Columbia partnership's unexpected boost
Published: 9 May 2013
The University of Glasgow's partnership scheme with Columbia University in the USA has produced unexpected benefits.
The University of Glasgow's partnership scheme with Columbia University in the USA has produced unexpected benefits, according to Professor David Fearn, International Dean for the Americas. 
In a progress report this month, Professor Fearn outlines the work over the last twelve months to strengthen research partnerships through an exchange with Columbia of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. This was endorsed by the University's Columbia working group and initial funding of £20, 000 from the Principal was agreed for 2012-13. Columbia agreed to match this with $30,000. Detailed arrangements for the scheme were then developed, with simplicity of administration leading to Glasgow funding its students/postdocs to visit Columbia and Columbia funding visits to Glasgow in return. The key criterion being the potential to enhance the links between the two universities through the strengthening of interaction between research groups.
To date it has been possible to fund eight applications from Glasgow and three have been arranged from the United States end. One of the Glasgow applicants was Julie McAdam, a doctoral student whose research examines the potential of children's literature to develop social action arising from intercultural awareness. After her exchange visit, she wrote: “The visit was perfect. I achieved all my objectives and more and colleagues at Teachers College gave generously of their time. Stepping outside my own context was refreshing and necessary for moving my thinking forward. The amount of money may be small but it allows a lot to be done.”
Professor Fearn said: "The fund has clearly met its objective, but also had a number of more unexpected benefits in that it has drawn out a whole spectrum of activity and collaboration interest that we would have had no idea about otherwise. As well as the 20 applications received in total, there were a further 27 serious enquiries, some of which resulted in a decision to apply next year if the fund is made available again."
He continued: “I have been delighted by the activity and range of interest across the University this has generated and I shall be working hard to ensure we build on these foundations. I am visiting Columbia later this month. Developing a partnership, especially with a prestigious institution such as Columbia takes time and this has shown what a modest investment can achieve. I am particularly pleased that I was able to use the University’s investment to leverage matching funding from Columbia. Almost more important is that the advertisement of the scheme at Columbia has raised Glasgow's profile there.”
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First published: 9 May 2013
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