Read: Glasgow Caledonian University partners with the Purpose Coalition to measure its social impact

Glasgow Caledonian University has committed to spreading opportunity by signing up to a new framework to measure its social impact.

The Purpose Coalition is made up of the UK’s most innovative purpose-led leaders and organisations. The University will work alongside the organisation to produce an impact report that will map its activities against the Purpose Goals framework.

 The 14 goals provide a universal benchmark for organisations to measure their impact against and identify areas where more work can be done. 

Established in 2021 by former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening, with input from businesses, universities and policymakers, the goals provide a framework to help tackle the challenges the country faces following the pandemic.

It focuses on driving equality of opportunity at key life stages, from early years through to adulthood, alongside other barriers such as fair career progression and achieving equality through diversity and inclusion.

This project will set out Glasgow Caledonian University’s social impact, highlighting the great work already being carried out to widen access into higher education and employment, as well as where it can go further to spread opportunity. 

Glasgow Caledonian is one of the first Scottish universities to commit to measuring its impact against the Purpose Goals framework.

It joins over 20 other UK universities assessing their best practice and measuring their impact against the goals, as well as a number of NHS trusts, local authorities and organisations including the BBC, Co-op and Amazon.

Justine Greening said: “Universities in the UK have a wide-ranging role to play in spreading opportunity. Not only by widening access into higher education to those from under-represented backgrounds but also through the role that they play as anchor institutions and the wider impact they have through research, procurement and many other things. 

“The Purpose Coalition allows universities and employers to share best practice across the UK - to see what’s working on the ground in different areas and to help create a levelling playing field of opportunity for all. 

“It’s great to see Glasgow Caledonian University committing to measuring its social impact and I’m really looking forward to working with Professor Gillies and her team.”

Professor Pamela Gillies, Principal & Vice Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, said:

“At Glasgow Caledonian University, the University for the Common Good, social justice and social mobility lie at the heart of everything we do, and I am delighted we have joined the Purpose Coalition. 

We are well aware that what we decide to measure will drive the future priorities and actions of our organisation. It is therefore important that, as its dynamic leader, Justine Greening is an enthusiastic champion of measuring social impact. I am confident that, led by available evidence, the partnerships crafted and nourished through this progressive network will open many more doors of transformational opportunity to young people. There has never been a time when success in this area has mattered more”.