Hello
CDN Update

We hope that you continue to be safe and well.

We're delighted to have announced the shortlist for the CDN College Awards 2021! The Awards recognise the talent, innovation and achievement demonstrated by our colleges, their staff and their learners. This year we received a record-breaking 150 inspiring entries highlighting the great work of Scotland's colleges. The winners will be announced at a LIVE celebration ceremony at Radisson Blu, Glasgow on Thursday 9 December 2021.

Next Wednesday, we launch the first ever college sector Climate change conference. This free, online conference is designed for anyone involved or with an interest in the college sector’s response to the climate emergency. Find out more about this exciting conference below, and I hope to see you there.

As ever, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to talk about any aspect of our work, if you'd like to suggest new ways that we can support you, or share experiences and great practice that colleagues in the sector would find useful. You can email me at: [email protected]
Jim Metcalfe, Chief Executive, CDN
College Climate Change Conference
Wednesday 06 October 1000-1415
Taking place in advance of COP26, this major conference will provide a strategic overview of the climate change actions that the college sector should be engaged in. It will consider what more the sector could be doing to contribute to national Net Zero targets, as well as development of skills for the renewable sector and a greener future.
CDN Research and Enhancement Centre
Starting the new academic year with a bang!
In recent blog 'Starting the new academic year with a bang!' Gordon Hunt, CDN Associate (Research and Enhancement Centre), shares a short update on current Research projects...

It’s been a big month for the CDN Research and Enhancement Centre, with the launch of several new pieces of research. These illustrate the range of areas of practice the Centre is engaging with, from the digital capabilities required of our college staff, through the effectiveness of college governance to the range, scale and characteristics of partnerships between colleges and schools.

There’s plenty more in the pipeline too, as our four strands of action research leading on from this year’s Virtual College Expo are taken forward by members of our pool of research associates. You can expect to see initial outputs from these strands, covering approaches to curriculum design, high impact learning, professional learning, and the student experience, in the near future.
Let's Get Digital!
With CDN's Podcast and Webinar Series
Pedagogy Matters Podcast Series

Our well-developed Podcast series - Pedagogy Matters kick started again last week with Walter Patterson - Lead Researcher - discussing the recently published Digital Capability: A Scottish Landscape Review report.
Don't miss next Wednesday's Podcast, when we chat to Dr Lee Coutts about Transformative Learning and Teaching.


Virtual Bridge Webinar Series

In partnership with Jisc, we continue to deliver the popular Virtual Bridge Webinar Series. These 30-minute sessions have been designed to support college staff in delivering remote learning and teaching.

Upcoming Virtual Bridge Webinar sessions include:

  • Supporting Hybrid Teaching and Learning with a Hybrid Library Service with Jill Reid, North East Scotland College
  • Mental Health Matters - Animating the Message with Alan Amon, North East Scotland College
  • Engaging Young Learners in STEM with Rebecca Blyth, Fife College
  • North East Scotland College’s Use of Digital Toolkits to Respond to Digital Needs with Amy Wilson, North East Scotland College

Management and Leadership Development
Take the next step in your career
Introduction to a Career in Social Care
Online course coming soon!

Introduction to a Career in Social Care is a brand new six-week, fully funded, part time, online tutor-supported course. Currently under development, it will be available from Scottish colleges from October 2021 to the end of March 2022.

The course will introduce students to a career in Social Care, where opportunities are many and varied.
Events and online resources
Supporting your professional learning

We continue to offer a wide range of events, courses and online resources to support your professional development. Take a moment to see what's on offer in our events section of the website, and on

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