Foreword
City of Glasgow College in a pandemic
This report was commissioned ahead of the emergence in Scotland of the global pandemic, COVID-19;
its development was interrupted by the arrival of the virus in Scotland. It is worth noting, however,
how the College responded to a public health crisis on a scale unprecedented in modern times.
The College proactively monitored and prepared to respond to the deteriorating position through
its COVID-19 Action Group, set up before closure, and remained in regular contact with Scottish
Ministers, Members of the Scottish Parliament, and local Councillors. It closed its twin campus on
17 March, and a number of tertiary institutions immediately followed that lead. In a single working
day, the College transitioned 1,660 staff and tens of thousands of students relatively seamlessly
to purposeful home/remote teaching and working, allocating to students in need all the laptops it
had available. Uniquely within the college sector, its two halls of residence remained operational,
supporting the welfare of vulnerable care-experienced students, international students and those
from elsewhere in the UK who found themselves unable to travel home during the lockdown. It
monitored the mental health and well-being of its Merchant Navy cadet officers who, as essential
workers, were keeping Britain's ports fully supplied and observing expert health advice by staying
on board. And it offered 24/7 on-line mental health and well-being support through its Togetherall
digital platform - available to all our students and staff.
The College additionally contributed actively to the national and civic resilience effort, staying in
touch with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and providing PPE equipment to a number of local and
national charities. The College continued to support its local business community, working closely
with both the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and the Glasgow Resilience Forum.
While the College buildings were closed, it remained virtually open, delivering online learning to its
students. At the time of writing it has successfully achieved a phased return to both campuses, and
welcomed a new intake of students in mid-September. It is also preparing support over this period
for those second and third year students whose practical assessments were deferred.
Throughout the crisis, the health, safety and wellbeing of our college community of students,
staff and partners remained the College's our top priority. Drawing on its expert team of learning
technologists from its Learning & Teaching Academy the College developed an agile remote teaching
model, supporting the continued learning and assessment of students, and helping enhance online
platforms and digital pedagogy. In June alone it delivered 76 courses to companies across Scotland,
through the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, whilst also delivering a three-week Supply Chain
and Logistics course to 80 students in Hangzhou, China.
Throughout, it made particular efforts to support its most vulnerable students in a variety of ways,
including through keeping open its two halls of residence throughout the crisis. Its students also
played their role in the national response, with some 250 Merchant Navy cadets at sea helping to
keep food and other supply chains open, while many of those on land supported the NHS and the
care sector, and volunteered in their communities.
Paul Little
Principal and Chief Executive Officer, City of Glasgow College
November 2020