Come to Homecoming without leaving home

Glasgow Caledonian University is hosting a party in its Second Life island, an online virtual world that will allow Scots living around the globe to attend the Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations without leaving their computer screen.

 

The university will be hosting a series of special Homecoming events on Monday November 30 in its cutting-edge Second Life island, where Glasgow’s National Piping Centre bar has been virtually recreated for the occasion. In the virtual bar, guests will be able to watch near-live video streaming of several Homecoming events taking place all over the city, see the latest news, and listen to broadcasts from Celtic Music Radio via www.celticmusicradio.net. They will even be able to don a kilt in Glasgow Caledonian University tartan.

 

Ferdinand Francino, the university’s Second Life project manager, said: “We’ll be building a home away from home for Scottish ex-pats so that, even if they can’t make it, they can ‘make’ it.”

 

The event, supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, will be created by a team of the university’s students, who are filming events all over the city including performances by top Scottish artists at St Andrews in the Square and Shindig. Visitors will be able to share the experience online at the Second Life pub, an online hub where users can socialise and access virtual Homecoming events at the touch of a button.

 

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “We’re delighted to support Glasgow Caledonian University’s Second Life initiative and welcome the opportunity it presents to promote Glasgow internationally.

 

“It’s an excellent means of showcasing Glasgow’s events and festivities around St Andrew’s Day in near real-time on the web, enabling us to share the party virtually with a global audience.”

 

The Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations (26–30 November) mark the culmination of a spectacular calendar of events in honour of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns. The events also celebrate some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world: golf, whisky, great minds and innovations and Scotland’s rich culture and heritage.

 

Marie Christie, Homecoming Scotland 2009 Project Director, said: “Homecoming Scotland 2009 has been a very special year for Scotland and the Finale Celebrations promise to bring the year-long celebrations to a spectacular close around St Andrew’s Day. We are delighted that Glasgow Caledonian University is extending the celebrations in this unique way and welcome all the support that Scotland’s universities and schools have shown for Homecoming throughout the year.”

 

Second Life is an on-line virtual world created by its users, who build their own environments and can converse and work together. Glasgow Caledonian University’s Second Life island features detailed, authentic recreations of the university’s award winning Saltire Centre and life-like learning environments. For example, the university’s mock hospital ward allows users to “experience” facilities including a virtual X-ray machine for radiography students and to interact with virtual patients.

 

To drop in to the Second Life experience, visit: www.caledonian.ac.uk/cuthere/ and click on the Homecoming link.

 

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For further information, please contact:
Lynn McGarry, Press Officer, 0141 331 8684 / 07795021138
Alison Arnot, Communications Manager, 0141 331 8670/07795052553

 

Sarah Stuart, Public Relations Manager, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau 0141 566 0834/07960 895 179

 

Glasgow Caledonian University was founded in 1993 through the merger of Glasgow Polytechnic and Queens College, Glasgow.

The university has particular teaching and research strengths in the fields of health, the environment and society.

The university’s mission is to provide a high quality accessible, inclusive and flexible learning and teaching environment enhanced by curiosity driven research. It applies knowledge and skills for the social and economic benefits of the communities it serves in Scotland and around the world.

 

Notes to editor
• Glasgow City Marketing Bureau is the official destination marketing organisation for Glasgow, engaged in national and international activity comprising: development and implementation of the city branding campaign: Glasgow: Scotland with style; event creation, attraction, management and marketing; conventions, incentives, meetings and exhibition sales; conference and event accommodation bookings; public relations and optimisation of the website www.seeglasgow.com