Advertise on podcast: The Teaching and Scholarship Podcast

In Episode 92 we explore near-peer teaching in undergraduate medicine at the University of Glasgow. In this epiopsde I am joined by medical students Hannah and Reza, who have taken on student leadership of the near-peer teaching programme, alongside Dr Claire Fitton, academic lead for the Head, Neck and Neuro block and staff lead for the project. We chat about what near-peer teaching actually looks like in practice, why students can be such effective teachers of other students, and what learners gain from stepping into a teaching role themselves. Hannah and Reza reflect on their experiences of moving from participants to leaders of the programme, while Claire shares the staff perspective on designing, supporting and embedding student-led teaching within the medical curriculum. We also consider what makes near-peer teaching sustainable, and why it can offer much more than simply another way of delivering curriculum content. A great conversation about students as educators, partnership in curriculum delivery, and what happens when we give learners the opportunity to lead - check it out!

In this episode of the Teaching and Scholarship Podcast, I'm joined by Dr Hannah Mathers, Senior Lecturer in the School of Geographical & Earth Sciences at the University of Glasgow. Drawing on her experience of running fieldwork and excursions with her students, we explore what this type of activity and associated residential trips can bring to higher education, how students learn through direct, lived experience, and some wider questions about teaching and pedagogy.

In episode 90 we welcome back Simon Guild to the show, who has now retired from the University of Glasgow. Simon shares his personal story and talks about how life rapidly changes as you move from a busy senior position, to full retirement. This is not a subject often talked about, but it should be, especially because academics often find it difficult to fully retire.

Episode 89 sees us leave the studio and get out and about in the department for some hot takes from NUNC 26. In this we chat to staff, students, organisers to show you what it's like on the day of NUNC!

In episode 88 we chat to students at Glasgow who have experienced some new EDI initiatives, both interms of curriculum intergration and academic culture. We chat to undergraduate students April, Eilidh and Holly about their experiences of studying within this context, and what they like and have learned from some of these newer developments.

In the latest epiosde we chat with David Faulds and Fiona Stubbs about Employability. David is an empoyer engagement manager working alongside academics at the Univeristy of Glasgow, to help bridge the gap between academia and industry within the field of biological sciences. Fiona is a careers and employment manager, in the same area, and supports students in developing discipline specific employability skills during their degree. In this epsiode, we chat about the importance of these experiences and opportunities in modern degree programmes to ensure that students are equiped with everything they need to enter the workplace and thrive, once they graduate. Along the way we may or may not digress a little and mix in some conversation about pubs and David's love of golf! it's a fun little listen, check it out.

In this episode I chat with anatomy students Holly and Cat who both added a year to their undergraduate BSc studies to obtain an MSc. April is currently applying to the programme now and wants to know what she can expect - who is this pathway right for? Join us for the conversation.

In this episode I have a chat with Consultant Neonatologist, Lesley Jackson and Consultant ENT/Head & Neck Surgeon, Cat Douglas. They are currently Head and Deputy Head of student support respectively, within the Glasgow Undergraduate Medical School. We chat about the importance of student support in modern higher education settings and discuss changes over the last decade or so - including greater awareness of mental health issues and openness about asking for help when it comes to welfare and welbeing. It's a great little convo, so come join us!

In this episode we chat to Professor Matthew Walters MBE, who is the Head of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing and Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Glasgow. He is an academic physician whose clinical and research interests lie in the treatment of cerebrovascular disease. In the summer of 2026 Matthew will step down from his role as Head of School, so we take the time here to reflect a little on the highs, lows and where things are heading at the moment. We also delve into his background and youth (including an interesting rugby related story that involves him wearing a tutu!). It's an interesting conversation, so get stuck in!

In episode 83, we have students back on the show, talking about their ambitions for their society work duriung the academic year 2025-26. Inroducing Freya and her team to the show, we cover the impact that society work adds to the student experience, with both educational and social events throughout the year. We also get slightly distracted now and then and end up discussing why having a pie in a roll is even a thing, up here in Scotland!

In another special episode talking about body donation, myself and Professor Paul Rea speak with the daughter of one of our donors who was recieved by The University of Glasgow. In this one, we have a lovely chat with Anne Hempstock, who very generously talks us through the feelings and emotions within the family when a loved one chooses to donate their body for the purposes of research, education and training after their death. Anne explains how her mum was known to many as 'Wee Susie, and that she knew her own mind and exactly what she wanted to do once she passed. This provoked a lot of conversations amongst her family which she shares with us here. Anne tells us the heartfelt story of how proud her mum would have been of her, to know that she had contributed to this podcast, and that she able to tell her mum's story and raise the profile of body donation across Scotland.

In this episode we chat to Professor Eileen Cowey, who is Head of the Nursing & Health Care School, within the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing at The University of Glasgow.  Eileen's responsibilities include leading and managing the strategic direction of the Nursing & Health Care School, which consistently ranks highly in UK league tables for student satisfaction. Key activities include leading curriculum development, championing teaching quality, advancing internationalisation, and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. We chat about the broader state of nursing education in the UK, the future of the NHS and much, much more, check it out!

It's time for episode 80 and in this one we speak with Maria Afonso who is a veterinary educator with an interest in pedagogy and scholarship of education - her main areas of interest are assessment, study skills, curriculum development and EDI. She currently teaches veterinary anatomy and is the course leader/level coordinator for the 2nd year of the UofG Veterinary Medicine (BVMS) programme.

In this episode we catch up once again with curriculum support manager Dr Ashley Lewis Cole who is part of The Curriculum Transformation Workstream; a concept which is predicated upon the idea that a student's core discipline should enable them to develop and demonstrate skills for the future workplace through an inclusive, accessible curriculum for Life (C4L) approach. So...what if every student at the University of Glasgow had the opportunity to engage in a curriculum that contains opportunities for work-related and experiential learning that explores and addresses societal challenges, such as climate action, sustainability and social justice? We discuss the phisophy underpinning the project and much more...

Body donation for anatomical education, training and research is so important in educating our future generations of doctors, dentists, nurses and scientists. The selfless act of donating your body after death for education is such a wonderful gift to our learners and donors are considered as the "silent teachers". Understanding human anatomy can only be done so effectively when we examine the human body in detail.    Not only do our learners gain a better understanding of the human body, but it also instils an understanding of respect, care, dignity, empathy as well as communication skills and professionalism. For those students on vocational degrees, it goes beyond this and helps students develop the skills needed for their future careers with patients.   We are delighted to present our Body Donation Podcast, from the Anatomy Facility here at the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing in the University of Glasgow. This podcast has been created by an expert panel of academics, technicians and administrative staff who lead on the Body Donation Programme.   At the core of what we do in our Anatomy Facility is care, respect and dignity for the donors, and we have a dedicated team for the donors journey with us after death.    We also ensure there is that same care, respect and dignity for the donors from all those who attend educational sessions, training, and undertake research on the human body. This care is also provided by our trainee surgeons and senior surgical faculty who rehearse and simulate surgical procedures in our Clinical Anatomy Skills Centre, a joint partnership with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.   This podcast covers all the practicalities around body donation, for those considering donating their body, to those who might have to deal with the practicalities of carrying out someone's wishes that has registered with us, after their death.   The podcast provides hints and tips to help with choosing body donation and making an informed decision; how to register for body donation; the ethics around decision making; administrative and legal advice; and demystifies the process. It is jargon free and there is no cost to listen to it, and no subscriptions are needed.   This podcast is for anyone at all who is interested - from those wishing or considering donation; a family member, friend or associate who knows of someone considering donating; a healthcare practitioner or funeral director who wants to learn more; or for those who are simply curious and would like to hear more.