University of Glasgow Connect

Spring 2026

Welcome to our first Connect of 2026

The first issue of our international newsletter in 2026 arrives at a truly historic moment for our University: the celebration of our 575th year.

Our 575th year reminds us that longevity is not achieved by standing still; it is earned through constant evolution, meaningful partnership, and a commitment to progress. These qualities have defined our past, and they will continue to guide our future. 

Our 575th anniversary provides a powerful opportunity to bring together partners from across the world, strengthen key relationships, and explore the ideas and innovations that will shape the decades ahead. It is in this spirit of collaboration and shared purpose that we are proud to host a series of flagship events for our international partners and networks.

In April, we are delighted to host the U21 Annual Network Meeting and Leadership Summit, a gathering that will bring together senior leaders from higher education and industry, influential policymakers, and strategic partners from across the U21 network and beyond. Together, we will examine the most pressing challenges and the most exciting opportunities shaping the future of global higher education, from global engagement and digital transformation to research impact and the evolving needs of our students and graduates.

In June, we will welcome delegates to the second Africa–Europe Clusters of Research Excellence Conference bringing together Vice‑Chancellors and Presidents from the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild, alongside The Guild General Assembly. Coinciding with the Guild’s 10^th anniversary, this symposium highlights our commitment to research that addresses shared global priorities and equitable international partnerships.

This year also marks the launch of our new institutional strategy, which will set out our vision for the next decade, as well as the principles, priorities, and ambitions that will shape the University of Glasgow as we enter the final 25-years of our sixth century. This strategy represents a moment of renewal, a chance to reaffirm who we are, what we stand for, and the impact we aspire to have in a world that is more complex, more interconnected, and more in need of collaboration than ever before.

It will outline how we will ensure that we remain a university that does not only respond to global change but actively shapes it. From advancing research and innovation, to transforming the student experience, to forging partnerships that reach across borders and disciplines, this strategy will be our blueprint for a decade of bold thinking and meaningful action.

In this sense, our 575th anniversary is far more than a celebration of our past; it is the threshold of our next chapter.

To bring this special year to life, we will run a year‑long anniversary campaign inviting our entire community - students, staff, alumni, partners, friends and supporters - to get involved. These celebrations will extend far beyond our Gilmorehill campus. From our TNE campuses and international partners to our alumni networks and the communities that we serve locally, nationally, and internationally, this milestone offers all of us an opportunity to come together, celebrate our shared achievements, and share our collective ambitions.

As we often say: we are not good because we are 575 years old; we are 575 years old because we are good! Our longevity is a testament to the people who have shaped this institution across generations, and to the partnerships and collaborations that continue to be pivotal to our success.

Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary moment in our history and here’s to a prosperous 2026 for us all.

Professor Rachel Sandison OBE
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement)