Research & Evaluation
ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY
RGU is a dynamic, modern university with an international reputation for providing high quality education from undergraduate through to PhD level.
Consistently ranked among the UK’s top universities for graduate employment for many years, recent accolades have included:
Scottish University of the Year 2021
Business School of the Year 2020
Top modern university in Scotland for graduate prospects
RGU’s growing reputation for research reflects our interest in finding real solutions to real problems.
The diverse and exciting range of degree programmes are taught in state-of-the-art facilities by specialists who maintain close links with the world of work. Well-established relationships with professional bodies, industrial organisations, government departments and research institutes ensure that all taught content is relevant and meets industry standards.
PROMOTING CREATIVITY & PLAY FOR POSTIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
Gray’s School of Art played an integral role in the development of our activities which regularly now involve both staff and students from other schools within the Robert Gordon University.
Our activities sit within RGU’s ‘Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Inclusive and Creative Societies’ research themes.
Our programmes often explore social interventions and innovations by reducing instances of youth crime and anti-social behaviour; whilst promoting health and wellbeing through sport, physical activity and creative endeavour.
By adopting a collaborative partnership model, our activities bring together multiple courses, students and stakeholders to work within communities resulting in activities that react and respond to local needs, interests and demand.
GRAY’S SCHOOL OF ART CASE STUDY
Staff and students at Gray’s School of Art are currently exploring the impact of design led initiatives within society and the role of design and the designer in facilitating community engagement through diversionary activities in areas of urban deprivation. The focus considers strategies and applications of ‘design for social innovation’ using Streetsport as a case study and platform for ‘field research’ to inform teaching pedagogy.
As an example of a design for social intervention, Streetsport is a vehicle of engagement that uses sport and creative activities to divert and distract disaffected young people who are considered at risk of offending.
Streetsport was established in 2006 as a diversionary tactics initiative led by Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, RGU SPORT and Gray’s School of Art.
Our overall aim was to ‘reduce instances of youth crime and anti-social behaviour; promote health and well-being and encourage exclusivity through sport, physical activity and creative endeavour’.
Over the past 15 years we have been delivering free sports & creative activity sessions for young people in many disadvantaged communities throughout Aberdeen City during peak times of anti-social behaviour. We operate nightly 50 weeks of the year and in all weathers.
“Gray’s School of Art has an established reputation for community engagement and Streetsport is one of our flagship design led initiatives. Successive students from the Communication Design course at Gray’s have contributed to a wide range of activities in collaboration with a variety of other project partners, sponsors and stakeholders.
“Through the application of design methods and processes we have been looking at ways in which designers can apply their skills within the context of intervention and social innovation for the benefit of the local community and wider society”.
Cameron Craddock – Principal Lecturer, Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University.
EDUCATION & PLACEMENTS
Enhancing graduate attributes through the facilitation and development of design skills applied within the context of the Streetsport initiative.
Based in Service-learning, where studio activities meet street-level issues, Streetsport offers Gray’s School of Art design students a way to develop enhanced graduate attributes through applied design driven methods and creative skills within the context of a city wide initiative.
Adopting a collaborative partnership model, the initiative brings together multiple stakeholders and corporate sponsors to work with communities, resulting in activities that reflect local needs, interests and culture.
