Michael Pugh

Michael.Pugh@uws.ac.uk

Media / Policy Engagement / Knowledge Exchange on...

Local government / governance / community empowerment / sense of place / critical heritage

Scottish and British social and political (especially urban) history c19th-20th

Constitutional Issues - especially around devolution

Public history - can offer a range of interactive talks, including as part of CPD, to diverse audiences - please email to discuss

Political Ideas and Ideologies

Curriculum design and development + innovative assessment

Local history expertise: Govan, Partick, Clydeside, Glasgow

US Politics - experienced university teacher and curriculum designer on this topic

 Biography

I joined UWS at the merger between Bell College of Higher Education, where I worked previously (since 2001) and Paisley University in 2007.  I completed my MPhil and PhD part-time while teaching full-time, and so have an especial affinity for lifelong learners from diverse backgrounds.

My main research and teaching interests broadly concern Scottish and British political history and administrative development.  I've also successfully led and delivered modules on international politics, political theory and ideologies, US politics and research methods / theory. I teach on several postgraduate modules and coordinate the MSc Applied Social Sciences (various pathways) and Masters in Public Administration dissertation module. My main contributions and achievements to date include:

-          Research and knowledge exchange on c19th and 20th Scottish political history - building on doctoral work on Clydeside burgh communities of Govan and Partick in the c. 19th and 20^th.  

-          Contemporary and multidisciplinary aspects of local governance research, leading to my selection for the AHRC's 'Engaging with Government' programme (2016), furthering my interests in public history and public policy.

-          Curriculum design and development, with a strong track record in undergraduate programme leadership (BA Hons Social Science 2013-15; Cert HE Social Studies 2011-13), as well as in effective handling of various related academic administration roles.

Other roles and activities:

-          Outside UWS, I’ve advised media and community organisations on historical issues, and served on the UK Social History Society’s Executive Committee (2014-17).

-          Member of and contributor to the History and Policy network

-          I've also contributed to the impact agenda around the successful (2016) launch of UWS' Standing Safe campaign against campus sexual violence and associated problematic attitudes, helping secure cross party support in the Scottish Parliament

• Researching the development of, and challenges facing, Scotland's local state in an historical and contemporary context
• Researching Scottish and British party politics
• Public history and policy engagement 
• Researching the role of Scottish and UK Local Authorities in the international Nuclear Free Zones movement since 1987.
• Part of the international interdisciplinary team working on ERASMUS+ funded RUEU project exploring European identity through serious game development.
• Practice-based educational research with particular focus on undergraduate peer review in the enhancement of students' research / writing skills, and inclusive practice in the teaching of sensitive issues.

• Political history with especial emphasis on:
• Comparative and international perspectives on local government and local citizenship / local civic nationalism 
• Scottish and British party politics and constitutional developments / debates 
• Public history, knowledge exchange and policy engagement in relation to all of the above topics
• Practice-based educational research with particular emphasis on formative assessment,  learner development  and inclusive practice in the teaching of sensitive topics

• Scottish Government / Parliament
• Local authorities / LGIU, COSLA etc
• Community and Heritage organisations