UofG Spotlight

In this episode, Nicola McEwen and Graeme Roy look ahead to the challenges facing the next Scottish Government as it confronts a tight fiscal landscape. 
 
Nicola speaks with Matt Donoghue from the State Government of Victoria about Australia's Early Intervention and Investment Framework (EIIF) - an interesting approach to pooled budgeting and preventative spending that's gaining international attention. They explore how the model works, how departments are incentivised to collaborate, and what it takes to shift resources toward long‑term prevention. 
 
Nicola then returns with Graeme and Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Adviser to The Promise Scotland, to consider what lessons Scotland might draw from this approach. Together they discuss whether models like pooled budgeting, whole‑family wellbeing funding, and cross‑government decision‑making can help tackle system‑wide challenges.

This week Kez Dugdale is joined by Professor Kathleen Riach and Professor Melanie Simms from the University of Glasgow to discuss work, ageing and employment rights.  
Kat takes us through her recent research on work and ageing, looking at what it means to become older in work, whether policymakers and employers are doing enough to support people and what impacts how 'old' we feel. 
Then Mel discusses the details, politics and implications of the Employment Rights Act, which recently received Royal Assent in Westminster. She talks about how the changes could impact workers and employers, and what it means for collective rights and the trade unions.

We're kicking off Season 7 of our UofG Spotlight podcast with a live episode challenging our political leaders on public service reform in Scotland.
Recorded live on Monday 19 January 2026 at our event, Stop/Start: Making Public Service Reform Stick in Scotland, our host Professor Kezia Dugdale talks to:
Michael Marra MSP - Scottish Labour
Alison Thewliss - SNP
Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP - Scottish Conservatives
Graham Simpson MSP - Reform UK
Jamie Greene MSP - Scottish Liberal Democrats
Gillian Mackay MSP - Scottish Greens
Kez quizzed our panel about whether politicians can work together to deliver for Scotland, the fiscal challenge facing Scotland, prevention, the future of the NHS, devolution, and more.
We closed with a big question: What would each member stop spending money on, how much money that would save and what you would spend it on?
The Centre for Public Policy will be publishing lots more insights and outputs from speakers at our Stop/Start: Making Public Service Reform Stick in Scotland event, including Professor Graeme Roy as discussed in this episode.
Make sure you don't miss it - sign up to the Centre for Public Policy mailing list:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/about/

In this latest episode of Spotlight, we reflect on a turbulent year in American politics and its global ripple effects. Nicola McEwen and Kez Dugdale are joined by two leading voices in international affairs: 
Prof Juliet Kaarbo (University of St Andrews) explores Donald Trump's evolving leadership style, the psychology behind his foreign policy decisions, and the blurring lines between domestic and international agendas.
Prof Mark Blyth (Brown University) unpacks the economic and political consequences of Trump's tariff wars, rising inflation, and the resilience of U.S. institutions under executive pressure. 
Tune in for expert analysis, transatlantic perspectives, and a look ahead to what the next three years might hold. 
CONFERENCE TICKETS: Stop/Start: Making Public Service Reform Stick in Scotland: Book your place.

This week's episode takes a quick look at the UK Government's Budget:  
What it means for Scotland? 
Why has the Government made these tax decisions? 
Was this a Budget for growth? 
What does lifting the Two Child Limit mean? 
How do we achieve effective regional development? 
Professor Nicola McEwen, Director of the Centre for Public Policy, discusses all this with Graeme Roy, Professor of Economics and Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Dr David Waite, expert in regional economies and inclusive growth and Ruth Patrick, Professor in Social and Public Policy with expertise in poverty and social security.