Caledonian Club

Facilitating social change

Just one of the innovative routes the university has taken to interact more closely with its neighbouring communities is through the establishment of The Caledonian Club, a ground-breaking initiative that has allowed children as young as three to take classes at the university.

What we do

Once enrolled as a Caledonian Club member, members gain access to GCU’s stimulating, open and welcoming learning environment. We work with young people, from nursery age through all school stages, and their families to raise life-long learning aspirations, and equip members with key life skills. We achieve this by offering targeted nursery, primary and secondary schools a linked set of activities delivered by staff and students from GCU.

The club, which is committed to widening access, changing attitudes to higher education and helping young people build key life skills, works with children and teenagers at nursery, primary and secondary schools in areas of Glasgow where traditionally few pupils have gone on to university.

Breaking down barriers

The club is the brainchild of Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor Pamela Gillies and offers fun, tailored educational projects focusing on key skills such as science, computing and nutrition.

Helping young children

When children from Milton Nursery School joined the club, the day started with a story about Molly, a character who is embarking on her first day at school while her mum is about to start university. The group then broke into smaller teams to try activities such as dissecting owl pellets and getting to grips with computers.

Encouraging teenagers

For teenagers, the club offers a taste of university life by allowing club members an opportunity to matriculate before joining lectures and labs and meeting lecturers. Their matriculation card lets them study in the award-winning Saltire Centre throughout the year. It is hoped the club will still be welcoming youngsters to the campus in 15 to 30 years.