SDG4: Policies and Practice
The information contained on this webpage overviews the various policies, practices and operational measures in place at the University of Glasgow in support of SDG4 – Quality Education.
Public Learning Resources:
Online Courses:
The University of Glasgow offers a broad portfolio of online open courses that provide access to university-level education for learners worldwide, regardless of whether they are enrolled at the University. These flexible courses allow members of the public to develop new knowledge, gain professional skills and explore academic subjects entirely online. Topics span healthcare, mental health, climate change, sustainability, artificial intelligence, education, computing, history, languages and global challenges. Courses are designed for self-paced study using videos, articles, quizzes and practical activities, helping support lifelong learning, career development and public engagement with research and education.
Courses range from 3-5 hours per week of learning with digital certificate purchase options available to evidence and showcase learning.
Access to Library and Collections:
The University of Glasgow Library, one of the oldest and largest university libraries in Europe, provides access to a wide range of learning resources for visitors, school pupils and users from other UK universities. Members of the public can apply for visitor access or library membership, subject to eligibility conditions, enabling access to extensive collections of books, journals and research materials. Further, the Library welcomes pupils working on dissertations for Advanced Highers or A-Levels. We have extensive collections of printed books and journals on almost every subject. This service is free and available to all schools.
The Library supports lifelong learning and public engagement by welcoming external users and providing routes to access its academic resources. Alongside physical collections, users can benefit from a range of library services, information resources and support.
The University also provides free access to many of the collections of The Hunterian, Scotland's oldest public museum, including the Hunterian Museum, Hunterian Art Gallery, Hunterian Zoology Museum and exhibitions at Kelvin Hall. These venues showcase internationally significant collections covering art, science, medicine, natural history and Scottish heritage.
Public Events:
The University hosts a wide range of free educational events on our campus that are open to the general public, helping to make university research, knowledge, and cultural resources accessible beyond its student population.
Through the Byres Community Hub, the University connects researchers from the School of Health & Wellbeing with local residents and organisations, offering free events, exhibitions, workshops, and community engagement activities. The Hub also features the interactive Glasgow’s Health Exhibition and provides free public spaces for community groups and not-for-profit organisations.
The University also participates in the annual Doors Open Days festival, welcoming the public to explore its campus, research facilities, museums, and collections through free talks, guided tours, exhibitions, workshops, family activities, and research engagement events. Visitors can access venues such as the Hunterian Museum and Gallery, the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC), and the Imaging Centre of Excellence, gaining insight into the University’s history, teaching, and world-leading research. These initiatives demonstrate the University’s commitment to lifelong learning, public engagement, and widening access to educational opportunities.
Vocational Lifelong Learning:
The University of Glasgow’s microcredential programme provides flexible, career-focused vocational training designed to help learners develop practical skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace. Delivered entirely online, these short courses support professional upskilling and reskilling across a range of sectors, enabling participants to gain industry-relevant expertise while balancing study with work and personal commitments. Courses typically carry 10 academic credits and run over 10–12 weeks, making them accessible to both employed learners and those seeking to enter new career fields.
A key vocational feature of the programme is its alignment with labour market needs. Course curricula are informed by job-market research and focus on developing competencies demanded by employers in areas such as business leadership, project management, data analytics, sustainability, healthcare, digital transformation, engineering, and information management. Examples include courses in Agile Leadership, Business Analytics, Project Management, ESG Leadership, and Technology & Skills for Engineering the Future.
Microcredentials are assessed through innovative, industry-relevant activities that meet the standards of the Common Microcredential Framework, helping learners demonstrate recognised professional development. Participants gain access to university resources and receive academic credit that can contribute towards future postgraduate study. By combining vocational training, academic recognition, and flexible delivery, the programme supports career progression, enhances employability, and helps individuals respond to evolving workforce and industry requirements.
Outreach Beyond Campus:
The University of Glasgow delivers extensive educational outreach beyond its campus through the annual Glasgow Science Festival, bringing research, learning, and hands-on science activities directly into schools, libraries, museums, and community settings across the city.
In 2025, the festival featured hundreds of events and activities delivered in more than 50 venues across Glasgow and beyond, including workshops, exhibitions, school and toddler events in libraries, activity days in museums and public spaces, guided tours, and interactive demonstrations designed to engage diverse audiences with science and research.
The 2026 festival further demonstrated the University’s commitment to community-based learning and public engagement. Working with partners including Glasgow Libraries, the festival delivered storytelling workshops for school pupils across the city, coding workshops for the public, and family activities through the Play, Talk, Read Bus. University staff and students also took science directly into local communities through initiatives such as STEM in the Gorbals, activities at the Govan Fair, and workshops hosted through the Byres Community Hub. Additional outreach included science engagement programmes in libraries, museums, parks, and community fairs, alongside public discussions, sustainability activities, and health education events.