social justice, social inclusion, poverty reduction, health and well-being are major issues for Scotland as a whole and form core themes for a number of Interdisciplinary Research Centres and Networks within the University. We aim to use our research capability and international contacts and partners in these areas to build on our policy formulation activities, working in partnership with a number of public bodies.

Research & Knowledge Transfer relationships with local companies

The University works with a number of economic development partners to improve its links with business to increase levels of knowledge transfer, innovation and commercialisation of research. This results in the development of new products, processes and services and the creation of spinout companies in the region, but also, through our global research reach, links international knowledge and partners into the region and supports economic growth. Examples include:

• The University is one of the three partner organisations of the Scottish government funded Glasgow Centre for Population Health, together with Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
• Our productive partnership with the Glasgow City Council and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau to promote the city of Glasgow as a destination to study, work and live.
• The University is fully engaged in the preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2014; we are represented on the Glasgow Legacy Committee and several strands of research in the university are assisting the City and Commonwealth Team in its planning for the Games and their aftermath.
• Scottish companies in innovation, product development and new supply chains have launched the University of Glasgow’s Innovation Network to increase engagement.