Hello
CDN Update

I hope you are well and looking forward to the Easter break.

This week we kick started College Expo exploring the theme 'Developing Practice Across Tertiary Education', with inaugural College Expo Roadshow at Borders College, exploring 'Student Experience'. This Roadshow is the first of three lively face-to-face panel sessions hosted by colleges around Scotland. Find out more below.

Also this week, Colleges across Scotland are opening their doors from 27 to 31 March to mark the first national Big College Open Week – aka #BigCOW. A host of exciting activities are taking place in colleges length and breadth of Scotland during the week. Organised by the College Development Network (CDN) Marketing and Communications Network, the purpose of the week is to demonstrate all that colleges offer – including the wide range of learning pathways and options open to students. Discover what's on offer here.

This edition marks my final Update as CDN's Chief Executive, a role I have truly loved over the past six years, as I take up post of Principal and Chief Executive at Fife College.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to all colleagues and college staff across the country who have continued to support CDN in developing colleges of the future.

The wonderful work of CDN will continue to flourish with its new Chief Executive appointment - Marie Hendry. Marie is currently Depute Director (External Engagement and Partnerships) at the Open University (OU) in Scotland and we look forward to welcoming her to CDN on 29 May.

In the meantime, we are delighted to welcome Grant Ritchie, CDN's Fellow and Associate Director, and former Principal of Dundee and Angus College as interim Chief Executive.
 
Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to working with you in this wonderful sector - telling the world why they should Choose College!
  
Jim Metcalfe, Chief Executive, CDN
College Expo23

College Expo is the most exciting professional learning event for tertiary education in Scotland. This year's theme explores: ‘Developing Practice Across Tertiary Education.’

College Expo Roadshow

In addition to the two-day Virtual College Expo, we’re excited to be extending College Expo this year by introducing the College Expo Roadshow, which includes three lively face-to-face panel sessions hosted by colleges around Scotland.

The first Roadshow took place on Tuesday 28 March, at Borders College, exploring 'Student Experience', recordings of this inspiring debate will be available here shortly.

Jump on board and join our expert panel to debate the following themes:
Thursday 20 April (1330-1600)
Professional Learning
Forth Valley College, Falkirk Campus
Thursday 25 May (1330-1600)
Curriculum Design
UHI Inverness
Virtual College Expo

Virtual College Expo returns this year to offer inspirational keynotes, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking seminars. Coming to your screen on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 June.

Watch this space for Virtual College Expo Programme and Sponsorship Opportunities. Register here.

Students’ Stories – in 2023 we welcome the hugely popular movie series: Students’ Stories back to Virtual College Expo. This year the focus will be on student pathways, celebrating and sharing real-life examples of learning pathways in action, from across Scotland – as told by the students themselves.
Please provide your short (max 5 minutes) videos in MP4 format, featuring student/s sharing the stories of their learning pathways and what that has meant to them. The videos will be hosted on CDN’s YouTube Channel and Virtual Expo Platform.

Please email student stories to expo@cdn.ac.uk by Friday 28 April 2023.
Big College Open Week 27-31 March
This year colleges across Scotland will come together for the very first Big College Open Week aka #BigCOW.

The week-long campaign kick started on Monday 27 March, and encourages colleges to open their doors and showcase all that the sector has to offer at a national level. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of the benefits and pathways offered by colleges – and we hope to demonstrate this through an exciting range of activities in every college through the week.

Big College Open Week is part of the #ChooseCollege collaborative national campaign, organised by the CDN Marketing and Communications Network, highlighting the importance of Scotland’s colleges and encourage potential students to – Choose College.
CDN Leadership and Governance Summit: Shaping Tertiary Education in Scotland
The CDN Leadership and Governance Summit, taking place via CDN's Virtual Conference Centre on Friday 28 April 2023, is the highlight of our annual National Leadership and Board development Programmes.
 
Titled Shaping Tertiary Education in Scotland, this year’s Summit will focus on developing a coherent tertiary system in Scotland and brings together sector leaders and board members from across the tertiary landscape to discuss how the college and university sectors can shape the future of tertiary education in Scotland.
 
The Summit will have an international focus, bringing case studies from around the world to share how others have shaped tertiary education. It will also explore the work currently ongoing internationally to align skills and meet the changing needs of learners, business and economies.
College Awards 2023 - Open For Entries!
We are delighted to announce that the CDN College Awards are now 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.
Partner News: QAA Scotland's International Enhancement Conference
QAA Scotland's 5th International Enhancement Conference, 'Shaping the Student Experience Together: 20 Years of Enhancement', will be held on 14-15 June 2023 at Glasgow Caledonian University in the heart of Glasgow's city centre.

The programme will offer an opportunity to:

  • Critically reflect on the impact of Scotland's enhancement-led approach to quality nationally and internationally
  • Engage with innovative practice developed through Resilient Learning Communities and the Enhancement Themes more broadly
  • Explore the role of an enhancement-led approach to quality in a tertiary education landscape.
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