Applied Knowledge Exchange

Sir Alex Ferguson returned to Glasgow Caledonian University this week.

The Manchester United manager, who received an Honorary Doctor of Letters in 2001, held a masterclass on campus, met parents and children from the award winning Caledonian Club and talked tactics with the University’s football teams during the visit.

Read more at www.gcal.ac.uk

Five Glasgow Caledonian University staff are participating in an Understanding Social Enterprise course run by the Social Enterprise Academy this week.

The course is part of a Scottish Government initiative to foster stronger links between University’s and the burgeoning social enterprise sector in Scotland.

We will also be helping place students in social enterprises and showcasing our activity in this area at the S2S trade fair.

Follow us on Twitter #CaledonianAKE to find out more about our work in this area.

Daniel Sutherland, designer of a quick-heating baby bottle called the Milkistar, has been hitting the headlines this week.

Daniel has been assisted with the design by the Applied Knowledge Exchange’s Business Transformation Fund, which helps fund innovative product research. 

Check out the Press & Journal article:

Glasgow Caledonian University’s School of Health will lead a £3.3million European Commission-funded study aimed at tackling chronic foot and ankle pain including such diseases as Diabetic Foot.

Jim Woodburn, Professor of Rehabilitation at GCU, is working on the A-FOOTPRINT project to develop new orthotic devices to support or correct musculoskeletal problems.

See more about Jim’s work in this video clip. Biomechanics – Jim Woodburn

The Applied Knowledge Exchange is also working with Promedics Orthapaedic with its orthapaedic research, through the Business Transformation Fund grant that allows SMEs to work collaboratively with Glasgow Caledonian University and access specialist expertise including consultancy, contract research and access to facilities or equipment.

Soon our website will be looking much more dynamic, with video showing our academic expertise in all their glory. Biomechanics – Jim Woodburn

Take a look to see what you think!

We are getting together some new case studies showcasing the business development, education, research and consultancy services you can get at Glasgow Caledonian University through the Applied Knowledge Exchange.

Get in touch if you would like a pack or some more information about business qualifications, funding your business enterprise in Scotland or part-time training, and we can send you some by post or email.

Glasgow Caledonian University will be attending the KTP Scotland Awards Ceremony on 2nd February at the Doubletree Dunblane Hydro in Perthshire.

Glasgow Caledonian Uni has had several successful KTP partnerships with businesses including Novograf.

Current KTPs include those with Fearsom UK and If Only Holidays Limited.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is Europe’s leading programme helping business to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.

At the Applied Knowledge Exchange, we welcome enquiries about funding and eligibility for Knowledge Transformation Partnerships from business and third sector organisations.

The main speaker at this year’s event will be Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland.

Scottish businesses are being offered a new grant of £1,000 by the Scottish Government to take on an apprentice. The £4 million scheme will run until March 26 and is available for up to 4000 employers.

The scheme is part of ScotAction, a scheme to help individuals and businesses through the recession and provide skills assistance for training for work, training in work and training from work to work to help Scottish people and businesses survive the downturn and thrive when the economy starts to recover.

Glasgow Caledonian University is also offering businesses bespoke study programmes and part-time education to allow them to boost their employees’ skills set. To find out more, contact the Applied Knowledge Exchange on 0141 331 3189.

Human Resources magazine has featured an article on our new HR Management top-up MSc.  Get in touch with the Applied Knowledge Exchange for more information on 0141 331 3189.

The  Scottish Government has published a report following a consultation with the public sector on its views on whether the UK Equality Bill should introduce new socio-economic duties to Scottish public bodies.

The consultation asked whether the provision in the Bill to place a duty on certain public bodies to have due regard to socio-economic inequalities in strategic decision making (which, as the Bill stands, applies to England and Wales only) should be extended to Scottish public bodies.

69 written responses were received by the close of the consultation. Overall, there was a majority of respondents in favour of the application of the socio-economic duty to public authorities in Scotland.

A common theme was the existence of poverty and socio-economic inequality and other forms of inequality in Scotland, the impact of this and the need to address such issues. Others suggested a duty would ensure consistency and continuity of work to address socio-economic inequality and have a positive impact upon resources for such work and increase scrutiny of strategic decisions.

However, there were some perceived problems with the application of a socio-economic duty to public authorities in Scotland. Amongst these, a common theme was the existence of current arrangements and frameworks. There are also fears it would increase bureaucracy and make public authorities vulnerable to legal challenge and judicial review.

What is your view? Join the debate here.