UofG Spotlight

In this special episode, we sit down with Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli as he prepares to step down after 16 transformative years as Principal of the University of Glasgow. We reflect on his time at the University and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for higher education in Scotland and beyond.  From steering the institution through global upheavals — including the financial crisis...

In this episode of Spotlight, hosts Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale are joined by Professors Nasar Meer and Sergi Pardos-Prado from the University of Glasgow to unpack the UK Government's Immigration White Paper. This episode offers an evidence-based insight into the politics shaping UK immigration discourse.  The discussion explores the policy, politics and the rhetoric being used - particularly...

This week, co-hosts Nicola McEwen and Kez Dugdale bring together three expert guests to delve into the outcomes and potential parallels of the recent 2025 elections in England, Australia, and Canada for a special Elections Bumper episode.  Nicola and Kez start us off with insights from Mark McGeoghegan, University of Glasgow researcher of nationalism and contentious politics, on local elections in...

In this special Energy Bumper episode of Spotlight, host Kez Dugdale explores how global energy policy decisions are shaping communities and industries from Central America to Central Scotland. First, Kez speaks with Dr Ewan Gibbs, Senior Lecturer in Economic and Social History, about the shifting energy and industrial landscape in Grangemouth and Scunthorpe — two UK towns at the frontline of tran...

What do young people want from our politics?    This week, Nicola McEwen is joined by Eddie Barnes and Elisabeth Loose from the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow to discuss their newly published UK Youth Poll 2025.   The UK Youth Poll 2025 explores the attitudes and priorities of young people aged 16-29 across the UK. The findings reveal s trong support for democracy but concern for i...

Our Associate Director, Kezia Dugdale hosted a political panel discussion, asking all the major parties in Scotland what we can expect to see from them in the run up to the election on the issues of poverty, public debt and the multi-level governance challenges at play.    During the panel we heard from the Scottish Government 's Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley -Anne Somerville; Alex...

This week our Spotlight hosts bring you interviews on two substantial topics from experts at the University of Glasgow . Nicola Mc E wen starts with a brief and timely insight from Mar cin Kaczmarski about the outlook for Ukrain e and Europe in response to the unpredictable direction s coming from the White House. Kez Dugdale then brings you an in - depth conversation with Ken Gibb on reforming co...

Today's podcast focuses on a big question in public policy – why is prevention so hard? Can we spend money more wisely ? Given the fiscal pressures on the system , prevention is now not just an option but a necessity to create sustainable public services. Policymakers know we should be tackling the root causes of issues, b ut systems, short-termism and complexity get in the way.   We discuss overc...

In today's episode, we're exploring the impact of austerity on life expectancy, population health and health inequalities across the UK. Since the early 2010s life expectancy stopped improving in the UK; in fact, for those living in the more disadvantaged areas, it actually declined . This means people have been dying younger and in larger numbers year on year .   Dr David Walsh and Professor Gerr...

In today's episode, we're discussing the big news of the week: the inauguration of President Donald Trump. H osts Nicola and Kez speak to two experts in political philosophy and foreign policy to find out what the return of Trump means for the United States and the rest of the world.   Dr Michael Frazer, Lecturer in Politics at the University of Glasgow gives a political philosophy take on Trump ,...

This week Kez speaks to Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive of Carnegie UK , and Ian Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Public Administration at the Centre for Public Policy.   W e explore t he Prime Minister 's new approach to government, drawing on a paper just published by Carnegie in collaboration with the Centre for Public Policy on Mission-Led Government . What does it mean in practice, and how can it...

This week 's episode focuses on some of the vital work happening at the University of Glasgow in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and takes a look at some of the legal reforms passing through the Scottish Parliament on this issue.    Prof Sara Carter, the University's Gender Equality Champion, highlights the campaigns and e vents happening across campus to mark the 16 Days of Activism. Kez...

This week Kez Dugdale reflects with guests on what the Budget means for families at th e sharp end of poverty across the UK . She speaks to Chris Birt, Associate Director for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Morag Treanor, Professor of Social Policy and Inequality at the University of Glasgow.   Graeme Roy also walks us through the B udget process , what i...

With the US Presidential Elections on 5 November 2024 rapidly approaching, we're bringing you two University of Glasgow experts to unpack the election campaign so far.   Hosts Professor Graeme Roy and Professor Nicola McEwen speak to Professor Chris topher Carman, Stevenson Professor of Citizenship at the University of Glasgow, about the state of the race, the possible impacts of the results on th...

In this episode Prof. Graeme Roy and Dr David Waite, both Senior Fellows at the Centre for Public Policy discuss alternative economic development approaches such as Doughnut Economics and Community Wealth Building that  seek to balance growth with social and environmental justice to create more inclusive and sustainable cities .   They're joined by Prof. Anne Green , City-REDI , University of Birm...

I n this episode Nicola McEwen speaks with Kezia Dugdale , former leader of Scottish Labour, and Stephen Noon former senior policy adviser for the first SNP Government, about their exper ience s of the referendum, the years that followed , and a n upcoming report they've wri tten fo r the Centre for Public Policy about what could be next for Scotland's constitution. The report is designed to stimu...

I n this episode Pr ofessor Nicola McEwen and Pr ofessor Kezia Dugdale from the Centre for Public Policy speak to the Rt Hon. Ken Macintosh, former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, and Liz Lloyd, former Strategic Adviser and Chief of Staff to the First Minister of Scotland. They discuss the First Minister 's Progra mme for Government announcement, what it means about the direction of...

Our Spotlight: On the Election mini-series has wrapped up and we're returning to season three for the final episode of the season. In this episode, host Graeme Roy is joined by former President of Ireland Professor Mary McAleese. Graeme and Mary talk about building bridges - the hallmark of her presidency from 1997 to 2011 - and how she took that philosophy and turned it into action . They discuss...

This week our hosts Nicola McEwen and Kez Dugdale are joined by Stephen Noon, former senior policy adviser for the first SNP Government, and Eddie Barnes, former adviser to Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Conservatives. They reflect on the key moments of the campaigns, the polls, what might happen on election night and what the results could mean.  

In this episode of Spotlight: On the Election , we're talking climate policy.   Featuring two interviews, with Chris Stark, Chief Executive of The Carbon  Trust and Honorary Professor here at the Centre for Public Policy, and Professor Gioia Falcone, Director of the Glasgow Centre for Sustainable Energy at the University of Glasgow.   Can new oil exploration be compatible with the transition to ne...

In t his episode of 'Spotlight: On the Election' P rofessor Nicola McEwen and Professor Kezia Dugdale talk to Professor Sergi Pardos -Prado , Dr Dan Fisher and Professor Nasar Meer all experts from the University of Glasgow.   They talk about the UK's attitude to immigration t he current status of the UK's asylum system and what each party is proposing to do about it.    

We're bringing you a bonus episode!   On Monday 17 June we brought together leaders from across civil society in an online event to discuss the #UKGeneralElection2024 , reflect ing on the campaigns to date, the most recent polling and what they hope to see in the closing stages of the race.   Steered by Kezia Dugdale, the episode features a discussion between Prof essor Nicola McEwen; Anna Fowlie,...

In t his episode of Spotlight: On the Election,  P rofessor Nicola McEwen and Professor Kezia Dugdale talk to the UK's leading voice on Brexit and its impact in the UK, Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe at King's College London. They talk about the recent European elections, what's in the UK party manifestos on Europe ahead of the 4 July UK General Election, and what the U...

In t his episode of 'Spotlight: On the Election' Prof. Kezia Dugdale speaks to world leading economist Prof . Sir Anton Muscatelli , Principal & Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, about the big economic challenges facing the parties and the potential policy solutions for the next government .     Also in this episode, Prof. Graeme Roy and Dr Tanya Wilson , Senior Lecturer in Economics a...

In t his first episode of our 'Spotlight: On the Election' miniseries Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale from the Centre for Public Policy speak to Stephen Noon, former senior policy adviser for the first SNP Government , and Eddie Barnes, former adviser to Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Conservatives. They reflect on the timing of the election , what's likely happening in party HQs and the big seats...