Internationalisation

Creative exchange with Reykjavik University

At the University of Glasgow, video storytelling plays a vital role in bringing research to life. Charlotte Reid, Senior Videographer at the University of Glasgow works in research services to translate complex ideas into engaging visual content. Her role blends technical expertise with creative vision—capturing the essence of our groundbreaking research and making it accessible to a wider audience.

Discovering Reykjavik University

When the opportunity arose to explore international collaboration through the International Experience Fund, Charlotte was curious to discover, ‘How can I learn from how other universities communicate their research?’

One international partner stood out - Reykjavik University. Despite its smaller size, the Icelandic university had produced a series of high-quality, imaginative videos that were not only informative but also entertaining. Their content was rich in creativity and even humour, offering a refreshing take on academic communication.

A warm welcome and creative exchange

Upon arrival in Reykjavik, Charlotte was welcomed by a member of the communications team, who had arranged a two-day itinerary with opportunities to learn and connect. Highlights included:

• Shadowing a videographer during the filming of teaching materials
• Touring the campus, including research labs and creative spaces
• Exploring a new renovated production studio, transformed from a disused room into versatile studio

A key moment was a meeting with Reykjavik’s marketing team. This meeting offered a chance to compare the similarities and differences between our roles and on the unique challenges and opportunities each institution faces. Charlotte also presented her own approach to video production and shared insights into the structure and workflow of the Research Communications team.

A creative catalyst

"Being awarded the International Experience Fund to meet the team behind Reykjavik University's dynamic video content was fascinating. I have used what I learned from them many times since I have returned."

The visit proved to be a creative catalyst. Shortly after returning to Glasgow, the team member produced a comedy sketch promotional video—a direct result of inspiration from Reykjavik’s playful approach. The video received enthusiastic feedback and demonstrated the value of experimenting with tone in academic storytelling.

The collaboration didn’t end there. A week later, the team in Iceland reached out to share that their marketing team had incorporated ideas from the exchange into their upcoming content strategy. This ongoing dialogue highlights the power of international partnerships—not just for institutional growth, but for individual professional development.

The experience also offered a fresh perspective on the University of Glasgow’s own strengths, seeing a window into another university’s approach was a good reminder of the importance of communicating research impact effectively. The international insights gained will help shape engaging content for future research videos.