CREATIVITY
Reaffirming the centrality of ideas
Great research starts with great ideas, but we also know that this takes time and requires the right conditions.We have been supporting creativity by developing opportunities in which new ideas can emerge, and using new forms of engagement to open up different ways of thinking.
Driving and enabling research impact
Since 2022, the University has won an impressive £9.3M Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) funding from the UKRI. Our harmonised approach to IAAs has meant that we are one of only five institutions in the UK to hold IAAs from six research councils. This success in volume and breadth has enabled us to make a step change in our approach to impact, including innovation and commercialisation of research, aligning with the University’s Innovation Strategy. Since launch, the IAAs have awarded project funding to over 350 applicants, funded events for around 3,400 people, enabled about 30 patents, facilitated 23 inward or outward secondments, and supported 600 partnerships with non-academic organisations. 340 of these new non-academic collaborative partners have engaged with the University.
The University continues to invest in knowledge exchange through the successful Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Fund (GKEF) initiative. Since October 2020, the GKEF has dedicated £1.2M to support 125 projects. Examples of funded projects include expanding a toolkit for working with children in situations of multilinguality, constant mobility, and risk; developing a platform that improves the safety of freelance productions crews in film and TV; disseminating a film about vaccine uptake in African, Black and Caribbean communities in Scotland; and developing an ‘everyday diversity’ app for use in the UK Screen Industry to encourage more inclusive behaviours.
A recent development in GKEF has been a new fund focused on researchers at an earlier stage of their research independence. GKEF has also revised its review processes to include academics from all career stages and disciplines, improving the transparency and quality of the process.
In the College of Arts and Humanities, we have valued and supported creativity as an approach to building the research ecology. The College naturally embraces research methodologies in both creative and critical thinking. Our innovative extracurricular course with the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences has allowed our students from both Colleges to explore the fundamental nature of research, emphasising creativity and the essence of knowledge. Professor Dauvit Broun, Dean of Research, College of Arts and Humanities
Creativity is fundamental to fostering innovative research ideas that drive positive impacts in our societies and economies. Our new Social Science Hub enhances external access to research and events, and our innovative research support services help our researchers reach wider audiences. Professor Melanie Simms, Dean of Research, College of Social Sciences
Transformative steps toward UN Sustainable Development Goals
Increasingly, we do not only want to be recognised as one of the best universities in the world. We also want to be the best university for the world. We are committed to making an impact by working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our research is widely regarded as innovative and impactful, and we recognise our responsibility to embed the UN SDGs in the work we do. Today, our research contributes to all 17 SDGs, across a vast number of disciplines and through meaningful partnerships. We have led research which contributes to an array of social and economic SDGs. And to environmental SDGs, in areas as varied as:
- health inequalities
- cancer
- extended reality (XR)
- food sovereignty
- sustainable tourism
- learning disabilities
- end-of-life studies
- decarbonisation and clean energy
- flood threat
- water security
- climate change adaptation.
The University’s contribution to the SDGs is examined through participation in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. This measures the contribution of universities around the world through the lens of the SDGs. Since we first participated in 2022, we have improved our performance year-on-year, with the most recent 2024 position being 12th in the world. This ranking is indicative of the strength and depth of our world-changing research, and the work of the whole University community.
Our commitment to Concordats
The research-related Concordats we have signed up for provide an impetus to review and improve our research practice and culture. We are signatories of the following Concordats:
- Concordat for Research Integrity
- Concordat on Open Research Data
- Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
- Concordat for the Advancement of Knowledge Exchange in Higher Education
- Concordat on Openness in Animal Research
- Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research
- Concordat for Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice
In addition, we are signatories of other initiatives that aim to improve the assessment of research, research development, careers, and equality, diversity & inclusion. These are:
- San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
- Leiden Manifesto on Research Metrics
- Guidance for Safeguarding in International Development Research
- Technician Commitment
- Athena Swan Charter
- Race Equality Charter
REF2021
Our success in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF2021) exercise highlighted our world-leading research and the positive impact this has on society.
The University has one of the broadest research bases in the UK, with a varied range of disciplines reflected in our academic community. We submitted 118 impact case studies to expert panels. This showcased our wide-ranging collaborations with external partners to deliver societal and economic impacts locally, nationally and globally. 93.1% of our research was judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent. In addition, REF2021 placed us:
- 1st in Scotland for outputs and GPA
- 2nd in Scotland for 4* overall
- 12th for 4* overall in Russell Group
- 15th for 4* overall in UK
- 13th in Russell Group for Research Power.
Upholding excellence in research practice
In 2022/23, we reviewed and updated our Code of Good Research Practice, in consultation with a diverse selection of stakeholders. The implementation of the new code was supported by a dynamic programme of online materials and events that ran throughout 2023 and 2024. In addition, we have published detailed guidance on authorship, particularly regarding the use of CRediT. This guidance gives attention to the essential roles that our technicians and other professional services staff play in delivering our world-class research.
The University’s support for Trusted Research and Export Controls has been strengthened through the establishment of the Trusted Research Advisory Group and the Research Governance and Integrity Team. In 2023, the team launched training sessions and are now better prepared to monitor and address the increasing inquiries about Trusted Research through the University's helpdesk.
Our Research Misconduct process has been updated to include an appeals mechanism, in line with the UK’s Concordat for Research Integrity. A new confidential reporting form is available on the University website, and a dedicated team is available to discuss issues.
Nurturing creativity and collaboration – our new Centres
In this strategic cycle, three new cross-institutional Centres have been established. Each designed to nurture creativity and provide the conditions necessary for new ideas to flourish.
The Centre for Sustainable Solutions, launched in April 2020, addresses the climate emergency by enhancing the University community’s growing ambition to be part of the solution. The Centre supports interdisciplinary, cross-campus, and cross-sectoral efforts to combat climate change, linking academic expertise with policy, business, and activism.
The Centre for Data Science and AI, launched in September 2023, fosters collaborative, impactful, and ethical research in data science and AI and provides data-driven solutions to today’s grand challenges. As a rapidly evolving discipline, AI offers vast opportunities for multidisciplinary research. To maximise these opportunities, the Centre’s vision aligns with the AI strategies of the UK and Scottish Government. The Centre collaborates closely with initiatives like Glasgow Changing Futures and Research Computing as a Service (RCaaS), leading to joint events, research proposals, and conferences.
The newest addition is the Centre for Public Policy, which aims to bridge the gap between research and policy by sharing evidence, nurturing skills, fostering innovative thinking, and preparing the next generation of policymakers. The Centre collaborates with academics across the University and builds partnerships with the policy community to promote evidence-based policymaking.
The launch event of the Centre for Data Science and AI