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Heritage toolkit

Use the University's heritage to strengthen storytelling and support engagement.

Purpose and audience

This toolkit provides practical guidance for University of Glasgow staff and students on how to incorporate our institution’s rich heritage into your work. It supports the 575th anniversary celebrations by helping you share our story in ways that are authentic, inclusive, based on evidence and aligned with University values.

Why heritage matters

At Glasgow history isn’t a thing of the past - it’s waiting to be made. Our heritage is a unique, living resource that inspires innovation, informs our values and shapes our future ambitions. We look back to move forward: connecting past, present and future in our mission to be world-changing Glasgow.

Communicating heritage through our values

Our stories can be told through the lens of our University values.

Explore change and continuity. Show how the University has adapted and excelled through changing times

Highlight innovation, research breakthroughs and achievements, from the notable to the lesser known.

People: Tell stories of the UofG community in its broadest sense — students, staff, alumni, office holders and the wider University community — and their impact.

Place: We are a civic and global institution. Use the built environment and sense of place to ground stories: the campuses, the city or beyond.

Explore a complex or challenging aspect of our history with honesty and evidence. We should engage critically with our institutional history and this value should run through all heritage storytelling.

How to use heritage in your work

The University’s heritage can be a powerful tool for storytelling, engagement and reflection. Here are some steps to consider when using it in your work:

  1. Define your goal. What message do you want to convey? How will using heritage help achieve what you want the audience to think, feel or do?
  2. Know your audience. Who are you trying to reach? It helps to be as specific as possible
  3. Consider timing and context. Are there anniversaries, events or wider conversations that your project could connect with - or avoid?
  4. Explore different formats. Social media posts, video, on-site display, online exhibition, blog/website, publication, talk, a mixture of these…
  5. Collaborate. Consider working with others for advice, support with resources or co-creation, including:
  6. Dig into the story. Explore the resources below to help you uncover compelling narratives and visuals
  7. Document your sources. Keep track of references and provide citations to maintain transparency and credibility
  8. Check for sensitivity and inclusivity. Are there any complex or contested aspects of the story that need careful handling? Whose voices are being heard? Whose might be missing?
  9. Aim for authenticity. Make sure any claims are specific and supported by evidence. Acknowledge complex and difficult histories. Avoid tokenism and gimmicks.

Tools and resources