Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University (abbreviated GCU; Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh Chailleannach Ghlaschu), is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland. It was formed in 1993 by the merger of The Queen's College, Glasgow (founded in 1875) and Glasgow Polytechnic (originally Glasgow College of Technology (GCT), founded in 1971). It is located in the Cowcaddens district, just to the immediate north of the city centre, and is one of three universities in Glasgow alongside the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde. History The university traces its origin from The Queen's College, Glasgow (founded 1875), and the Glasgow College of Technology (founded 1971). The Queen's College, which specialised in providing training in domestic science, received the royal accolade of being named after Queen Elizabeth II in its centenary celebrations in 1975. Queen Elizabeth was, herself, patron of the college since 1944. Glasgow College of Technology (which changed its name to Glasgow Polytechnic in 1991), which was one of the largest central institutions in Scotland, offered externally validated degrees and diplomas in engineering, science, and the humanities: the first of which was a BA in Optics, followed by degrees in Social Sciences (1973) and Nursing (1977). On 1 April 1993, the two institutions amalgamated to form Glasgow Caledonian University. The new university took its name from Caledonia, the poetic Latin name for present-day Scotland. The main campus of the university is built on the site of the former Buchanan Street Station, built by the Caledonian Railway. Independent research carried out in 2015 revealed that the university contributes over £480M to Scotland's economy each year with the quantifiable lifetime premium of a one-year class of graduates estimated at £400M, bringing the university's total annual economic impact to around £880M in Scotland alone. In July 2018, Annie Lennox was installed as GCU's first female chancellor, taking over the role from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. She was succeeded by entrepreneur and computer scientist Anne-Marie Imafidon in February 2024. Mairi Watson is the principal and vice-chancellor of the university, appointed in 2026. Coat of arms and motto The university's coat of arms is the work of university academic and artist Malcolm Lochhead and draws on four elements from the coat of arms of the university's predecessor institutions. The oak tree (of St. Mungo's legend) and the Book of Knowledge were borrowed from the arms of Glasgow Polytechnic while the saltire ermine and the crossed keys (intended to represent the "unlocking" of the Book of Knowledge) were taken from the arms of The Queen's College. A visual feature was added to the new arms with the illuminated capital letters in the Book's paragraphs reading: G C U (the three-letter abbreviation of the university's name). The coat of arms was matriculated by the Lord Lyon King of Arms and is inscribed into university degree parchments. The university's motto: "for the common weal", which has been adopted since 1975, features in the full design of the arms. Campuses GCU's main campus is located in the Cowcaddens area of the city, with most of the buildings dating back to the early 1970s and the construction of the Glasgow College of Technology over the former site of Buchanan Street railway station. GCU also operated out of Queens College' former campus in the Woodlands area of the city on Park Drive, but this was sold to the University of Glasgow in 2001 and everything consolidated on the Cowcaddens site. In September 2013 the university founded Glasgow Caledonian New York College, which is an independent partner institution whose Wooster Street campus is based in the city's SoHo district. GCU London is the second campus, specialising in Insurance, Banking and Finance, Risk Management, International Fashion Marketing, Luxury Brand Marketing, Public Health and Construction Management. It is home to the British School of Fashion. Based in Fashion Street, Spitalfields, the centre offers a range of MBA and MSc courses. GCU London opened in September 2010 and it is reportedly the first Scottish university to open a base in London. GCU London offers the UK's first MBA in Luxury Brand Marketing. Organisation and administration Academic schools Science and Engineering The School of Science and Engineering houses Glasgow Caledonian University's teaching and research in computing, engineering, and the built environment. The school was previously known as the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment before adopting its current name ahead of the 2025–26 academic year as part of an institutional restructuring. The school is composed of the following three departments Department of Engineering Department of Computer Science Department of Construction and Built Environment The school delivers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and undertakes research in areas related to technological innovation, sustainable environments, and the built environment. Research centres associated with the school include the Centre for Climate Justice. The Glasgow School for Business and Society The Glasgow School for Business and Society brings together disciplines in business, law and social sciences, teaching and research in fashion, tourism, risk management, finance and multimedia journalism. The school leads the university-wide delivery of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRiME), a United Nations Global Compact-backed initiative which places social responsibility, ethics and sustainability at the top of the agenda for training future leaders. GCU became a PRiME signatory in January 2012 and is a founding member of the UK and Ireland PRiME Chapter. GCU is a member of Business in the Community (BITC) Scotland and school students and staff manage the Work Ready Action Programme (WRAP), which sees students mentor school pupils from the Glasgow area. In 2015, the school's 10 BA Business Programme Set and its MSc International Fashion Marketing Programmes achieved the EPAS accreditation, becoming the first institution in Scotland and one of only 69 recognised worldwide. It is designated a centre of excellence by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and is the only business school to offer triple-accredited degrees in financial services. The school is also home to the Moffat Centre, one of the world's university research centres in tourism and travel. The school is composed of the following seven departments: Department of Economics & Law Department of Finance, Accountancy & Risk Department of Management Department of People and Organisations Department of Media & Journalism Department of Social Sciences Department of Fashion, Marketing, Tourism & Events Health and Life Sciences The School of Health and Life Sciences is one of Scotland's largest research and teaching centres in health care and life sciences; Scotland's only provider of optometry training; and home to an eye clinic, based on campus. GCU is ranked in the Top 20 in the UK for allied health research at world-leading and internationally excellent standards. The school is, since 1993, Scotland's only designated World Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for Nursing and Midwifery Education, Research, and Practice. It is also home to the Scottish Ambulance Academy; the only educational establishment in the UK to be formally endorsed by the College of Paramedics and certified by the Health and Care Professions Council, providing professional training for paramedics on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service. September 2017 saw the first intake of the BSc Paramedic Science course, the first direct-entry undergraduate paramedic course available in Scotland. The school is composed of the following eight departments: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department of Nursing and Community Health Department of Occupational Therapy & Human Nutrition & Dietetics Department of Physiotherapy and Paramedicine Department of Podiatry and Radiography Department of Psychology Department of Social Work Department of Vision Sciences Administration By statute, the university maintains two internal institutions: the University Court and the University Senate. The University Court is the supreme governing body of the university and is composed of a number of 'governors', statutory mandated with overseeing its overall strategic direction and appointing both the chancellor and the principal (and vice-chancellor) of the university. The university's principal and vice-chancellor and the president of the Students' Association are ex officio governors of the Court. The University Senate, on the other hand, is statutory tasked with the overall planning, co-ordination, development and supervision of the university's academic affairs. University degrees and fellowship as well as academic honours and distinctions are awarded by and in the name of the Court, with the advice of the Senate. The current chair of the Court is Yvette Cooper and the Senate is presided over by the university's principal and vice-chancellor, currently Professor Mairi Watson Academic profile GCU offers academic programmes in all of the Scottish Funding Council funding groups but medicine, dentistry and teacher education. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise gave the university an 'internationally recognised' research profile in a multitude of disciplines. Over 70% of the university's research submissions were judged as being internationally recognised and 30% were deemed world-leading or of international excellence. In 2015, the QAA awarded the university its highest judgement for academic standards, whilst praising the university's innovative academic approaches. In 2013, GCU was awarded the HR Excellence in Research Award by the European Commission, in recognition of its commitment to the development of researchers. This has been retained in 2015 following its two-year review. Research According to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), 72% of its research activity was rated as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) . The university has three university-wide institutes that engage in cross-disciplinary research: The Institute for Applied Health Research, which carries out research on a range of health-related topics; The Institute for Sustainable Engineering and Technology Research, which carries out research on a range of disciplines aimed at minimising impact on the environment; and The Institute for Society and Social Justice Research, which carries out research on the topics of citizenship and participation, crime and justice, and gender and economy. The university also has research centres including The Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, the Centre for Climate Justice and the Women in Scotland's (WiSE) Economy Research Centre. Rankings Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has been ranked in the world's top 150 young universities by the Times Higher Education's 200 under age of 50 Rankings 2017 GCU is the top modern university in Scotland for research power (REF 2014 rankings). According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) UK Performance Indicators in Higher Education, GCU has a completion rate of 80.9 per cent, above the sector average of 80.6 per cent for Scotland. 97% of GCU graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation, according to HESA. The Times Higher Education 2018 UK Student Experience survey named GCU as the second most improved university in the UK for student experience, up from 99th to joint 67th. It is also a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the European University Association, Universities UK, Universities Scotland, the Florence Network, the Talloires Network, the Erasmus+ Programme, and the Santander Universities Network. Widening access Glasgow Caledonian University is one of only two universities in Scotland to meet the Scottish Government's Commission for Widening Access target, which requires students from deprived areas to make up 20 per cent of entrants by 2030. Controversies Recently, the London Campus has seen enrolment drop dramatically after immigration restrictions and internal concerns around academic integrity, with staff alleging there have been problems with ghostwriting and falsified attendance records Global Networks Oman The university has been working with the Caledonian College of Engineering (now the National University of Science and Technology, Oman) since 1996 and offers its largest programme of transnational education there to undergraduate and postgraduate students. South Africa The university has a history of interaction with South Africa and a number of its leading figures. It was the first university to award Nelson Mandela an honorary doctorate upon his release from prison in 1990 in recognition of his leadership during the anti-apartheid movement. In accepting the honour, Mandela asked the university to offer support for reconstruction and development in South Africa and the university developed in this regard several projects to assist in research and training at a number of South African universities. Mandela officially received the honorary degree in June 1996 at a special ceremony in Buckingham Palace, and suggested the renaming of the university's Health Building after his close associate, Govan Mbeki, who was imprisoned in the cell next to him on Robben Island. The Govan Mbeki Building was officially inaugurated by Mbeki's son, President Thabo Mbeki, in June 2001 and a specially-commissioned portrait of Nelson Mandela was unveiled that year at the Building's foyer by Mandela's wife, Graça Machel. The university is also home to two significant scholarly collections on South Africa: the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Scotland Archive and the George Johannes Collection. In 2012, GCU began designing and developing work-based programmes in railway operations management for Transnet Freight Rail, South Africa's largest freight rail organisation. Arctic Research The university is an active member of the University of the Arctic. UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region. Cultural Fellows The Caledonian Cultural Fellows Initiative was set up in 2009 with the aim of enhancing university cultural life and promoting cultural engagement with wider community. Liz Lochhead, the Scots Makar, is the current honorary president of the fellowship, whose membership includes writer Anne Donovan, poet and novelist Jackie Kay, and artist Toby Paterson. New York branch and transfer to IE In June 2017, the university's New York partner institution, which was founded in 2013, was granted permission to award degrees in the state, the first higher education institution founded by a foreign university to achieve this status. In June 2023, GCU noted that they planned to sell their New York campus as it had not lived up to its potential. On 31 July 2024, it was announced that IE University had acquired Glasgow Caledonian New York College and would be renaming it IE New York College. Caledonian Club The Caledonian Club is a social and community engagement initiative involving staff and students coaching young people and their families in advancing their learning and life skills, while university-based researchers carry out long-term analysis into the process as part of a wider university research agenda into life-long learning. In 2011, the Club developed a project named 'The Tale of Two Sporting Cities', with the aim of engaging cultural exchanges between primary schools in Glasgow and London and assessing the sporting and cultural legacy of the 2012 London Summer Olympics and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Student life Students' Association Glasgow Caledonian University Students' Association (GCUSA) is the students' association of Glasgow Caledonian University. It represents and enables Glasgow Caledonian University students to enhance all aspects of their student experience. It is located in the Students' Association Building on the Glasgow Campus and has an office at GCU London. All Glasgow Caledonian University students are automatically admitted to its membership upon matriculation. In 2011, the Association was awarded the coveted title of Students' Union of the Year by NUS Scotland. The Students' Association runs sports clubs and societies such as, student magazine The EDIT, student radio station Radio Caley, active lifestyles programme and an events programme. At a national level the Students' Association is affiliated to the National Union of Students (NUS) which lobbies and campaigns for students at a Scottish and UK level. Graduation GCU holds its annual graduation ceremonies during the summer and autumn and its academic attire is made by robe-maker Ede & Ravenscroft. Under the university's academic dress code, the wearing of the customary mortar boards is disallowed, as it is not part of the official academic attire that consists of gowns and hoods only, individual to each award conferred. Graduates traditionally receive their degrees at graduation ceremonies by being "capped" on the head with the Chancellor's hat, in a gesture that signifies the Chancellor's authority and status within the university. The postnominals for university graduates are prescribed with the abbreviation GlasCal. Notable staff and alumni Qanta Ahmed, British-American physician specializing in sleep disorders, and author, women's rights activist, journalist, and public commentator Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister, Lecturer in Politics (1976–1980) Jeane Freeman, retired Scottish National Party, MSP and businesswoman Hans Broekhuizen, Dutch civil servant and politician (CDA), Mayor of Twenterand Lesley Laird, Scottish Labour Party, MP Michael Keating, Chair in Scottish Politics, University of Aberdeen Andy Kerr, Scottish Labour Party politician, former Member of Parliament Rhona Martin, curling gold medallist in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games Gordon MacDonald, Scottish National Party MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands Drew McIntyre, professional wrestler Ailsa McKay, Professor of Economics Siobhan McMahon, Scottish Labour Party MSP Lesley McMillan, FRSE researcher in gender based violence and criminal justice Pat Nevin, retired footballer Eunice Olumide, model Sikandar Raza, cricketer, Zimbabwe Cricket Hassan Rouhani, former President of Iran Anna Sloan, curling bronze medallist at the 2014 Winter Olympics Gregor Virant, Minister of the Interior and Public Administration of Slovenia Sean Michael Wilson, comic book writer Muhammad Yunus, Bangladeshi economist and civil society leader. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance. See also Armorial of UK universities List of universities in the United Kingdom Universities in Scotland References External links Official website