Challenges and Opportunities
The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC)
The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) building was opened on campus in 2022. The ARC will help facilitate collaborations across disciplines, allowing colleagues from different research areas to share space and meet people with new ideas and interests. Professor David MacMillan (BSc 1989), winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021, opened the building by sharing his inspirational journey from humble beginnings as a boy in Bellshill to Princeton Professor and Nobel Laureate.
Independent Investigation into Gender Based Violence
In October 2021, the Principal announced an independent investigation into gender-based violence on campus. Morag Ross KC was instructed to conduct a wide-ranging investigation based on the following scope:
What policies, procedures and support arrangements are in place in the University which address gender-based violence, both in preventing it and in dealing with it when it arises? How effective are the University’s policies, procedures, and support arrangements in dealing with complaints and concerns related to gender-based violence?
- What improvements might be made to the University’s policies, procedures, and support arrangements in responding to gender-based violence?
- What improvements might be made with a view to reducing gender-based violence?
- To what extent do students and colleagues have confidence in the University’s policies, procedures, and support arrangements in relation to gender-based violence?
Morag Ross KC delivered her report Independent review of the University's approach to addressing Gender-Based Violence in November 2022, and it was published to the University community in December 2022. This was a significant report for the University and outlines 16 recommendations for improving practice across the organisations, which have been accepted in full.
Organisational Restructures
Whilst there are always ongoing restructuring exercises across large complex organisations, two significant restructures have taken place in the last two years – these have included a restructure of Facilities Services and the College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences. Within Facilities Services, the aims were to create new roles which had wider responsibilities and took a zonal approach to covering the campus. This had been in a pilot stage in the new James McCune Smith Learning and Teaching Hub. It was also a key driver in addressing identified occupational segregation within this job role. Further work is currently in planning to take a wider look at the pay and grading structures, with the aim of also address some identified issues from this reorganisation. The restructure of the College of MVLS had the aim of aligning the research institutes with the teaching schools. This ensured our students have access to the most recent research in their schools and move to the structure form 10 units to eight schools, with no redundancies.
Growth impacting space
The University has grown its student numbers extensively over several years, and with the return to campus this has compounded a complex concern with the estate and maximising teaching space. Many classes have been hosted outside of the University campus, which has impacted the student experience, but notably for some disabled students. This issue is an urgent priority for the University as we move towards the next academic session and ensure more teaching space is available on campus.