School of Social & Political Sciences

Following a highly successful first year, the SPS Student Assessed Blog Series returns for 2025-26, providing a platform to celebrate outstanding student work and showcase the intellectual breadth of the School of Social and Political Sciences.

Led by Dr Scott Lavery through the School's International Political Economy and Development (IPED) research cluster, the series highlights some of the most impressive coursework produced by Honours students from across SPS. This year's contributors come from a diverse range of programmes spanning Politics, International Relations, Law, Sociology, Psychology and Economics, reflecting the interdisciplinary character of teaching and research within the School.

This year's blogs address a wide range of contemporary social, political and economic challenges. Topics include debates over social media regulation and online harms, migration and political identity, youth disengagement from mainstream politics, nationalism in Scotland, the legacy of austerity, environmental politics and resource extraction in Latin America, gender and educational outcomes, and innovative approaches to legal rights for the natural world.

By transforming assessed coursework into concise and accessible articles, the blog series challenges students to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively beyond the classroom. This not only enriches their learning experience but also enhances employability by developing essential communication, critical thinking and knowledge exchange skills. The series also provides students with a portfolio of published work, enabling them to evidence their expertise, demonstrate real-world impact and stand out to future employers and academic institutions.

Ciara Moore, an International Relations student whose blog for the Psychology of Politics course explored the relationship between migration and political identity, said:

Being part of this blog series was an incredibly rewarding experience for me. As someone planning to pursue a master's degree in a related subject, it gave me the opportunity to demonstrate that I had the ability to produce professional written work and gave me something which stood out in my CV."

Dylan Kerr, a Law and Politics student on the Issues in British Politics course, added: 

I was really pleased to have my work recognised in the SPS student assessed blog series. Receiving this recognition for my writing was great for my own confidence. I also had the chance to repost the School's LinkedIn feature and share the piece with my connections. “

The initiative also continues to support innovation in learning and assessment across the School by creating opportunities for colleagues to share best practice and by demonstrating how excellent student work can reach audiences beyond the University.

Dr Scott Lavery said:

The quality of this year's contributions has been outstanding. The blogs showcase our students' ability to engage critically with major political, social and economic issues while communicating their ideas in an accessible and engaging way. The series provides an important opportunity to celebrate student achievement, support student employability and share the excellent work being undertaken across SPS."

We are delighted to share the cutting-edge thinking of the next generation of social scientists at the University of Glasgow and look forward to the continued growth of the series in the years ahead.

Impact on Recruitment, Marketing and Student Engagement:

According to Marite Garcia Araujo, Digital Marketing Lead for the School of Social and Political Sciences, the Student Assessed Blog Series has become an effective way of highlighting student achievement while demonstrating the practical impact of SPS programmes.

Featuring assessed coursework, the series explores how students engage with contemporary social and political issues through research, critical analysis and communication. It also offers prospective students a valuable insight into teaching and learning within the School, illustrating the knowledge, analytical capabilities and transferable skills developed throughout their studies.

The initiative has delivered strong results across digital channels, with engagement rates ranging from 21% to 56%.

Student participation has been central to its success. Many students shared their published articles across personal and professional networks, helping to extend the reach of the content beyond the School's existing audiences. The series has also given students a publicly accessible example of their academic work that can be shared with employers and postgraduate admissions teams.

The initiative also exemplifies the benefits of collaboration between academic and professional services colleagues. Its strong engagement, sustainable approach and alignment with School priorities suggest significant potential for further growth and adaptation across other areas of the University.

Read the full 2025-26 SPS Student Assessed Blog Series

First published: 18 August 2026

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