PSEPHOLOGIST John Curtice, the wild-haired professor of politics at Strathclyde University, often seen on television serenely explaining Scottish elections and poll results while politicians around him squawk mindlessly, is dressed as Batman. Not a Batman fancy dress costume, but a Batman onesie for sleeping in.

On his feet are Incredible Hulk green boots, and he is doing a robotic dance to techno music, the way your dad would do if he was dragged on to a dance floor.

If only he would present politics like this on the telly then audience figures would soar, one fondly imagines.

The professor is on a fashion show catwalk in the old Barony Church in Glasgow, one of the city’s truly magnificent buildings with its Gothic architecture, rich red sandstone, and soaring ceiling, rarely seen by the public as it is now the Barony Hall, used by Strathclyde Uni for graduations and hired out for weddings.

Mr Curtice in heroic costume is one of three professors appearing on stage, plus a smattering of university doctors, university staff, a council bailie and a leading QC. They are all volunteer models in this fashion show, some nervous but gamely putting themselves on display, while others are unexpected showmen strutting and pouting as if this was their true calling.

For the finale of this fashion show, children walk beside the volunteer models with baskets. But unlike the shows of Paris or Milan it is not flower petals they are scattering on the floor but sweetcorn with the hard yellow kernels bouncing towards the audience.

It’s a little reminder of what this night is about. For this charity fashion show, organised by Strathclyde University’s Graduates Association, is titled Seeds of Change, and has the target of supplying seeds to subsistence farmers in Malawi so that they can feed their families, and hopefully have a little left over that they can sell and then buy other necessities to survive.

Norman Wagstaffe, convener of the university’s Malawi Project, picks up a stray kernel and says: “You probably know this as sweetcorn. In Malawi it is maize. In reality, this is life.”

The people in Malawi grind it down until it is not much more than a tasteless paste which they eat, perhaps flavoured or enhanced occasionally with meat.

Now African countries with mineral wealth or oil are prospering, but landlocked Malawi on the south-east, has no such wealth and is still struggling to provide its mainly rural population with basic health and education.

It is the seventh poorest country in the world, life expectancy on average is just 36, and one in four children die before the age of five.

What they did have over 150 years ago though was Scottish missionary Dr David Livingstone. He was a student at Glasgow’s Anderson’s College, the college Strathclyde University grew from, which is why the university keeps links with the African country.

Since 1999, the Graduates Association has raised more than £180,000 for health and educational projects in Malawi including the money raised at last week’s fashion show which is driven by microbiologist Dr Rose Mary Harley who convinces busy people such as Professor Curtice to volunteer to be models.

“I just tell them I won’t publish my detailed diaries of what’s been going on at the university if they take part,” she jokes. Or at least I think she is joking.

Dave Anderson, the actor and songwriter, and Liz Kristiansen, the former STV continuity announcer who became a college lecturer and actor, are the comperes. On stage are colourful depictions of African life, and Dave studies the set before asking the audience: “Tell me there really is a pink elephant over there and I’m not imagining it.”

An audience of about 100 have bought tickets for the show, fashion stores and designers have lent their clothes, the models are volunteers and even the make-up artists have given their time for free.

There is also a raffle with stores and restaurants in Glasgow giving donations, and there is an auction with a painting donated by artist Sandie Gardner and a ruby and sapphire necklace donated by Lady Bette Stone. Dave’s gentle cajoling raises £2,000 for each, ensuring that the night in total will bring in over £10,000.

And as Norman Wagstaffe says: “In Malawi, small amounts of money can go a long way.” He tells me about two girls attending school who are deaf. Their future looked bleak, but they are skilled seamstresses, and buying them treadle sewing machines will ensure they can earn a living after school, with a contract to supply uniforms for the school they attend.

Nor is it just about handouts. The university’s projects in Malawi include helping to educate the country’s future teachers, health-workers and engineers. A David Livingstone Clinic was built.

But Strathclyde’s engineering skills were not forgotten either. The Gorodi Road Project came about when it was discovered that the road along the shore of Lake Malawi was in such poor condition that three patients a month were dying just being taken along the road to hospital.

Strathclyde engineers trained locals to help them build a better road, and thus save lives.

So the money raised at the fashion show will actually change people’s lives. As Dr Harley once told The Herald: “I am not saying I am a Goody Two-Shoes, but I think you have got to help your fellow man.You can look at situations and say, ‘yes, those people do require my help, and maybe I can do something about it’.”

It’s a sentiment repeated at charity events throughout the country. We are fortunate there are many good people in Scotland, even if they are not all dressed as Batman.