Grameen/Grameen Caledonian Creative Lab

Grameen Caledonian Creative Lab

Glasgow Caledonian University joined the global network of sister labs in February 2009, by establishing the Grameen Caledonian Creative Lab (GCCL). This followed debate by the University Magnusson Fellowship and the Principal’s subsequent visit to Bangladesh where she signed a memorandum of agreement between the University and the Grameen organisation.

The GCCL is fully committed to the seven principles of Grameen Social business and its primary focus will be on one of the University’s major research and teaching strengths, the area of health. In the UK Research Assessment Exercise in 2008, the University’s world leading allied health research was in the top 10 group of UK Universities, an outstanding performance. To fulfil the main goals of the lab, GCCL is clear that it must operate in a multidisciplinary way ensuring the focus on health properly reflects relevant evidence based activities and knowledge related to the range of social determinants which influence health and well being, including amongst other things, the environment, education and the economy. The GCCL will therefore engage in reporting the action research, development and evaluation undertaken by the University’s research teams and researchers from around the world. It will share understanding and knowledge, promote networking opportunities and contributing information relevant to the development of social businesses and Grameen initiatives.

This exciting development for the University builds upon its academic and research strength and is entirely consistent with social mission and values. The Grameen Caledonian Creative Lab looks forward to playing an active role in the global Grameen Creative Lab network.

Grameen Creative Lab

The Grameen Creative Lab was founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus in collaboration with Hans Reitz in 2008 as part of the Grameen family of businesses. Professor Yunus is the Chairman and Hans Reitz is the executive Director of the movement supported by Saskia Bruysten and Tobias Engelmeier who are Directors based at the Free University of Berlin.

The main purposes of the lab, and the network of its’ sister labs around the world, are:

To interact: that is, to communicate and network with other organisations and individuals in the private, public or voluntary sectors, using a range of media and activities, about what is meant by the notion of Grameen Social Business.
To incubate: that is to brainstorm, experiment with, analyse, and evaluate how Grameen social businesses develop and to discuss the impact they have and to promote the findings of research and development activities undertaken elsewhere.
To create: that is, to be active in the facilitation of social businesses, including seeking funding, overseeing their certification, auditing and consulting with social entrepreneurs.