Q&A: Les Watson

Synergy interviews Les Watson Pro Vice-Chancellor (LIS) to find out about the proposed new Learning Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Synergy 01: So why are we building a Learning Centre?

LW: Firstly we are short of study space for students. The type of university we are, and intend to continue to be, needs excellent on-campus study facilities. The new building will provide over 1800 seats as compared with the 950 or so that we currently have. It is part of the larger overall Campus Development project formulated after the sale of the Park Campus and designed to create more space on campus for both staff and students But it's not just about more study space it's about the variety and balance of space that we provide - from social group 'interactive' areas to silent study 'solitary' places - and it's also about the flexibility of the space. This variety of study space acknowledges the pioneering work that academic staff have already done with problem-based approaches to learning, use of group and project work, and group assignments. The flexibility of the space will provide opportunities for academic staff to continuously develop and assess new student centred approaches to learning and active learning.

The building will also provide a 'social heart' to the campus and have a 'services mall' that provides a focus for the delivery of all student related services outside of those provided by Schools.

Synergy 02: What will the building contain?

LW: The Learning Centre replaces the current Harley building so, not surprisingly, the University's stock of books and periodicals - actively managed and developed - will be housed here. The building has both an academic and social purpose so we are arranging for these materials to be a more natural part of the environment - accessible but not dominating the space. Similarly with technology - the building will have a pervasive wireless network and this will enable more 'natural' use of technology, including mobile devices such as PDAs and Tablet PCs and the other communications devices which are today only under development. As mentioned previously there will also be a wide variety of study spaces provided which have a broad range of purpose including highly active and engaging communal places, interactive collaborative places for individual research and group work, and also quieter less active places such as group study rooms and alcoves. The Learning café type space that we have in CLIC will form a starting point for the design of some of the more active space. There will also be out of the way contemplative places for quiet reflection and deep thought not least of which will be a silence centre.

The building has an exhibition space on the entrance mezzanine, and provides links to the Moore and Wood buildings at floors 1 and 4 giving us a more connected and more 'social' Campus.

The ground floor services mall is an important innovation for the University that will provide one-stop (or hopefully non-stop) access to a wide range of services provided by a number of central service departments. From learner support through registration to finance both students and teachers will have more visible and direct access to Learning Services, Academic Administration and Finance. In anticipation of the opening of the Learning Centre we have the Student Access to Services Project, which is working with service providers to see how we can apply technology to our delivery of services, and ensure that precious staff time is used to deal with higher level problems.

Synergy 03: You mentioned Learning Café space. What will happen with the current Learning Café?

LW: The current Learning Café will remain and provide 200 study seats in addition to the 1800 being created in the Learning Centre.

Through time the architecture of educational buildings has reflected the status, priorities and goals of the institutions they house. Our intention is to create a Learning Centre which both meets our functional requirements and is a statement our purposes. The Learning Centre will place learning and scholarship at the heart of our campus.