Hello
CDN Update

Hello everyone, I'm so incredibly thankful for the support I've received over the past month as I begin my new role as CDN's Chief Executive. And what a fantastic month it's been!

We kick started the month with the CDN Marketing and Communications Conference where over 100 Marketing and Communications Professionals gathered to network and expand their knowledge in key areas such as digital skills, social media trends and AI. Find out more below.

Last week we celebrated the hugely successful Virtual College Expo23. The action-packed programme included 24 interactive workshops, 10 informative seminar sessions, plus truly inspiring keynote speakers. It was lovely to e-meet so many of you and we hope you found the programme beneficial to your role. Find out more below.

College Awards Entry Deadline Tomorrow - the deadline for College Awards entries is tomorrow at 5pm and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday 30 November at Radisson Blu, Glasgow. We look forward to receiving your award-winning entry!

We continue to offer a wide range of impactful Courses, Events and Research to support your professional development. Take a moment and have a look at what's on offer below and on CDN’s website.
Marie Hendry, Chief Executive, CDN
Virtual College Expo
Event Recap

Virtual College Expo 23 landed at a screen near you on Wednesday 21 June and Thursday 22 June with the theme, ‘Developing Practice Across Tertiary Education’.

Hundreds of delegates registered and attended this two-day virtual event which followed on from the recent Expo Roadshows at Borders College, Forth Valley College and UHI Inverness.

The Virtual College Expo programme offered a wide range of topics, including Digital Skills, Sustainability, Inclusion, Learning and Teaching, Leadership, and the beating heart of education - the Students' Voice.

This year's inspiring Keynote Speakers included:

  • Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans
  • Professor Nazira Karodia MBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice Principal of Learning and Teaching, Edinburgh Napier University
  • Morgan Dee, Director of AI and Data Science, EDUCATE Ventures Research

The action-packed programme also included 24 Interactive Workshops, 10 Informative Seminar Sessions and a fantastic 'Leadership of the Future' panel session!

Thanks to the hundreds of attendees, speakers and our wonderful sponsors who made the two days of Virtual College Expo such an incredible success!

Session recording will be made available shortly, watch this space...
Darren McGarvey inducted into the College Hall of Fame

On the first day of Virtual College Expo 2023, Darren McGarvey was inducted into the CDN College Hall of Fame.

The 12th inductee to the Hall of Fame, Darren McGarvey is an award-winning author, social commenter, broadcaster and musician. He studied HND Practical Journalism at Glasgow Clyde College, graduating in 2015. By the time Darren had started at the College, he was already drawing acclaim as Scottish rapper, Loki and became one of Scottish Hip Hop’s most influential artists. Darren said:

"I’m very happy to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Sometimes we’re so caught up in what we think we’re not doing right in this moment,
we don’t zoom out to actually how far we’ve come."
College Expo Roadshow

In addition to the two-day Virtual College Expo, we extended College Expo this year by introducing the College Expo Roadshow, which included three lively face-to-face panel sessions hosted by colleges around Scotland.

The hugely successful Roadshows took place at Borders College exploring Student Experience, Forth Valley College exploring Professional Learning and UHI Inverness exploring Curriculum Design.
Marketing and Communications Conference Event Recap
The CDN Marketing and Communications Conference took place on Thursday 8 June with over 100 Marketing and Communications professionals across Scotland’s college sector and wider tertiary landscape came together in June for their first in-person conference in four years.

A range of fantastic speakers addressed key topics identified by the CDN Marketing and Communications Network, including:

  • Student recruitment
  • Doing more with less
  • Marketing research
  • Video production
  • Cutting edge social media platforms
  • Insights
  • AI in marketing.

With 95% of delegates citing the event as excellent or very good at meeting their expectations and 80% rating the knowledge and experience of the presenters, the impact on the practice of college marketing professionals is very high. But the last word should go to this comment:

"This was my first CDN event and I didn’t know what to expect but I was blown away by it. Wonderful."
College Awards - Entry Deadline Tomorrow!
The CDN College Awards are open for entries!

The Awards recognise the talent, skills and achievements of colleges, their staff and their learners.

The deadline for entries is Friday 30 June 2023, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday 30 November at Radisson Blu, Glasgow.

Need some help with your entry? Check out our Top Tips to submitting your award-winning entry here.
CDN's Leadership Programmes

CDN’s Leadership Programmes aim to support you to lead with confidence and take the next step in your career.

We offer programmes for aspiring managers through to executive senior leadership development, alongside excellent coaching opportunities.

Discover more about our upcoming programmes with the first cohort starting in September, and take your next step today:
Emerging Leadership Programme

This course is designed for practising or aspiring managers and leaders. The primary role of a practising or aspiring manager and leader is to lead and manage individuals and teams to deliver aims and objectives in line with organisational strategy.

Completion of this course leads to CMI RQF Level 5 (SCQF level 8 SCQF) Certificate in Management and Leadership Practice certification.

Laura Young, North East Scotland College, Emerging Leaders Graduate shares her experience:

"A very positive experience for me which has been very beneficial personally and professionally. If you’re at all considering undertaking the course, do it,
you won’t regret it!"



Strategic Leadership Programme

This course is designed for senior managers and aspiring senior managers who have, or aim to have the authority and personal inspiration to translate organisational strategy into effective operational performance. The qualification requires managers to build on their strategic management and leadership skills and to focus on the requirements of implementing the organisation’s strategy.

Completion of this course leads to CMI RQF Level 7 (SCQF level 11) Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership certification.

Martin Boyle, Executive Director, Glasgow Colleges’ Regional Board, Strategic Leaders Graduate shares his experience:

"Highly recommended - great fun, thought provoking, and a really well considered step away from the daily challenges. I really enjoyed it.”
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