University of Glasgow Connect

Deepening connections between Radboud and Glasgow

International partnerships require more than the enthusiasm of the initial vision and shared goals, key to successful collaborations is commitment from both partners. Our work with Radboud University, The Netherlands perfectly demonstrates how commitment to a partnership can mutually benefit both institutions and quickly lead to world class collaboration.

For over ten years, we have worked with Radboud University, mainly through student exchanges. Today however, the two institutions work also closely together delivering world-class research and teaching programmes. The catalyst for these successful collaborations was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding three years ago where both universities set out strategic goals to further strengthen the partnership.

One of the flagship outcomes of this shared vision has been the introduction of the Radboud-Glasgow Collaboration Fund, in which both partners invest to enable staff to work together to develop joint innovative research and learning & teaching opportunities.

Radboud-Glasgow Collaboration Fund

In the two years since its launch in 2019, the Radboud - Glasgow Collaboration has funded nineteen Research and Learning & Teaching projects. The projects represent how wide-ranging the collaborative activity taking place across the two institutions really is.

"Researchers from different faculties and institutes have joined forces not only to do exciting research on diverse societal relevant subjects, but also to create innovative teaching programs."

From a Learning & Teaching perspective, Radboud and Glasgow currently already deliver a dual masters degree in MSc International Business - Development studies, and Glasgow and Radboud are Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree partners in International Law of Global Security, Peace and Development). The fund has now allowed colleagues to explore further learning and teaching opportunities.

There are also many flourishing research collaborations with Radboud, including projects focusing on a plethora of issues including artificial intelligence, the use of Twitter, the impact of donor governance on aid allocation and foreign aid, smart campuses, the metabolic rate of zebrafish, and Plasmodium falciparum infections. Two of the collaborative project groups have been able to further develop through a second successful application; one focusing on slavery and reparative justice, and the other exploring the use of mindfulness.

The initial Radboud-Glasgow funding kickstarted collaborations enabling some recipients to successfully secure external funding thus allowing them to strengthen the research and overall collaboration. Other projects have led to invitations to present at various conferences and events. Many groups have created websites, blogs and other online platforms to promote their work and some projects have even been able to publish their work, many of which can be accessed from our Radboud-Glasgow Collaboration webpage.

Like many around the world, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic called for funding recipients to adapt and amend the implementation of their projects. Whilst not without its struggles, many recipients have still managed to successfully progress their projects by seeking out new approaches to addressing their research and executing more of their engagement with fellow researchers, students and study participants on virtual platforms.

2021-2022 Radboud Collaboration Fund Outcome

Despite the 2020-21 funding call being launched during the pandemic, there was a great response and staff from both partners have been as enthusiastic as ever. The Radboud-Glasgow Joint Steering Committee received an incredibly high standard of applications for review.

In April 2021, the University of Glasgow and Radboud University were delighted to announce the successful recipients of this year’s jointly funded Radboud-Glasgow Collaboration Fund. This year, five project groups were selected to receive funding, representing the rich diversity of joint activity taking place across the two institutions and involving a total investment of £100,000.

The five groups will work together for a year to achieve the aims and objectives of each of their research projects which look to address the following issues:

• Collective responses to Covid-19: cultural work in times of crisis
• Unravelling the biology of colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma: a first step towards better outcome
• Discovering the chemical reaction networks of Life via remote experimental collaboration
• Artificial Intelligent Based Damage Detection in Composite Materials
• Mindfulness is associated with romantic relationship wellbeing, but why? In search of mechanisms

A Catalyst for Collaboration

Professor Lutgarde Buydens, Dean for the Faculty of Sciences at Radboud University and Radboud University Co-Chair of the Radboud-Glasgow Joint Steering Committee, says of the fund: “This fund has really boosted the collaboration between the Radboud University and the University of Glasgow. Over the last few years researchers from different faculties and institutes have joined forces not only to do exciting research on diverse societal relevant subjects, but also to create innovative teaching programs, that stimulate students from our universities to attend courses in both our universities.”

The Radboud-Glasgow Collaboration Fund offers an exciting opportunity for our colleagues to engage and collaborate with Radboud University and in doing so, contribute to the engagement and further development of this important and impactful partnership.