Great Scott - News and views from Glasgow Caledonian University
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
• SCOTTISH MAGAZINE AWARDS 2015 FINALIST •
ISSUE 1 2016
News and
and views
views from
from Glasgow
GlasgowCaledonian
CaledonianUniversity
University
Great Scott
Honorary graduate Andy to
hold exhibition at GCU New York Pages 4-5
Celtic Connections
Major music event comes to campus Pages 14-15
Contents
Welcome to
The Caledonian
Cultural engagement is an integral part of
GCU’s make up and it’s no coincidence that 4 Responding to the needs of the people
this issue of The Caledonian has several We talk to GCU honorary graduate Andy Scott, creator of the Kelpies.
features on this theme.
6 Changing perceptions
We talk to honorary graduate and sculptor Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing Principal Niru Shamsun Nahar.
Andy Scott, who is preparing to exhibit a
series of scale models at GCU New York – 7 Challenging the industry
Cara Smyth, Vice-President of GCU New York, on the Fair Fashion Center.
his first gallery show since his days at Glasgow
School of Art in the late 1980s. The show, 8 Putting her best foot forward for students
which runs for two months from June, Mandy Abbott, Podiatry Postgraduate Programme Lead, on her work
with international athletes.
will feature a version of his famous Kelpies.
We also hear about how the University 10 Globalwatch
A team of nursing students has been helping transform understanding
welcomed hundreds of passionate music of learning disabilities in Malawi.
fans to the inaugural Celtic Connections
on Campus in January. The event attracted 12 We've potential to achieve great things
A chat with Peter Yetton, Head of Visa Immigration Support and Advice.
emerging musical talent drawn from
universities, schools and colleges across
Scotland – backed by the technical expertise 1 4 Music event makes
of GCU’s Audio Technology and Audio right Connections
Systems Engineering students – who Celtic Connections at GCU
supports cultural engagement
performed to more than 500 music fans at the University.
across four days.
Another significant event for GCU was
16 A platform for creativity
the hosting of the Global Game Jam 2016. A look at the academic merits of the Global Game Jam.
The University’s Saltire Centre hosted 180
18 News Briefing
jammers and was placed 38th in the world GCU's people receive recognition as the University continues to inspire
in terms of number of registrations and third through research and innovative programmes.
in the UK. The GCU jammers produced 30
20 Building bridges into industry
games in just 48 hours. Dr Binsheng ‘Ben’ Zhang believes national competitions give students
Elsewhere in this issue, we catch up with valuable real-world construction experience.
our inspiring people, who share their insights
22 Providing the solutions to real-world problems
into how they bring GCU’s Strategy 2020 to Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme turns 40.
life on a daily basis. We hear from Head of
Visa Immigration Support and Advice Peter 24 Making the world a tiny bit better
We talk to alumnus, honorary graduate and football pundit Pat Nevin.
Yetton, Senior Lecturer in Civil and Structural
Engineering Dr Binsheng ‘Ben’ Zhang, Podiatry 26 Life at the Lounge
Jackie Main, Director of Student Experience, shares the vision for the
Postgraduate Programme Lead Mandy Abbott, Campus Life Lounge.
and Professor John McKendrick.
We also look at the importance of 27 Breaking the mould
Supermodel and GCU alumna Eunice Olumide at GCU London.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships to GCU’s
three Academic Schools, find out about the 28 Helping to tackle societal challenges
Professor Cam Donaldson, the man behind the Yunus Centre for
work of Professor Cam Donaldson and the Social Business and Health, explains how the centre has grown.
Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health,
explore the archives with honorary graduate 30 Setting out principles for a fairer Scotland
Pat Nevin, and hear what’s been happening The Big Picture Professor John McKendrick on his research interests in poverty,
children’s wellbeing and his personal views on social justice.
over at GCU New York’s Fair Fashion Center.
Bike-trial champion Aaron Duke performed impressive stunts 32 Access all areas
GCU’s medical ultrasound programme set is tailored to offer students
as GCU received the Cycle Friendly Campus Award from Cycling accessible learning – at home and abroad.
THE CALEDONIAN Scotland – the first of its kind in Scotland. It was presented to
EDITORIAL TEAM Gerry Milne, GCU’s Vice-Principal Infrastructure, and GCU’s 34 Back Story
Professor Caroline Parker is Academic Lead for GCU’s Values project
thecaledonian@gcu.ac.uk Sustainability Officer Paulo Cruz by Paul Wright, Cycling Scotland and in her spare time coaches at Castle Semple Rowing Club.
Development Officer, in recognition of the outstanding level
of commitment the University has shown to encourage cycling
ON THE COVER: GCU honorary
to, from and around campus. From left: Paulo Cruz, Keith Irving,
Gerry Milne, Paul Wright, Aaron Duke.
P ublished by: Communications and Public Affairs, Glasgow Caledonian University.
Designed and printed by: Print Design Services, Glasgow Caledonian University.
Photography by: Peter Devlin and Guy Hinks © Glasgow Caledonian University 2016,
graduate Andy Scott with his
unless otherwise stated. Glasgow Caledonian University Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow
famous Kelpies sculptures.
Photo: Fotogenic of Scotland.
G4 0BA Scotland, United Kingdom +44 (0)141 331 3000 www.gcu.ac.uk
2 3
HONORARY GRADUATE HONORARY GRADUATE
Responding to the
I wasn't seeking those jobs; they sought His works are inextricably linked to Scott is humbled to receive such an
me out. When people within the community the city of Glasgow, which seems to pull accolade and sees a symbiosis between his
raise the funds, it is a humbling experience,” him back no matter where his sculptures work and GCU's mission as The University
he says. and commissions take him. for the Common Good. Both embrace
Woven into the sculptures, each tells “If you cut me, the River Clyde would inclusion and belonging and, in doing so,
needs of the people
its own story about the people, the places, come out, no doubt. There’s something bring communities together.
the challenges and the triumphs of about this city, and it’s not the weather; Patting his pocket (he prepared his
communities. The history of the landscape it’s the heritage, the heavy industries and speech that very morning), he admits
and its legacy are at the centre of his work the architecture. Glasgow made me and he is better at sculpting than speaking.
and admittedly, Andy says, this alienated I can see that it feeds through my work. Later, he takes to the podium to tell
him from the galleries and agents. I'm a product of this city.” graduates that "every day is a school
His work evolved in another direction, We meet before GCU’s Winter day", to make the most of the educational
GCU honorary graduate Andy Scott, creator of the Kelpies, speaks to Roisin-Alana Di Giacomo creating figurative work within Graduation 2015, where he has replaced opportunities that come their way, and to
communities, which were not previously his traditional boilersuit with something learn from others. He recounts how he was
about his work, the city that made him, and his affinity with the Common Good. associated with art and culture. much more formal in order to receive an told once by a former teacher that he was
“There is a political, historical context Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. a ‘dunderhead’, who would amount to
to certain pieces, but I'm not an artist who This is in recognition of his celebrated nothing, and yet here he stands.
H is sculptures grace the Scottish urban
landscape, marking commuters’
journeys and placing public art in the
“It's not all about size, but it’s quite
an achievement.”
Andy is modest about the success
feels that it's my job to proclaim. I prefer
to respond to the needs of the people and
talent, creativity and specialism in steel
structures.
“There are moments when you are
pinching yourself and saying holy moly,
for the people. My job is to elevate the “Being awarded an honorary degree this is what it's all about, and when those
lives and hearts of local communities. of the Kelpies, which have earned him an mundane, to make it nicer, and to place by GCU is an indication that you're doing moments happen, it’s like, yes. I wouldn’t
Andy Scott, sculptor, artist and engineer, international profile and, more importantly art where it isn't expected.” the right thing, that somebody’s noticed be doing anything else. It’s too late to start
is the man behind some of the country’s to him, admiration from For a number of years, Andy, renowned and has recognised that somebody was playing football for a living.”
most iconic landmarks; the Kelpies, the community. “It's the for his popular sculpture of horses, tried to behind it.”
the Heavy Horse, Arria in Cumbernauld, local people's adoption and persuade commissions of other works. Standing by his side is his architect Andy Scott with his famous
the Ibrox Disaster Memorial, Ravenscraig's embracing of them that However, he says he's now quite the wife Hanneke, whom he credits with helping Kelpies. Photo: Juliet
Steelman, and Rise in Glasgow's Harbour. I'm really proud of. They've equine expert and is relaxed with it. him through his journey and his success. Howden and Herald
His sculptures, which take form in his brought a sense of place and a and Times.
“It's become a subject I am associated He is keen to emphasise that the projects
workshop in Maryhill, stretch locally from sense of pride. That, and the fact with. It’s just my thing, and I’ve given up that have led him here today are a team
Glasgow’s M8 to Falkirk, and internationally my dad was from Falkirk, means there struggling with it. I love it and, in the past effort and wouldn't have happened had
“
from Queensland, Australia, to New York. is a personal poignancy to them.” couple of years, I have been getting more it not been for the involvement
And it is at GCU’s campus in New York and more academic to the point that of other specialists.
where Andy is preparing to stage a series I have become quite obsessed.”
of small clay maquettes. The artist has not Glasgow made
staged a gallery show since his days at
Glasgow School of Art in the late 1980s.
me and I can see
“It was an opportunity I had to seize that it feeds
with both hands,” says Andy. “My show
will revisit projects that I have worked
through my work.
on in the past and will allow me to work I'm a product of
on more intricate clay models.”
The event will show between 10-12 pieces
this city
cast in bronze, including a scaled version of Born in Glasgow in 1964, Andy
his famous Kelpies works, running for two attended the Glasgow School of Art
months at the SoHo campus from June. before he made a name for himself
The installation of the £5m Kelpies constructing the Heavy Horse on
in Grangemouth, the UK’s tallest equine the M8, east of Glasgow, in 1997.
sculptures made from 300 tonnes of steel, The Horse, modelled on the
propelled Scott onto the international Clydesdale workhorse, put public
stage. The Helix, a reclaimed scrubland, art into the lives of everyday
now boasts the monumental and elegant commuters from the vantage
horses’ heads as its centerpiece. point of their cars, rather than
It has attracted more than 1 million within the confines of a gallery.
visitors since its opening in 2014 and “My earliest community-
has become one of Scotland's most based commissions in
photographed innovations. Easterhouse, Blochairn and
“Arria was the biggest free-standing Cranhill sent me down a
sculpture until I did the Kelpies,” says Andy. particular path.
4 5
GCU NEW YORK
Challenging the industry
GCU New York's Fair Fashion Center has already helped one company save nearly $1 million.
G CU’s research centres are used to
thinking outside the box – but GCU
New York’s Fair Fashion Center is helping
efficiencies, finance, governance,
marketing, packaging, transportation and
social/labour – reflecting challenges and
for fashion professionals to look for
organisations working in categories
including climate, water, finance,
reinvent it. opportunities – and aggregates examples governance, labour, materials,
Launched by Chancellor Professor of best practice across the industry. transportation, recycling, technology,
Muhammad Yunus in May to examine “The centre disseminates efficient, awards and strategy. The site will become
the business case for sustainability in the actionable practices, delivered in modules a real-time portal for case studies and
fashion industry, the centre has already that easily embed into a company’s existing eventual repository for the work of
inspired one of its partners to re-examine structure,” says Cara. “Its first project the centre.
the materials, size and components of its focused on packaging in men’s dress “GCU is thrilled about the centre
shoe packaging, saving the company shirts. Upon reviewing the number of because there is tremendous opportunity
nearly one million dollars a year. components, countries of manufacture, to challenge the industry,” says Cara.
It’s one of the centre’s innovative costs, and consumer feedback, it was “Fashion has traditionally been left out
Changing perceptions
responses to transforming the $2.5 trillion apparent that inefficiencies existed. of the social responsibility movement,
fashion industry. The world’s second The centre introduced opportunities to despite its presence as a job creator and
biggest consumer of water and second eliminate pieces and presented industrial industry that spans demographics. There is
biggest polluter, it employs one in six people design solutions to recreate packaging an opportunity for this sector to work
around the world, with women making up patterns. The changes resulted in ecological pre-competitively and build an effective
80 per cent of the supply chain. impact reductions across water, CO2, network that offers its input and human
“Systemic change in the fashion industry and forestry through efficiencies in capital to generate real change.”
Lynn McGarry talks with Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing Principal Niru Shamsun Nahar. requires an approach that is aligned to sourcing, transportation and production,
“
its disciplines,” says Vice-President of while improving margins.
GCU New York Cara Smyth. “Efforts at
B angladesh’s Ministry of Health has
recognised Grameen Caledonian
Crossan, who’d both previously been based
in GCU's School of Health and Life Sciences.
academic success of 47 students,
GCU Chancellor Professor Muhammad
revaluing ecosystems and promoting
economic and social wellbeing require There is
College of Nursing (GCCN) as the She has been at GCCN since its Yunus was in attendance, along with market-based solutions, reconciled to tremendous
country’s leading nursing college because foundation, when she was appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor the bottom line.”
opportunity to
“
of GCU’s leadership and advises anyone Vice-Principal. Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE and Deputy Collaborating with industry, the United
in Bangladesh who is starting a nursing Vice-Chancellor Professor James Miller. Nations, and cross-sector thought leaders, challenge the industry
college to visit. “I have seen so many developments the Fair Fashion Center is structured to
In her first year as Principal of GCCN, In the past year, since my time here,” says Niru. aggregate and research the best and most “Those initial findings inspired a
Niru Shamsun Nahar has overseen
rapid development.
GCCN has become “Traditionally, we take girls from
rural areas so they don’t know how to
scalable practices, source new opportunities
for engagement, and research emerging
footwear company that partners with
the centre to make improvements to
The College, co-founded by GCU increasingly use computers, their English is not really tactics and technologies in supply-chain their shoeboxes that are now saving
and the Grameen Trust, is now teaching
a BSc Nursing programme – in partnership
independent good and we change all of that. We are
growing and developing all the time and,
sustainability, social responsibility, ecology
and environmental impact reduction.
it nearly a million dollars annually.”
The centre has also researched
with Dhaka University – “It’s a wonderful role and a great in the past year, GCCN has become “While the industry’s enormous scale actions for operating facilities more
alongside the Diplomas experience,” she says. “I’m really enjoying increasingly independent. and global integration propel fashion to a efficiently, calling upon cross-sector
in Nursing Science and it. It’s a new nursing college, however, “We still, however, seek advice from top rank on any impact index, it is its nature experts and reviewing proven
Midwifery it has offered and there are many challenges to overcome, GCU. The relationship between the of constant reinvention that also becomes practices, and has launched
since opening in 2010. not least attitudes to nursing as a profession University and the College is great. its opportunity for rapid re-evaluation and fairfashioncenter.org, a reference of
As the College’s third in Bangladesh. “GCCN is one of Bangladesh’s leading transformation. To facilitate this process, associations, conferences, non-profit
Principal, Niru follows “For a long time, people haven’t nursing colleges because of our relationship the centre acts as a translator between organisations, government agencies,
in the footsteps of wanted to take up nursing here and GCCN with GCU. the private and public sectors, turning and for-profit establishments
Founding Principal is changing that; first through our diplomas “The government sends people to us as sustainable development goals into with expertise in social and
Professor Barbara and now with a BSc Nursing Science.” a model of what a nursing college should be. actionable business practices.” environmental initiatives.
Parfitt and At GCCN’s latest graduation ceremony That’s been achieved in just a few years The centre has identified eight The searchable database
Professor Frank in December, which celebrated the because of GCU.” “action areas”, including end-of-use, makes it easy
6 7
OUR PEOPLE OUR PEOPLE
Putting her best foot
opportunity for healthcare professionals
who volunteer at the games to gain
experience of working with this population.
It has also been a foundation of practical
forward for students
experience for students on the podiatry
programme at GCU, some of whom have
attended the games with Mandy. Last year,
Mandy was invited by the International
Games Committee to attend the World
Games in LA, and students Martin
McCafferty and Sharon McQuillan were
successful in applying to accompany her.
Mandy Abbott, Podiatry Postgraduate Programme Lead, talks to Clare Rajan about In the five days over which the games
what she – and her students – are learning from her work with international athletes. took place, Mandy and the students were
involved in screening 4500 athletes.
This involved measuring athletes’ foot
I t may seem hard to believe that someone says Mandy, adding: “He was only brought As well as offering a health-screening size against their shoe size, looking for
with life-threatening injuries to their in by his coach to be fitted for new trainers.” service, Fit Feet facilitates the collection of deformities, and fitting them with a new
feet could walk, never mind compete While extreme, it’s just one example of data on health inequalities among athletes pair of shoes, provided courtesy of the
Mandy was invited to be the podiatrist for the first ever European Games in Baku.
in a sport at international level. the types of cases Mandy has dealt with. with intellectual disabilities and provides an Games’ sponsors.
Yet, as a podiatrist for the A trained podiatrist with a specialist “It’s great for their CV,” says Mandy.
Special Olympics World Summer interest in biomechanics and sports “The students got to meet and work with encouraged, with people washing and “I have seen some people who have
Games in Los Angeles in 2015, injuries, Mandy has led Fit Feet international podiatrists and with athletes dressing themselves, meaning their feet never cut their toenails,” Mandy explains.
Mandy Abbott encountered at the Special Olympics with an intellectual disability from 160 are rarely seen by anyone else. Added to “Some have been wearing completely the
a young man attempting to National Games in countries. Their eyes were opened to this, they may never complain about pain wrong-sized shoes simply because they
do just that. Glasgow, Bath, Leicester the poverty and deprivation, and to the because they either have no concept of liked them, so they bought them. It’s also
A lecturer in podiatry at and Brighton and healthcare system, in other countries. pain or don’t know how to explain what’s not uncommon for people who live in
We worked with athletes who had wrong with them. shared accommodation to pick up
“
GCU, Mandy has been a been invited to
Clinical Director for Fit Feet volunteer at the deformities like you wouldn’t believe. In this someone else's shoes and put them on.”
in Great Britain, part of the World Games country, they would just have surgery.” Students have also had the opportunity
Special Olympics Healthy in Idaho and However, although this population in
the UK is well looked after, and there are
The students got to shadow Mandy on visits in her capacity
as the official podiatrist for both Kilmarnock
Athletes programme, Athens.
since 2005. The programme learning disability services within the NHS, to meet and work and Dundee United Football Clubs, and to
aims to identify health problems Mandy points out that foot or lower limb
disorders can often go unnoticed.
with international learn from her involvement in other major
sporting events. In 2014, she was invited to
for athletes with an intellectual
disability and advise them on Independent living is podiatrists be the Clinical Lead for Podiatry at the
healthy lifestyle choices. Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games,
“His injuries were horrific,” with responsibility for recruiting volunteers,
Mandy recalls of the young setting standards of care and providing the
athlete. “When he took off his service during – and in the weeks leading up
shoes, we could see that he to – the Games. And through this, she was
had huge ulcers on both feet, invited by the International European
which were so bad, the bones Committee of the Olympic Games to be
were exposed.” the podiatrist for the first ever European
Despite this, he had Games, in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June 2015.
travelled a very long distance While only registered clinicians are
to the games in LA to compete allowed access to athletes at professional
in bowling. What is even more events, students are still able to benefit
astonishing is that no one from Mandy’s experience.
picked up on it. “I always make sure I pass on to
“He came with a team; students what I’ve learned while working
he got on a plane with in a multidisciplinary team in this unique
them, travelled to environment. I highlight common injuries
America, and and how barriers to care, such as language,
nobody noticed,” training regimes, footwear and surfaces,
and anti-doping laws, can be overcome,
for example. So the students get something
out of it too.”
8 9
GLOBALWATCH GLOBALWATCH
Kathryn Mulvanny helped her host family take corn from the cob in Bangladesh.
Dramatic impact The 21st graduation ceremony at Caledonian College of Engineering.
says Kathryn. “We were supporting
marginalised women in start-ups and
small businesses and helping them,
in turn, pass on their knowledge
in marketing, IT, planning and organising
and mentoring from my studies at GCU and
from previous HNC and HND studies to help
men and women grow their businesses.
Students help transform understanding of learning disabilities in Malawi, help fledgling to increase the employability of I learned so much, too, from learning to be
businesses in Rangpur and celebrate graduations in Oman. Lynn McGarry reports. other women in their communities. grateful for the things we take for granted
“We worked with companies making such as electricity and clean water, to
soft furnishings and rucksacks, developing developing my team-working skills.
T he first group of BSc Nursing
(Learning Disabilities) students to
undertake an international placement as
“Understanding of learning disabilities
in Malawi is extremely different and we
experienced many challenges, but were
quarter of those who need medical
treatment, or technical aids, counselling
or education, have access to services.
it has been amazing to see the
children’s confidence build.”
The group is continuing its support.
their products, surveying the market,
marketing the products and helping them
secure sales. We started from scratch,
“It was a fantastic opportunity –
the people of Bangladesh are so hospitable
and I’d recommend working in communities
an accredited element of their programme able to make a positive impact in often “We had underestimated how few Michael recently took part in the Loch even adapting sewing machines to ensure around the world with an organisation such
have returned from Malawi. extreme conditions by raising awareness,” resources and how little awareness of Ness Marathon to raise funds for the SOS they were compatible with the materials, as ICS and VSO to anyone. I have high
Michael Kemp, Eve Ferguson, Jennifer Corrine says. “Many people told us, learning disabilities we would encounter, Children’s Village and the team hopes to so I was incredibly proud that the hopes that the businesses we helped
McDonald, Rachael Hainie and Corrinne for example, that they had no idea that so we had to be creative in using our skills collect text books, equipment, toys and businesses were producing quality products will grow and secure sales and that the
Taylor worked alongside staff and students they could interact and build therapeutic in the frontline and developed into a great clothes for distribution across Malawi. and that one had secured a really big order entrepreneurs will continue to develop
of the University of Malawi’s Kamuzu relationships with people who have team,” Michael says. “It was eye-opening to Also on the international front, Glasgow by the end of my time in Bangladesh. their skills and confidence.”
College of Nursing in clinics and schools, learning disabilities. We learned a lot and witness the dramatic impact we were able School for Business and Society student “I lived with a local family and, in addition Meanwhile, GCU has been celebrating
and at the SOS charity's Children’s Village. people were able to learn a lot from us, to make on the lives of people who are Kathryn Mulvanny spent three months in to working with the businesses, we were the success of students at its partner
They carried out health checks and too, as we quickly realised that the greatest among the poorest in the world. Rangpur helping rural entrepreneurs develop able to organise a series of action days institutions in Bangladesh and Oman.
environmental assessments and delivered need was in raising awareness of learning “A rehabilitation clinic we visited could fledgling businesses. Kathryn, who is which gave local people access to medical Forty-seven students graduated at
health education, identifying people disabilities. We felt we had so much impact no longer offer free therapy so we would studying Management Technology and care and prescriptions, and introduced new Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing
who needed additional support. which will grow and influence practice.” see mothers who had literally carried Enterprise volunteered with international waste-management methods. To coincide with Diplomas in Nursing Science and
Corrinne, who stayed in Malawi for an In one of the world’s poorest countries, children miles for help being turned away. volunteering organisations International with International Youth Day, we organised Midwifery.
additional five weeks, also worked in rural people with disabilities are among the We had raised money to fund our trip Citizen Service (ICS) and Voluntary Service an event to encourage young people to Oman’s Caledonian College
areas and at a psychiatric hospital, where poorest of the poor. Only five per cent and were able to use some of that to fund Overseas (VSO) to develop craft businesses. further their studies. Around 400 people of Engineering celebrated its 21st
many people with learning disabilities in of people who have a disability and need sessions for some of the most motivated “I was part of a team of UK and attended and were able to hear from ceremony with the graduations of 390
Malawi live because their needs are occupational training and welfare services people who couldn’t afford therapy. Bangladeshi volunteers working with two university lecturers and business women. students, of which more than 340 are
recognised as mental-health issues. receive the care they need and just a That money is still funding therapy and small businesses in villages in Rangpur,” It was so rewarding to use my experience GCU graduates.
10 11
OUR PEOPLE OUR PEOPLE
We've potential to
"There are some kids who just need a bit of 2013. Universities and colleges were also difficulties and the lecturers and staff didn’t
guidance, but without it they end up going losing their licences due to a lack of legal have the skills or the tools to deal with
to the next level of crime; some don’t stand and compliance knowledge. Peter has now those things properly. As teaching staff
a chance.” rebranded ‘Compliance’ to form the Visa are invariably an inspiration to those that
The flame of fighting social injustice Immigration Support and Advice team. they teach, they tried to help the students,
achieve great things
and inequality planted in South Africa was He explains: “Within this sector it is but the lack of expertise and legal
now burning brightly, so Peter decided to common to find staff teaching on the front knowledge would invariably leave the
specialise in human rights, immigration line who are simply not supported in some student exposed and with visa issues,
and asylum law. “I needed to be part of areas. Their international students could be which then impacts negatively on the
someone’s journey and have the ability facing civil wars in their home countries, student, staff member, college or university.
to help them achieve some of the most or specific language barriers and financial Compliance and the law, therefore, need to
“
fundamental things in life – freedom of be seen as a duty of care, as opposed to a
speech, freedom to live without risk of mandatory procedure.
Inspired to fight social injustice, Head of Visa Immigration Support and Advice Peter Yetton being killed, freedom to love who they I’ve worked really “I’ve worked really hard to break down
is strongly behind GCU’s Common Good mission. Fiona Ramsay meets him to find out why. wish to. I achieved some great successes the paranoia and perceived restrictive
with some of the cases I dealt with, hard to break down nature of immigration law and Home
but also saw how fragile and precarious the perceived Office rules, while also ensuring that all
“M y greatest fear is that when I ending up in Northern Ireland in the run life can be at times, when the law is understand the law and what can happen
finally go onto my next adventure up to the Good Friday Agreement which not with you.” restrictive nature if certain elements of it aren't adhered to."
and pass away, that I would have amounted signalled the end of the Troubles. However, Peter helped establish Remarkable of immigration law Peter finds working at GCU to be
to nothing, inspired no-one or not made a damaging his back while on active service, Law Scotland, a business with fellow an extremely positive experience.
difference to anyone’s life.” These are the Peter’s Navy career was cut short after nine lawyer Raymond McLennon, to help “This University is quite unique because
words of Peter Yetton, GCU’s Head of years. At the age of 30, he went back to small businesses to maintain a balance of its mind-set and that thread of the
Visa Immigration Support and Advice. college to gain Highers to study law at between commercial issues and people, Common Good that runs through it.
His determination to help people university. “I felt it was a calling for through communication skills, There are very few people I have
through his work has led to Peter pursuing me. I wanted to help people. I didn’t team building and leadership – met here who don’t believe in it.
careers in the Royal Navy, criminal law feel I had done much of that in the recognising the value of people. The amount of untapped skill
and then asylum, immigration and human Forces. Though we were upholding He also delivered pro bono sets within departments,
rights law, before finally settling at GCU. specific laws and rights from the legal work to various in my experience, is second
Aged just 44, his life so far has been MoD perspective, when I came charities at this time. to none within GCU,
extremely colourful, with a family history out of the Navy I started to question During his legal work, which means that there
which has strongly contributed to his need a lot of it.” Peter found that students is so much potential to
to promote social justice. In the 1970s, His move into law was also the were often disadvantaged achieve great things.”
his family moved to Zambia from the North start of a new phase in his family life. by a lack of support and
East of England, with his father working in His son, the first of two children, was advice about their individual
the copper mines and mother teaching in born as he started studying for his law immigration situation, and joined Peter Yetton uses his
poor mining schools. The family then moved degree, at the same time working as GCU as Compliance Officer in expertise and legal
knowledge to help guide
to South Africa, with Peter’s mother opening a mortgage adviser at Standard Life. students through visa and
a college for black students during the Peter chuckles: “They never twigged I was other issues.
1980s, when the apartheid government studying rather than working all the time!”
was coming under increasing internal Peter worked in a criminal law firm in the
pressure and tensions were high. East End of Glasgow, which he found to
“My mother was a bit of a freedom be “rewarding but ultimately tragic
fighter in her own way,” says Peter. “I feel and upsetting” as the same
proud that my family played a part in families were coming
upholding something good and standing back again and again.
up for their rights in South Africa at that “I would go to prepare
time. They were very brave indeed.” a will in people’s
This brave stance led the family to flats and houses
leave the country prematurely, returning and they would have
to the UK where Peter studied hospitality no floorboards. It is
management, before gaining employment quite tragic looking
as a head chef in his early 20s. “It was at it from the
before Jamie Oliver − not very glamorous perspective of being
and very long hours. It was challenging a solicitor living
to say the least!” a relatively
Hanging up the apron and cooking comfortable life.
knives, Peter then joined the Royal Navy,
12 13
CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
Music event makes
Student Emma Wood put her audio technology
skills into practice at the event.
right Connections
Lynn McGarry finds out how Celtic Connections at GCU supports cultural
engagement at the University while utilising the skills of our students.
G CU has added a new string to its bow.
The University welcomed hundreds
of passionate music fans to the inaugural
says Lecturer Patrick Quinn, who led the
project. “We welcomed more than 500
people from all over the world over four
I was equally delighted with the high
standard of performance from the
up-and-coming artists.
Celtic Connections on Campus − a fresh days, and broadcast live to a global "The audience was very vocal in
“
strand in the internationally renowned audience via Celtic Music Radio. praising the concerts' sound and the
music festival − in January. high standard and range of the acts.”
Emerging musical talent drawn from Fourteen students manned the mixing
universities, schools and colleges across Putting our academic desks in the student bistro and at Glasgow
Scotland – backed by the technical skills into practice Royal Concert Hall, where they have been
expertise of GCU’s Audio Technology providing technical support to the festival
and Audio Systems Engineering students – was amazing and for the past four years.
performed to more than 500 music not as scary as “Working practically on live sound has
fans across four days. The event was been a great opportunity, especially as
so successful, it is hoped it will become I’d feared we are being broadcast on radio, too,”
a fixture of the annual festival. says student Emma Wood. “It was exciting
In partnership with Celtic Music “I am so pleased with the and nerve wracking working in front of such
Radio, the lunchtime showcase was professionalism of our audio students, a big audience, and switching from working
broadcast around the world. who loved the challenges and pressures with big bands to a single guitar player and as we did. The technical support was great. were playing for fun, which is nice to hear. first-rate, especially in such a lovely,
“It was an outstanding success,” of learning in a real-world, live environment. back again. We didn’t notice it, so you know they did That’s part of the tradition of this kind informal atmosphere. The audience is
"I had never worked in front of so many their job well – we don’t notice it when it of music and it is particularly nice to see here to listen.
people, and audiences themselves create has gone fantastically! Celtic Connections young people enjoying Celtic music so "We plan to come every year, we are
challenges, such as clapping, that we had to on Campus is a great new strand and a much, where perhaps young people in addicted. Celtic Connections is the best
react quickly to deal with. It was fantastic.” great platform for musicians.” other countries are only listening to Celtic music festival in the world and the
“
Student Richard Kennedy adds: “It was Musician James Michael Rodgers, pop music.” 'on campus' concerts have been an
the first time I’d worked on anything as who showcased music from his soon-to-be- unexpected treat.”
large as this and it was a great experience released debut album, adds: “The technical Celtic Connections is the world’s
to work with a much bigger mixer and support from GCU students was great. It would be great largest Celtic music festival and this
get to grips with so many wires! You know if a student is working with you to repeat Celtic year featured 2100 artists at 300
"I picked up so much and putting our they will be thinking about it a lot, and they events across 20 Glasgow venues.
academic skills into practice was amazing will be supportive.” Connections on This was the fifth year GCU
and not as scary as I’d feared – especially Music student Gwendolyn Deboer, Campus in 2017 students have worked at the festival.
as we all supported each other.” from The Hague, had travelled to Glasgow Patrick adds: “It would be great to
The hugely varied performers – even the for musical tuition and was thrilled to be Also in the audience for each of the repeat Celtic Connections on Campus
Postman Pat theme tune made it into the able to hear the cream of emerging talent concerts, Bill and Eileen Elliott, from New in 2017, maybe with a few more acts
line-up – were delighted to be part of the at GCU. Hampshire, welcomed a new daytime and maybe another day added to
informal, intimate strand. “Celtic music is my music but we can’t concert slot. the schedule.
“We usually play in pubs all over study it in The Hague, so I was incredibly “It’s been fantastic, just wonderful "It would also be great if Celtic
Glasgow and had never played to such lucky to be in Glasgow for classes at just to have music in the day,” says Bill. Connections on Campus could be
a big audience,” says Jamie Quinn, the right time. “This should be a permanent fixture. used as a springboard to have more
leader of Glasgow University Celtic Group. "I tried to see as much as I can. It’s been The quality of the musicians has been events on campus at other times
Musical talent from institutions across Scotland entertained more than 500 music fans at GCU. “We hope the audience had as much fun wonderful – particularly as these performers fantastic and the sound and production during the year.”
14 15
GAME JAM GAME JAM
A platform
for creativity
Chris Fitzgerald talks to Brian McDonald, Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in Games
Software Development, about the academic merits of creating games in 48 hours.
A large crowd of both budding and
seasoned game designers gather in
GCU’s Saltire Centre, gazing expectantly
and Senior Lecturer in Games Software
Development at the University,
oversees the occasion.
technology tools, try new roles in
development and test their skills.
“It’s one of the highlights of the gaming
computer terminal in tandem with others
shuffling off bleary eyed to find the nearest
couch-cum-bed.
When the dust settles, it’s revealed
that more than 36,000 locations in 93
countries have created 6800 games
at a video screen fixed to the wall. “The structure of a jam is usually that year,” he says. “The event is a celebration But can a game made in just two days over the weekend.
Like Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible, everyone gathers on Friday, late afternoon, of the game-development process and be polished and ready for market, or is More locally, GCU’s horde of jammers
they’re waiting for a briefing that will watches a short video keynote with highlights the amazing work that can be that not the point? has produced a total of 30 games.
completely dominate their next 48 hours. advice from leading game developers, completed by talented and passionate “Often games created at the jam are Among those is the wittily titled
Then their oracle speaks, like some deity then a secret theme is announced,” he says. people in such a small period of time. just experiments,” says Brian. “They are only Don’t Stop Bereavin’, which focuses on the
from the digital world. They’re asked to “All sites worldwide are then challenged “For GCU students, this gives them meant to be played at that moment in time ritual of funerals. There are many others,
develop a game around the theme word of to make games based on that same theme, an excellent opportunity to practice game or with a specific bit of kit. That said, many too − puzzle game Curvish, for example,
‘ritual’− and they have just two days to do it. with games to be completed by Sunday creation in an environment that is geared of the games produced through the Global and WASDA Price, based around the
This is the Global Game Jam, the world's afternoon. towards making something interesting Game Jam have eventually made it on to an festive shopping ritual that is Black Friday.
largest game-creation event, taking place "With that said, the jam is more and fun. They will receive support from app store. Ultimately, though, the jam is a “To a certain extent, from a technical
at physical locations across continents. about collaboration than it is competition.” the other jammers who come from other platform that lets participants test their point of view, it’s actually easier to make
It has grown massively since its inception Many students and staff from GCU make universities or industry and, during the ideas. Remember, this is a collaborative games now than it’s ever been,” says Brian.
in 2009, when it began as an idea to up the 180-strong contingent of 'jammers', course of the jam, they will be able to event, so jammers are constantly getting “The tools are readily available, easier to
encourage the process of game as do a mix of students from the University receive guidance and feedback from feedback from their peers, all of who use and affordable. What it takes to make
development, encapsulating programming, of West of Scotland and Glasgow School industry mentors.” are game players as well as designers. a good game, however, is dedication,
design, narration and artistic expression. Art, along with industry professionals With non-stop programming and “Perhaps the format’s biggest effort and having something interesting
GCU provides a Scottish base for this and keen amateurs. testing taking place over the 48-hour limit, endorsement lies in the fact that to say from an artistic point of view.
There were 180 people taking part at GCU's
year’s event, as it has the previous seven According to Brian, the Global Game the jammers apply a shift ethic to their professional studios are now using game That’s why we end up with such diverse Game Jam, the third highest in the UK and 38th
years. Brian McDonald, Programme Leader Jam invites students to explore new work, with some beavering away at a jams as a development practice.” themes and game types.” highest globally.
16 17
NEWS BRIEFING specialist at Henry Street Settlement − GRAMEEN CHAIR
focused on ways to cultivate job mobility GCU Grameen in the UK, the micro-
We're making
and career advancement and to stimulate lending initiative facilitated by GCU,
employer productivity through positive appointed Willy Roe CBE as the new
workforce environments. Chair of the Grameen Scotland Foundation.
Inspired by the international Grameen
TOP TWO Bank developed by GCU Chancellor,
an impact
ALUMNI GCU’s Alumnus of the Professor Muhammad Yunus, Grameen
Year award winner was Erica Charles, in the UK is the first micro-lending initiative
who graduated with an MSc Fashion of its type in Western Europe.
Marketing in 2003, and is currently Chief
Brand Ambassador for Mary’s Living and STREET LAW
Giving Shop, the premium charity retail
GCU's people receive recognition as the University continues concept launched by retail expert Mary
to inspire through research and innovative programmes. Portas with the Save the Children charity
in 2009. The GCU London Alumnus
of the Year Award was presented to
Steffen Bornhoeft, who studied an MSc
UN ROLE FOR PROFESSOR YUNUS of Marketing and Communications at
International Fashion Marketing, and is now
Maastricht University, and the Dean for
Mintel Group’s Account Director Germany,
International Students at Wageningen
Austria and Switzerland − just a year after
University, both based in the Netherlands.
taking up an internship role.
CULTURAL FELLOW GSBS GCU students took to Glasgow’s
ENERGY ADVICE
Buchanan Street to promote the University’s
Law Clinic, the student-led and student-run
initiative designed to give them practical
experience while studying for their law
degrees. The students engaged with over
700 members of the public, offering free
legal assistance, setting up appointments
for the clinic and handing out flyers.
GCU UN Secretary General Ban Ki
Moon appointed GCU Chancellor Nobel
CARBALLO MASTERCLASS
Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus
GCU LONDON Honorary graduate Dr
to the Sustainable Development Goals
GCU Cultural Fellow and honorary Manuel Carballo presented a Masterclass
Advocacy Group for the promotion
graduate Liz Lochhead was awarded EBE Dr Keith Baker, Researcher at GCU London entitled: Mass migration:
and implementation of the Sustainable
The Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry for in Sustainable Urban Environments, challenge or opportunity for Europe?
Development Goals adopted by world
2015. Ms Lochhead, who was Scots Makar – working with CAG Consultants, a UK-wide The Masterclass examined the way
leaders.
the national poet for Scotland – from 2011 sustainability, climate change and in which the European Union is dealing
until this year, has been recognised for community engagement consultancy, with the recent mass arrival of refugees
WELCOME TO GCU
her body of work. She is one of eight is working to review energy-efficiency and and migrants into Europe, and examined
Caledonian Cultural Fellows selected to fuel-poverty schemes for Citizens Advice how responses to the issue could impact on
promote cultural engagement across the Scotland (CAS), the country’s largest international development and global health.
University. independent advice network. He was awarded an Honorary Degree of
Doctor of Science from the University in 2014.
BUSINESS OF FASHION DOBLE PARTNERSHIP
GCU NY In partnership with Dress for RESEARCH GCU and Doble Engineering HEPATITIS ASSESSMENT
Success®, GCU New York hosted a panel Company are continuing their collaboration RESEARCH Researchers at GCU are
discussion entitled ‘The Community of to develop innovative condition-monitoring conducting a Europe-wide assessment of
Fashion: Connecting Career Pathways to products and services to detect faults hepatitis B, C and E monitoring and testing
Job Mobility’, the third of a seven-part RECORD BREAKERS European public-health initiative to raise and predict power failures for the electric activities, and the need for new European
salon series in retail education. The panel awareness about the threat to public supply industry. Over the next three years, guidance on testing to be produced by the
HLS Nursing students at GCU officially
− which featured John Seery, Vice President health of antibiotic resistance and the Doble Engineering will fully fund two European Centre for Disease Prevention
set a new Guinness World Record for the
of the Fifth Avenue Club and Personal importance of prudent antibiotic use. PhD studentships to work on a new and Control (ECDC). Led by Dr Esther
most participants in a hand-sanitising
GCU The University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Service Experiences at Saks Fifth Avenue; A total of 417 participants took part project to apply innovative machine Aspinall, working with colleagues at Health
relay, in partnership with Glasgow
and Vice-Principal International Jeanine Karen Newman, Senior Consultant for the in the relay, as GCU researchers, learning techniques to the classification Protection Scotland, the team is conducting
City of Science and Health Protection
Gregersen-Hermans is now in post. United Nations Development Programme; lecturers and students gathered to of fault conditions with the purpose of a nine-month study examining existing
Scotland. The World Record was cracked
Most recently Director of the Student and Mileisa Gomez, Education Advocate raise awareness of hand hygiene as practical implementation to real-time policy and practice on hepatitis B and C
on November 18, 2015, European
Recruitment Directorate at the University at Advocates for Children of New York a means of preventing infections. condition assessment of rotating machines testing in Europe, and surveillance activities
Antibiotic Awareness Day, an annual
of Hull, Jeanine was previously Director and former career training program operated online. for hepatitis E.
18 19OUR PEOPLE OUR PEOPLE
Building bridges S tudents winning competitions is nothing works. I’ll give you an example. I have Building, while this year the project is
new, but those in GCU’s School of delivered professional development courses the West Dunbartonshire Council Office
Engineering and Built Environment (EBE) on structural Eurocodes to design engineers Building. In addition, we teach our students
have more than made their mark over the at many different construction companies. to be familiar with commercial software
past year. These are codes which provide common to solve complex practical problems.
into industry
On the back of a GCU team winning an design criteria and methods of meeting This means our students should be able
international construction business contest, necessary industry requirements. to deal directly with design work after
the Chartered Institute of Building Global “I’ve found that a lot of companies they complete their study.
Student Challenge in Hong Kong in 2015, largely lack knowledge on the latest codes “So, you see, everything we are doing is
EBE recorded another impressive brace at and many of them are still using out-of-date closely aligned to the University’s Strategy
two other major industry competitions. British Standards. At GCU, we teach our 2020. We are delivering excellence in learning
Second-year students Yohannes Brhane, students the development history and combined with an outstanding student
“
Lee Haywood and Seyed Sasan Seyf won design philosophy of Eurocodes. experience, which equips them with not
Chris Fitzgerald finds out why Dr Binsheng ‘Ben’ Zhang believes national first prize at last year’s IStructE Scottish just employability skills, but also the ability
competitions give students valuable real-world construction experience. University Model Competition, while a team to make an impact within communities.”
of three part-time final-year students − Everything we are Ben has been at GCU since 2013 and
Isla Buchanan, Michael McGovern and
Pamela Robertson – finished second at
doing is closely has been actively involved in a multitude of
areas including research, consultancy and
the Structural Concrete Student Design aligned to the CPD course delivery.
Competition 2015.
Both teams were led by Dr Binsheng
University’s After completing his PhD in 1987 at
Tongji University in Shanghai, he worked as a
Zhang, or Ben as he prefers, a Senior Strategy 2020 Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow,
Lecturer in Civil and Structural Engineering. where he remained for 14 years. A spell
“Winning awards against Scottish and “By doing this, we give our students the working as a Structural Engineering
UK universities does indeed boost our overarching picture. After our students Consultant followed, before he became a
students’ confidence, the reputation of finish their degrees, and go on to work lecturer in Structural Engineering at Edinburgh
GCU and the BSc Environmental Civil in construction, they have a far better Napier University for the next decade.
Engineering programme, but it isn’t the understanding of how to apply the “It took almost 10 years to complete my
primary motivator,” he says. Eurocodes at work.” BEng, MSc and PhD in Civil and Structural
“I have always encouraged our students In addition, Ben is keen that students are Engineering,” Ben says. “I have spent most
to attend national-level competitions to constantly using real-time examples in all of of my career since at Scottish universities.
enhance their professional skills. Skills such their learning. “Every year, we adopt a real At the time I left, the research in China was
as conceptual design, creative thinking, local design project as the basis of course far behind the UK. But, you know, in the past
problem solving, communication, team work for our second and third-year students three decades, Shanghai, and China as a
work and time management are all learned and guide them to apply the skills they whole, has largely developed on all aspects,
this way − and they are all invaluable. have learned. We then see how their work including research. In many areas, their
“These competitions are organised compares with the work that is taking place research achievements are now on a par
by professional institutions and leading on the real project. Last year, we selected with us here in the UK. But I love Scotland.
construction companies, and the tasks the University of Glasgow's Stevenson Hive It’s my home.”
set for the competitions are directly
from problems encountered in practical
construction. For example, we use the brief
from the Structural Concrete Student Design
Competition as a group project for our
fourth-year students, encouraging the best
to submit their design to the contest itself.
“Our students can build up and enhance
their links to the construction industry
through these activities.”
Ben feels compelled to ensure GCU’s
students not only graduate with a sound
applied knowledge of industry, but also
an understanding of the theory behind
everything they put into practice. “It’s good
that students learn how to do something
and do it well,” he says. “But I think it’s just
as important that students know why they Second-year students Yohannes Brhane, Lee Haywood and Seyed Sasan Seyf, led by Ben Zhang,
do something and why that something won first prize at last year’s IStructE Scottish University Model Competition.
20 21You can also read
