Dear colleagues,
This week, I am emailing you from the COP26 Blue Zone, where heads of state, experts, delegates and journalists from nearly 200 countries have been meeting for the most significant climate summit of our time.
The atmosphere is charged and energised as pledges are negotiated and commitments are made. There has already been positive progress, including a pledge on Monday from more than 100 nations to end and reverse deforestation by 2030. On Tuesday, an agreement was struck to cut emissions of methane. Nonetheless, there is still much more to be done, and the discussions over the coming week will be critical.
As a university with Observer Status, Strathclyde is well-represented and we have colleagues here at the Blue Zone, as well as at the Green Zone at Glasgow Science Centre, and at discussions, events and exhibits across the city. We have also been very active in many ‘side meetings’ and dinner engagements with senior international government and industry leaders who are exploring how they can work more closely with Strathclyde. I warmly encourage you to keep abreast of our latest COP26 news, events, blogs and podcasts by keeping an eye on our COP26 web pages.
Our reputation for innovation and as a platform for engaging debate has also attracted more than 50 events to our campus, with visitors in recent days including Alok Sharma MP, President of COP26; Christina Figueres, who is widely regarded as a chief architect of the Paris Agreement; Eleni Kounalakis, the Lieutenant Governor of California; and, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister.
I’m also pleased to report that on Tuesday, the Scottish Government and Michelin announced they are jointly supporting the establishment of a new net zero policy hub, hosted by Strathclyde’s European Policies Research Centre. The Net Zero Industrial Cluster Exchange will bring together governments, industry and other stakeholders internationally to share policy, practice and learning on the transformation of industrial clusters and sites to net zero uses.
In other news, last year, Strathclyde achieved Carer Trust Scotland’s ‘Going Higher for Student Carers Recognition Award’. Today, we have more than 1,000 student carers and we remain committed to providing help and support for them throughout their journey with us. We understand how difficult it can be to balance studying with caring responsibilities and, upon graduating, finding employment that fits around caring duties.
With that in mind, I am delighted to tell you that we will soon be launching a new careers module specifically for student carers. The course is the product of a collaboration between the Widening Access team and the Careers Service who employed two interns, themselves student carers, to develop bespoke resources to encourage those with caring responsibilities to consider how their carer role can contribute to their employability skills; this epitomises the socially progressive approach and positive culture we are committed to. You can read more about the new module in this coming Tuesday’s Inside Strathclyde.
Finally, I am sure you will join me in sending warmest congratulations to Strathclyde students Rufus McLean (HaSS) and Jamie Dobie (Strathclyde Business School) who made their debut for Scotland’s rugby union squad on Saturday. There was an excellent performance from both students, who play their club rugby for our partners, Glasgow Warriors, with Scotland winning 60-14 against Tonga.
It is the first time in recent memory that any Strathclyde undergraduate has been called to play for Scotland’s men’s team and I am delighted for Jamie and Rufus. They are an inspiration for our many elite athletes, as well as for those of us looking to get more involved in sport at all levels, and we wish them all the very best for the future.
Have a relaxing weekend when it comes, and stay safe and well.
Best wishes,
Jim