Strathclyde Innovation ForumThe impact of your ideas

Response to our last Grand Challenge

As we consulted on our new Strategic Plan, ‘Strathclyde 2030’ and assessed performance in the context of the 2025 plan, our last Grand Challenge sought your ideas on two of the University’s Key Performance Indicators where further work was required:

  • growing and enhancing the experience of our Postgraduate Research student population
  • further reducing our greenhouse gas emissions

Challenge Area One asked: How do we grow our Postgraduate Research student population and enhance their experience as part of the Strathclyde research community?

Ideas received were considered by a group led by Associate Principal Professor Tim Bedford. Those being taken forward include:

  • increasing the frequency of PGR student induction: face-to-face/hybrid welcome events will be held more regularly so that they happen closer to the date our PGR students join us
  • considering a Research Training Programme within undergraduate studies to enhance research skills and emphasise the link between research and teaching at an earlier stage of our students’ study: plans for this are currently under development
  • enhancing PGR recruitment methods including consideration of a PhD Online Open Day and the creation of an online PGR recruitment staff portal to allow the sharing of best practice, successes and lessons learned: the Group considering the Challenge ideas received liked this suggestion and agreed it should be taken forward
  • improve how we market Strathclyde Inspire as a key attraction for PGR recruitment: this is being developed within our PGR marketing

Challenge Area Two asked: How do we further reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and enhance our efforts on sustainability?

The majority of ideas received are being taken forward. Some of these, and progress on their implementation, is set out below:

  • several ideas stressed the importance of ensuring the University’s Car Parking strategy does not inadvertently encourage travelling to campus by car for those able to use greener options; our car parking policy is being developed to ensure a needs based system with key elements being piloted. For example, day passes are now available to allow less frequent use of car parks and there has been investment in EV chargepoint management systems, potentially enabling workplace EV charging at multiple University sites
  • one colleague suggested reporting on travel emissions by Department and considering ‘carbon budgets’ in future; this is being discussed as part of the University’s new Sustainability and Social Impact Strategy/associated Travel Policy. Data capture of travel is currently being improved to allow this type of granular reporting
  • several colleagues suggested increasing tree planting to off-set emissions, and this will form part of the University’s new Sustainability and Social Impact Strategy
  • the suggestion of introducing a Rag-Bag type scheme especially for students living on or around campus was welcomed; British Heart Foundation rag-bag bins are now located at Birkbeck Court and James Goold
  • several colleagues suggested working towards Hedgehog Friendly Campus accreditation and introducing bee friendly habitats as part of our landscape and biodiversity strategies; this is being discussed as part of the wider development of a new Sustainability and Social Impact Strategy
  • an idea submitted suggested the introduction of internships with Sustainable Strathclyde to allow students to participate in projects which are important to them, prepare them for the world of work and accelerate achievement of the University’s green objectives; this has been implemented this year through the Business School’s MDP programme with nine students working on projects ranging from engaging the student body on sustainability to producing a podcast on Climate Neutral Districts. It is hoped that a structured internship programme will be developed for the next academic year
  • several colleagues suggested we make an appropriate component of climate education mandatory for staff and students; a new Introduction to Sustainable Development course has been created by the Centre for Sustainable Development on Myplace. It is not currently mandatory, but this may change in future. A Climate Solutions course will also be available to all staff and students

Alongside the two main Challenge Areas, our last Grand Challenge also asked for ideas on how we build momentum in our support for staff and students over the next decade. Ideas received were considered by the Chief People Officer and by the Director of Student Experience. A range of submissions are being taken forward including greater partnership working between colleagues in the HR Directorate and the academic department of Work, Employment and Organisation in areas of mutual interest, consideration of a digital readiness analysis as part of our Digital Strategy and training for staff in neurodiversity awareness.

Previous Grand Challenges