GCU is a leading light in working with Social Enterprises and the Third Sector, developing unique Masters level programmes for people working in these areas. GCU is also home to the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, involved in pioneering research examining the relationship between social business and health improvement.

The papers and documents on Community Development, Community Enterprise, Social Enterprise and Social Accounting and Audit were accumulated over the course of John’s 35 year career. They are joined by the Community Business Scotland archive of papers and reports from 1981 onwards.

John Pearce said: “I am very pleased that the university has decided to establish a Social Enterprise Collection and that I have been able to donate my accumulation of papers, books and reports to get it started.”

John Pearce played a pivotal role at the heart of Scotland’s community and social enterprise movements, and his work has had a global impact. Click here for more information about the Collection.

The Social Enterprise Collection (Scotland) builds on GCU’s ongoing commitment to social enterprise, through Scotland’s first MSc in Social Enterprise, developed with the Social Enterprise Academy. This is a result of GCU’s recognition that social enterprises are a growing sector of profitable businesses, and agents for positive change defined by their social and environmental missions.

For more information about how we work with Social Enterprises and the third sector, click here.

GCU’s head of European Programmes, Mark Anderson, brought together colleagues in an open forum session to discuss Social Innovation. “Social Innovation is becoming a watchword for the European Commission,” says Anderson. 

GCU already has many strengths in Social Innovation, including innovative research in Social Business and Health from the Yunus Centre, research in agriculture, socio-economic development and vulneral populations. GCU is also running Scotland’s only MSc programme in Social Enterprise.

Find out more about our work in Social Innovation.

The new BRE Innovation Park at the former Ravenscraig steelworks site in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, will showcase the new Clyde-built homes later this year.

AppleGreen hired city-based Spacesix Architects and Glasgow Caledonian University to research and develop all aspects of the build with an edict that the new generation homes had to be “highly energy efficient yet affordable”.

Click for more info or see the Evening Times for the full article.

Interesting article on The Guardian’s Social Enterprise Network website.

The SNP candidate signed up to the new Social Enterprise Charter, showing his support for the continued growth of this vibrant sector in Scottish society.

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has developed the only MSc in Social Enterprise in Scotland, run in partnership with the Social Enterprise Academy. Find out more about the PgC and MSc Social Enterprise programmes.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “Scotland’s social enterprises make a huge contribution to our society and our economy. It has been a privilege to see the growing success of Scotland’s social enterprises in recent years. That good work must continue and I am pleased to support the Social Enterprise Charter. More

The new house will feature a solar-energy package that will help to reduce electricity and heating bills, aiming to eradicate fuel poverty. Prices start at only £49,999 for a three-bedroom home. The unique Applegreen Homes concept was designed by Glasgow firm Spacesix Architects with assistance from GCU, who researched and developed all aspects of the build, ensuring it is highly energy efficient yet affordable.

The showhouse is now on display in the prestigious BRE Innovation Park, based at the former Ravenscraig steelworks site in Motherwell.

For more information, contact Audrey Meikle, School of the Built and Natural Environment, on 0141 331 8458

The announcement was made by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley at this year’s Social Enterprise Coalition conference Voice 11.

Lansley said social enterprises deliver a ‘can do’ attitude, which would be a welcome addition to NHS services by offering choice and best quality healthcare.

Lansley said allowing ‘any qualified provider’ to offer health services would end the bureaucratic tendering processes for healthcare.

Glasgow Caledonian University’s Applied Knowledge Exchange was at Voice 11 to hear the announcments and to highlight GCU’s new MSc in Social Enterprise.

The MSc programme is run in partnership with the Social Enterprise Academy and has been developed from the PgC programme – the only postgraduate degree in Scotland designed specifically for the social enterprise sector.

For more information, check out http://www.gcu.ac.uk/business/socialinnovation/ or call the Applied Knowledge Exchange on 0141 331 3189.

Providing the world’s growing population with a sustainable and secure supply of safe, nutritious and affordable high quality food from less land and with lower inputs presents a considerable challenge. In order to meet this effectively, Research Councils, Government Departments and other public bodies are co-ordinating their research activities related to food and agriculture through the Global Food Security programme.

http://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/news-events/releases/2011/110210-pr-food-security-strategy.html

The AGREX’10 conference takes place in Malaysia and focuses on the “Empowerment of agri-food stakeholders in facing global challenges towards sustainability”. 

Dr Jafry’s paper is on “Reaching rural women: Understanding what is gender sensitive in agricultural extension” and is part of a session on Agro Community, Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development.

The conference provides a platform for learning and discussion on agricultural extension among local and foreign experts on agriculture extension and practitioners, and facilitates co-operation among key agri-food stakeholders in the area of agricultural extension and development.