Scotland’s Future

In this Scotland’s Future Series podcast three of St Andrews’ student leaders talk about how their different backgrounds, experiences and views have helped shape and strengthen how they ensure effective student representation. Students’ Association President Barry Will, Director of Education Cam Brown, and Director of Wellbeing and Equality Caitlin Ridgway talk to Professor Stephen Gethins about t...

In this podcast, the first in a series of conversations about the importance of widening access and understanding more about the barriers some people face in accessing education, including Higher Education, Scotland’s Future Series looks at some of the challenges faced by students from a care-experienced background. During the conversation we hear more about the important role university can play...

Members of the team behind Creating impact through Enterprise Education (CItEE) share their enthusiasm for this interdisciplinary project with podcast host Professor Stephen Gethins.

Delivering innovative solutions to supporting students and staff through the cost-of-living and energy crisis has been at the heart of University activity since summer 2022.

Professor Phillips O’Brien, Head of the School of International Relations, and Professor Stephen Gethins, AVP (International), talk to the University’s Deputy Legal Officer Mike Gettinby about their visit to Ukraine.

Controversial plans to launch a pilot scheme for judge-only trials in rape and sexual assault cases is the focus of this Scotland’s Future Series discussion, the second podcast on the proposed new legislation.

‘Miss M’ tells Scotland’s Future Series why rape survivors view ‘third’ verdict as worse than a ‘Not Guilty’ result Over the course of the last year, the University’s Scotland’s Future podcast series has featured discussions on a range of issues from the impact of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the impact of Islamic Republic rule on the rights and freedoms of the Iranian people, to the d...

This recording brings together two Scotland’s Future Projects which explore the importance of a sense of place. International Relations lecturer Roxani Krystalli talks about her project, ‘Growing Roots: Teaching and Making with a Sense of Place’, and second year Art History PhD students Anne-sophie Daffertshofer and Tori Champion share their project, ‘Looking North Through Art: Alternative Approac...

Created earlier this year, the Scottish Council on Global Affairs (SCGA) is Scotland’s only think tank on international affairs. In this discussion, Dr Mateja Peter and Professor Philipps O’Brien talk to host Stephen Gethins about the role of SCGA and the importance of a think tank which can explore the big issues affecting Scotland, the UK and the world from a uniquely Scottish perspective. As Pr...

In this recording, University Chaplain Revd Dr Donald MacEwan talks to host Mike Gettinby about the role of the Chaplaincy in supporting students and staff and the reason why he applied for funding from Scotland’s Future Series for the annual Chaplaincy Prize . As Chaplain to the University, Donald explains more about the role of the Chaplaincy, its assistant chaplains and voluntary chaplains, the...

In this special Scotland’s Future Series recording, host Stephen Gethins speaks to the convener and deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament committee on the Constitution, External Affairs, Europe and Culture, during their visit to the University. The discussion with Clare Adamson MSP and Donald Cameron MSP included talking about the committee’s most recent Inquiry into the Scottish Government’s...

This Scotland’s Future Series podcast recording looks at the cost-of-living and energy crisis and asks what support is being given to help St Andrews students and staff during this exceptionally challenging time. Host Stephen Gethins speaks to Student President Juan Rodriguez, Director of Wellbeing and Equality Emma Craig, and Dr Fiona Whelan, Assistant Director of Student Services, about the work...

In this recording, Scotland’s Future Series looks at the University Community Fund and the importance the University places on supporting the St Andrews and wider Fife community. In this episode, the University’s Vice-Principal (Communications), Niall Scott, and Community Engagement and Social Responsibility Officer, Lesley Caldwell, talk to host Mike Gettinby, the University’s Deputy Legal Office...

In this Scotland’s Future Series discussion host Professor Stephen Gethins talks to Professor Ali Ansari from the University’s School of History and former refugee and author Dina Nayeri, from the School of English, about the current protests in Iran and what’s driving women across the country to say enough is enough. In the last few months, protests have escalated across Iran as people, especiall...

In this special interview for the Scotland’s Future Series, Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko talks about the impact of the Russian invasion not only on the freedom, democracy, human rights, and liberties of those living in Ukraine, but also of everyone living across Europe. Speaking on a visit to the University of St Andrews, where she met with Ukrainian students and took part in a public event on the...

We are grateful to alumna and recent Honorary graduate Dr Fiona Hill for allowing her interview with Professor Stephen Gethins to be recorded and distributed as part of the University’s Scotland’s Future podcast series. Dr Hill is a voice for our time: a specialist in foreign affairs, an experienced public servant, and a former Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States and Senior Dire...

This episode is a recording of the first event to be funded by the University’s innovative Scotland’s Future Series which brought staff, students and members of the wider St Andrews community together to discuss how we can listen better and debate more collaboratively. Organised by the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Young Academy of Scotland (YAS) and the University’s Ethics Cup team, the ‘Resp...

In Episode 5 of our podcast series Professor Stephen Gethins meets Dr Milinda Banerjee, Lecturer in Modern History in the School of History and Sociologist Dr Jo Mhairi Hale, lecturer in Geography and Sustainable Development, to talk about the interdisciplinary project they are embarking on as part of Scotland’s Future Series with their colleague, Isabel Robinson, Research Fellow in Modern History...

In Episode 4 of our new podcast series, we hear from the first students to be awarded funding from the University’s Scotland’s Future project. Second-year students Svenja Schulz and Hayden Siratt have been awarded £3,300 for their project which will see them seek to give students and other young people a voice in the political policy-making process. Svenja, who studies Management and International...

Episode 3 of the Scotland’s Future podcast series features self-confessed “podcast geek”, Mike Gettinby, the University’s Deputy Legal Officer. During his conversation with host Stephen Gethins, Mike talks about how he grew up tuning into debate and discussion on Radio 4 and is now an avid fan of podcasts on everything from cycling to music. As soon as he heard about the Scotland’s Future Series p...

In a special Scotland’s Future podcast dedicated to the war in Ukraine, we hear from those most affected by the Russian invasion, as well as from academics who have been closely monitoring the impact of the war on the country, its people and its economy, as well as examining the role of the media and particularly social media in the conflict. Host Professor Stephen Gethins talks to St Andrews Inte...

In the first Scotland’s Future podcast to be launched, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sally Mapstone talks about the importance of productive, responsible debate and the building of better communication skills, particularly the ability to listen, understand and consider beliefs that may not chime with your own. The Principal states that by getting involved in running projects supported b...