University news

The University of Glasgow has signed a new five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Glasgow Life.‌

As a charity owned by Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life has responsibility for delivering services and providing opportunities through culture, sport and learning to citizens and visitors to the city.

With a shared interest in culture, the arts, education, heritage, research and economic development, the MoU further strengthens the longstanding relationship that exists between both organisations and provides a platform for greater cultural and academic collaboration.

Underpinning the MoU is a commitment to work together to benefit those people who live, work and visit Glasgow and to promote the city on the international stage.

Under the terms of the new MoU, both parties will explore further areas of research collaboration and knowledge exchange; shared teaching opportunities; placements and internships for students and graduates; and joint working to maximise international partnerships.

Two key MoU objectives include the exchange of exhibitions and related activities between Glasgow Life and the Hunterian Museum, Art Gallery and Collections Study Centre; and shared opportunites across areas including capital, content, programming and learning as part of the multi-million pound second phase of refurbishment of the Kelvin Hall.

Additionally, both organisations are jointly funding an innovative new role to develop large-scale, impactful research between the University’s College of Arts and Glasgow Life.

Over the past five months, Research Development Manager, Dr Sabina Strachan, has been working with colleagues to identify strategic areas of joint interest and there is significant potential for this collaboration and interdisciplinary research to make a tangible difference to people’s lives in Glasgow.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “Our links with Glasgow Life have developed in a very positive and beneficial way over the past few years. It is incredibly important to the University of Glasgow that we are active partners with Glasgow Life and that this translates into activities for the benefit of all the people of our city. I am delighted that the MoU is taking this to a whole new level and look forward to future productive collaborations.”

Dr Bridget McConnell, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, said: “We have been building strong links with the University of Glasgow for many years now and this MoU agreement provides a renewed framework to expand our relationship and work even more collaboratively for the benefit of Glasgow, its citizens and visitors.

“The redevelopment of the Kelvin Hall is an excellent example of our partnership in action. The ground-breaking integration of culture, sport, learning and heritage across civic strategy, higher education and national collections is truly unique. It has broken the mould in terms of innovative thinking and cooperative working to transform the future of one of Glasgow’s most important buildings for generations to come.”

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Media enquiries: media@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 3535

First published: 3 July 2017