Session 2

25 May, 13.00 – 14.00 (BST)

Think Global, Act Local: Supporting and connecting with local communities as a global civic university

Chaired by: Professor Jaime Toney (Professor in Environmental and Climate Science, University of Glasgow)

Guest speakers: 

  • Susan Aitken (Leader of Glasgow City Council)
  • Professor Monique Scheer (Vice-President of International Affairs and Diversity, University of Tübingen)
  • Dr Mwapatsa Mipando (Associate Professor and former Principal, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences)
  • Ms Uzma Khan, Vice-Principal (Economic Development & Innovation, University of Glasgow).  

Professor Jaime Toney (Chair)

Professor Jaime Toney, Professor in Environmental and Climate Science, University of Glasgow

Jaime is Director of the Centre for Sustainable Solutions and a Professor of Environmental and Climate Science. She leads the BECS research group that is focused on developing an understanding of organic molecules in modern organisms and environments that can be applied to analysing and interpreting past environments and climates. She is Principal Investigator of the NERC Strategic Programme: GALLANT: Glasgow as a Living Lab Accelerating Novel Transformation.

Jamie is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. I am a member of the Scottish Government's Clyde Mission Groups on Climate Adaptation and Net Zero, UKRI NERC Review College and Chair of the Geochemical Society's C.C. Patterson Award Committee.

 

 

Councillor Susan Aitken

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council

Susan Aitken has been Leader of Glasgow City Council since May 2017 and is the first SNP Leader of the Council. For her work to deliver equal pay justice for thousands of women in the city, she was awarded Scottish Local Government Politician of the Year.

Under her leadership Glasgow has been named the host of COP26, a Global Green City, and the European Capital of Sport for 2023.

She is currently co-chair of UK100, a network of local leaders committed to delivering Net Zero, and an advisory board member of the Cities Climate Investment Commission, which is addressing the challenge of financing Net Zero transition in major cities across the UK.

Susan has worked in a variety of policy and research roles in the Scottish Parliament and the third sector, and as a freelance writer and editor specialising in health and social care policy.

She is a graduate of both Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities.

Professor Monique Scheer

Professor Monique Scheer, Vice-President of International Affairs and Diversity, University of Tübingen

Monique Scheer is the Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Diversity at the University of Tübingen, where she leads on international strategy, partnerships and networks, as well as on diversity policy and management.

She is also in the Steering Committee of the European University Alliance CIVIS: A European Civic University.

 



Dr Mwapatsa Mipando

Dr Mwapatsa Mipando (Associate Professor and former Principal, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences)

Mwapatsa Mipando is a trained physiologist having graduated from University of Malawi (BEd in Biology), University of Liverpool (MSc-Physiology) and University of KwaZulu Natal (PhD-Physiology).  He served as the Principal of the College of Medicine, University of Malawi for 6 years until November 2020.  He was instrumental in the delinking the College of Medicine from University of Malawi to become an independent university called Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS).

He has a special interest in building local academic and research leadership capacity that is locally relevant whilst being internationally competitive. He is the Malawi Project leader of the Scottish Government funded Blantyre-Blantyre Project and the Malawi Dental School Project . He is also the team lead for the World Bank SAVE-Project, a $6.8 million project that’s building capacity at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences.

Mwapatsa has sat on a number of advisory boards including Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI), Sub-Saharan Africa Medical School Study (SAMSS) and the WHO Expert group on developing Guidelines for Health Professional Training. He has also served on boards of different organisations. He is a corresponding fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in recognition of his work in promoting the relationship between Scotland and Malawi especially in Health and Education.

Uzma Khan

Ms Uzma Khan, Vice-Principal (Economics Development & Innovation), University of Glasgow

Experienced professional economist & former senior civil servant.

Skilled in developing strategy, planning & policy, data analytics, economic insights, governance and stakeholder management. Public speaker on leadership.