The State of Poverty: Systems, Silos and Solutions
In this Challenge Poverty Week special, Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale explore the governance of poverty with Claire MacRae and Thomas Rochow from the Centre for Public Policy. This week the First Minister reiterated again that eradicating child poverty is the driving mission for his government. The State of Poverty research team discuss how institutional silos and fragmented decision-making can hinder progress towards tackling poverty. They also explain their innovative approach to including lived experience in their work through composite stories. In the second part of the episode, we hear from Lorraine Sanda, Clackmannanshire Council, and Lynn Hendry, Hunter Foundation, who share insights from their work driving systems change at a local level to tackle poverty. Together they explore what it really takes to govern differently. For more information about the State of Poverty, visit the Centre for Public Policy website: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/research/state-of-poverty/ Also sign up to our State of Poverty workshop on 6th November in Glasgow: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/events/headline_1213704_en.html
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Beyond the Repair Shop: Rethinking Health Systems
In this season opener of Spotlight, Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale explore the future of Scotland’s health, focusing on prevention, systems change, and the social determinants of health. Nicola speaks with Professor Sir Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for the Scottish Government, about the long-term challenges facing the health service, the concept of Realistic Medicine, and why prevention must be central to Scotland’s public health strategy. Their wide-ranging conversation touches on political decision-making pressures and the potential of AI in healthcare, offering a compelling vision for reimagining health systems. Kezia brings in two leading voices from the University of Glasgow: Professor Petra Meier, Policy Modelling for Health Consortium Director, whose modelling work has influenced key public health policies such as Minimum Unit Pricing. Dr David Blane, Academic Lead for the Deep End GP Project, which addresses health inequalities in Scotland’s most deprived communities. Together, they unpack the economic and social drivers of health, barriers to preventative care, and the importance of whole-system approaches to improving outcomes.
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Beyond Srebrenica and Responsibility to Protect
This powerful episode marks the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. Hosts Nicola McEwen and Kez Dugale reflect on the events of July 1995, when over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically murdered in a UN-declared "safe area" and 30,000 Bosnian Muslim women and children forcibly removed during the Bosnian War. They are joined by Sabina Kadić-Mackenzie, Chair of the Scottish charity Beyond Srebrenica and a survivor of the genocide, who shares her personal story and the mission to ensure remembrance and education in Scotland and beyond. Sabina discusses the importance of bearing witness, the challenges of teaching genocide to young people, and the lingering tensions in Bosnia today. Later, Dr. Richard Illingworth, Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Glasgow, joins to examine the global response to mass atrocities and the legacy of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine. What has R2P achieved in the past two decades — and where has it fallen short? This episode explores difficult but essential questions: What does it mean to remember? What can be learned from failure? And how can the international community do better — not just in the past, but right now? Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of genocide, war crimes, and other themes listeners may find distressing. Event: 30th Commemoration of the genocide in Srebrenica: https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/listings/index.html/event/14177 Link to Richard’s article: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/348010/ Beyond Srebrenica Commemoration Event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scotlands-national-commemoration-of-the-victims-of-the-srebrenica-genocide-tickets-1380264069989?aff=oddtdtcreator
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In Conversation with Anton Muscatelli
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, Brexit, and the pandemic — to championing internationalisation while staying rooted in civic responsibility, Sir Anton shares candid insights on leadership, resilience, and the balancing act of marrying local impact with global ambition. We also delve into the economic outlook under a new UK Government and the role of regional innovation in this. Graeme Roy joins us to answer the question ‘What is the Spending Review’ as we look ahead to the upcoming statement.
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The Immigration White Paper
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 language like "island of strangers" and its implications for integration and public perception. They examine whether the proposals reflect genuine policy concerns or are driven by political positioning. Challenging some assumptions around immigration, including the idea of a zero-sum labour market and the notion that stricter conditions foster better integration. They also consider Scotland’s distinct workforce needs and the differences in response from the Scottish Government.
UK