GCU Common Good Podcast

Student Events Co-ordinator Jessica Walker joins the Common Good Podcast to talk about one of the most important events of every new student's time at university: Freshers' Week.

Jessica explains what Freshers' Week will look like as lockdown restrictions lift, the logistics and planning involved in such a high-profile event, and how her own role at GCU has changed over the last 18 months.

With lockdown restrictions across the country lifting, Professor John Lennon, the Director of the Moffat Centre at GCU, joins the Common Good Podcast to talk about the return of Glasgow's tourism industry. Professor Lennon explains how the industry has been decimated by the pandemic and why it will take years for it to recover. He also goes on to discuss what Glasgow needs to do to become a more modern "20-minute city".

Dr Danielle Hutcheon joins the Common Good Podcast to talk about the Men's Sheds initiative and how it supports the mental and physical wellbeing of men around the world. She also explains how it feeds into the Sheds for Sustainable Development Project, which created a toolkit to increase the number of Men's Sheds in the UK and Ireland.

Dr Tuleen Boutaleb joins the latest episode of the Common Good Podcast to talk about the ways in which GCU is tackling racism on its campuses. In this wide and varied discussion, Dr Boutaleb touches on concepts like microaggressions and decolonising the curriculum, as well as the nine steps the University is taking to eradicate racism.

Dr Elena Dimova joins the Common Good Podcast to talk about her research into alcohol labelling and why alcoholic products in Scotland should carry mandatory health warnings. Dr Dimova also discusses the challenges in changing Scotland's drinking culture and how big a part alcohol plays in our society.

Professor Valerie Webster joins the Common Good Podcast to talk about the Aurora Programme, a leadership development initiative for women and people who identify as women working in higher education. Professor Webster discusses the importance of Aurora and how it has led to systematic changes at GCU, as well as how it can enhance and develop the careers of our female members of staff.

Julie Fisher, Head of Admissions, joins the Common Good Podcast to talk about the clearing process at GCU and how prospective students can apply for a place to study at the University. Julie talks through the clearing journey and gives hints and tips for applicants, before discussing her wider role at GCU.

For more information on clearing visit: https://clearing.gcu.ac.uk/

Dr Val Ness joins the Common Good Podcast to discuss her research into the behaviour of nurse independent practitioners (NIPs) and the discovery that two-thirds feel pressured into prescribing their patients with antibiotics, even if they might not need them. Dr Ness outlines why NIPs are motivated to do this and how they can better manage patient expectations, as well as the "global crisis" surrounding the overuse of antibiotics. She also talks about her experiences as a nurse in A+E and her move into academia.

Dr Cara Connell, Programme Leader of the International Fashion Branding course, joins the Common Good Podcast to preview the GCU Fashion Showcase, one of the highlights of the University calendar. Dr Connell outlines the format of the showcase and the kind of designs on show, as well as how sustainability is a key theme.

Dr Connell also explores how the fashion programmes at GCU prepare our students for the ever-changing industry and the kind of roles they can go into when they graduate.

To sign up for the GCU Fashion Showcase on Thursday 24 June, use this link: https://catalyst.eventsair.com/gcu-fashion-showcase-2021/registration/Site/Register

Dr George Loumakis joins the Common Good Podcast to discuss his research into how Scotland's lochs hold the the potential to increase the country's solar power production through the use of floating panels. Dr Louamkis outlines his three-month research project to map lochs to determine their suitability to host floating solar panels and how his data can be practically implemented.