City of Glasgow College has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI). A memorandum of understanding is a type of agreement between two or more parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action.

The DHI is a national resource and Innovation Centre funded by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council.  Hosted by the University of Strathclyde, in collaboration with Glasgow School of Art, their focus is on innovation in digital health and care to help the people of Scotland live longer, healthier lives, while providing sustainable and inclusive growth for our economy. 

They bring together people and organisations across health and social care, charity, technology, design and academic sectors to collaborate, co-design and transform great ideas into real solutions that will improve health and care services for Scotland’s communities.

Paul Little, Principal and Chief Executive of City of Glasgow College, said:

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with DHI, an important step in our continued engagement with industry. As the first educational institute in Scotland to be awarded the Investors in Innovation Standard, and as host for the Scottish Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange, City of Glasgow College has long recognised the significance of innovation and the ever more important role it plays within education.”

Digital health and care interventions are seen as key to tackling the challenge of ageing populations using modern technologies and digital services. They offer innovative ways for monitoring our health and wellbeing, and provide greater access to personal data for self-management.

Professor George Crooks OBE, Chief Executive, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, said:

Developing a collaboration with City of Glasgow College will allow us to maximise the benefits that next generation digital tools and services can bring to the citizens of Scotland. By developing a future workforce with the knowledge, expertise and skills to embrace innovation and secure the maximum benefit from the ever-evolving world of digital services, Scotland can continue to be an international leader in the area of digital health and care innovation and service delivery. The College sector is a key driver of change and by developing a collaboration with the City of Glasgow College we can turn these aspirations into a reality.

Stuart McDowall, Head of Innovation & STEM at City of Glasgow College, said:

“Our aim is to work collaboratively with DHI to create innovations in digital health and care, and identify solutions to core health and care issues that will ultimately provide health, civic, and economic benefits to the wider community.”