The invited audience at Monday's opening event will include MSP's and representatives of Scotland's local authorities, voluntary organisations, churches, the business community and the media.

Representatives will also attend from Social Inclusion Partnerships such as Big Step - Pathways to Independence as well as pupils and teachers participating in the current widening participation programme, GOALS.

The Centre brings together two international centres of excellence, the Department of Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow and the Arkleton Centre for Rural Development Research at the University of Aberdeen. Funded initially by a three-year Research Development Grant from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, the aim of the Centre is to lead research and policy debate on social justice in Scotland with a view to influencing thinking and policy throughout the UK.

Research is organised around four related themes:

• the quality of people's lives at different stages in their lives

• the communities and neighbourhoods in which people live

• the ways in which different groups, in particular 'excluded' groups, engage with policy making processes

• the influence of policy decisions across various other areas of life

Professor Robina Goodlad, co-director, University of Glasgow, commented, " We are delighted that the First Minister is coming to launch the Centre. Social Justice is a high priority for the government and for the people of Scotland so it is vitally important that policies are effective. Our research evidence can add to the effectiveness of policies and in turn help make Scotland a more just society."

The lecture will take place on Monday 1 July 2002 at 11.30am at the Kelvin Gallery, University of Glasgow.

For further information on this event and the Centre, please refer to www.scrsj.ac.uk

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Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

Professor Goodlad will be available for interview.

Requests for interview with the First Minister should be directed to the Scottish Executive Press Office.

First published: 27 June 2002