Consultancy service - innovation in learning

Experience of working with a wide range of agencies and organisations

The UGIEC has had experience leading projects and working with a large number of government agencies and professional organisations in the UK and beyond. For example:

• Scottish Government
• Home Office
• Department for Children, Schools and Families
• Innovations Unit
• Specialist Schools Trust
• Teacher Development Agency
• General Teaching Council Scotland
• General Teaching Council England
• Scottish Enterprise
• British Council
• Scottish Arts Council
• Economic and Social Research Council
• Arts Humanities Research Council
• Learning and Skills Development Agency
• National Union of Teachers
• Equal Opportunities Commission
• Prison Service
• European Commission
• UNESCO
• Sage Foundation
• Benton Foundation
• AOL Time Warner Foundation
• Johann Jacobs Foundation

Working in an international context

The UGIEC is also able to draw on experience of working with colleagues, agencies and professional organisations at an international level. This means that they have knowledge and understanding of a broad range of education systems and of innovations in learning and teaching in a number of countries. They have had experience working in and/or working with colleagues in the following countries:

Working in a national context

The School of Education has had experience of working with all 32 local authorities in Scotland with policy-makers and practitioners, with staff leading on a number of national and local authority evaluation and research projects.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Reviews of Policies for National Education: Quality and Equity of Schooling in Scotland was published in December 2007. The review which aimed to examine the strengths of Scotland's school education and the challenges the system faces in ensuring high achievement for all was welcomed by the Scottish Government. UGIEC can provide advice and support in taking forward recommendations suggested by the OECD report.

Local Authorities work with the university in a variety of contexts. UGIEC is able to act as a point of access to the University of Glasgow’s significant education resources and coordinate and integrate activities.

Working in national and international contexts

The following are examples of areas of work that UGIEC is able to undertake in national and international context:

Research informed Consultancy

UGIEC is able to provide consultancy based on a concise review of major research evidence in specific areas and provide advice and support in implementing system or organisational change and/or innovation in learning and teaching.

Learning at the cutting edge

UGIEC is able to provide advice and support by drawing on research evidence and examples of practice from countries around the world.

Evaluation of initiatives

To confirm the success or otherwise of an initiative UGIEC can provide an independent external evaluation which would draw upon the university’s extensive resources as required. Recommendations for action can be provided.

Self-evaluation

Local Authorities and schools are involved in self-evaluation as part of the ongoing process of improvement. UGIEC is able to offer an independent and rigorous audit of existing self-evaluation assessments, which will provide an objective external view. If self-evaluation processes are not in place UGIEC can provide advice and support to develop and implement them.

Continuing Professional Development

UGIEC is able to provide CPD customised to an individual, local authority, national or international needs. The CPD will be underpinned by recent and relevant research.

Professional/Political Interface

UGIEC is able to offer coaching and mentoring of senior members of staff (Director of Education, Director of Children’s Services etc) - particularly those new in post or those handling a change process. This includes coaching and mentoring in relation to working with elected members at local or national levels.

In all of the above, UGIEC is able to draw upon resources from not only the Education Faculty but from across the university as a whole.