The Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are to launch their first joint postgraduate research programmes in September.

Together, the universities – Scotland’s largest research-intensive institutions – will recruit four students to each of three programmes that will address pressing global concerns.

Topics covered reflect the research strengths of the two universities and will focus on health, criminology and efforts to ensure that cities of the future prosper economically and culturally.

The new venture is part of a wider initiative that will see both institutions work more collaboratively on key areas of research and common interest.

Students taking part in the fully-funded, four-year programmes will have a lead supervisor from their host institution and a co-supervisor from the other University.

Prospective students are being invited to apply for projects in three areas.

The first of these – One Health – will focus on improving the wellbeing of people and animals and how this is connected to their environment.

The second area of research – Criminology – will seek to better understand the causes of inequalities, deprivation and marginalisation in society.

The third discipline – Future Cities – will consider how new technologies and data might address the economic, social and environmental challenges that urban centres face.

The recruitment process for the PhD programmes will commence shortly and the first cohort of students will begin their studies at the start of the 2019 academic session.

University leaders say their desire to work more closely in future is designed to provide maximum benefit for students, innovative research and the wider Scottish economy.

The focus will be on joint academic programmes, promoting fair access to university amongst underrepresented groups and on providing a joint perspective on major issues, including the impact that Brexit will have on higher education.

The Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, Professor Peter Mathieson, said: “At a time when collaborations are crucial to be competitive internationally, it makes perfect sense for Scotland’s two biggest universities to formalise their collaboration on core research and innovation and to focus jointly on key issues.”

The Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, said: “This partnership can be a powerhouse for good and we very much look forward to developing a positive and productive relationship with our counterparts in Edinburgh over the coming months and years.”

 

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First published: 13 December 2018