The University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) School of Media, Culture & Society has marked 50 years since the beginnings of social science education at the institution with a celebration on Thursday 9 February 2017.

In session 1966-1967, the Department of Social Studies was created to organise the then Paisley College of Technology’s teaching and research in the social sciences. The department was responsible for the BA Social Studies degree and would go on to develop programmes with specialisms in Social Work, Administration, Psychology, Public Policy, Social Theory and postgraduate programmes in Careers Guidance and Alcohol Studies.

Former staff and students came together with current staff and students to celebrate a rich history of social science education at the University.

Watch the film belowcommissioned to celebrate 50 years of Social Science Education in Paisley.

Background

In the 1960s there was a belief that universities were slow to adapt to the demands of a changing technologically-based society and that there was a case for educating at least some sociologists, psychologists and economists in predominantly technological institutions. The Scottish Education Department (SED) opposed the setting-up of Social Science courses in Paisley, expecting that provision for the subject would be made in the Arts faculties of universities. It is against this backdrop that the decision was made, by the Governing Body of Paisley College of Technology, to establish a Department of Social Studies during the 1966-67 session.

All students of CNAA courses spent some 10% of their time on General Studies which consisted of Communication, Social Studies, Industrial Studies and Elective Studies. The Social Studies Department was inaugurated to organise teaching and research in the social sciences, led by Professor Harry Sheldon.

In September 1972, the Department’s first own degree course in Social Studies commenced. Principal Edwin Kerr commented in his annual report of 1971-72 that: “It is felt that these courses with their distinctive features will develop successfully and represent some of the new spheres into which the College is expanding.”

The Department also very quickly began to develop a series of Public Policy Seminars for industrialists and local authority representatives in West Central Scotland, and short courses for Senior Officers in the Police Force, courses for shop stewards and Management Practice courses in Social Work.

In September 1975, the BA Social Studies with Social Work programme was the first in Scotland to offer an undergraduate degree combined with a professional qualification, the award of Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.

Research was undertaken throughout the 1970s by Local Government Research Unit (established in 1971 with the financial support of several local authorities in Scotland) and consultancy through the Management and Planning Services (MAPS) Unit providing consultancy services to a range of organisations and public services in the West of Scotland, including Industrial relations Consultancy for some leading Trade Unions.

In 1979 the ground-breaking Alcohol Studies Centre, latterly known as The Centre for Alcohol and Drug Studies, was established. Funded by the Scottish Home and Health Department, the principal function of the Centre was to provide advanced education and training about alcohol and alcohol-related problems – the Diploma in Alcohol Studies commencing in 1980.

The department would go on to develop programmes with specialisms in Administration, Psychology, Public Policy, Social Theory and the postgraduate programmes in Careers Guidance.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the department had introduced a European Policy Studies degree, Psychology degree and Sociology degree and a Centre for Gerontology.

In 2007 the School of Social Studies in Hamilton joined with the School of Social Sciences following the merger of Bell College and University of Paisley.

In 2014 the MSc applied social science is launched with a number of specialisms: Civil Society and Public Affairs; Criminal Justice; Applied Psychology; and Global Social Work and Social Policy.

Today our Social Science and Creative and Cultural portfolios have been brought together in the new School of Media, Culture & Society.