Welcome

This month we are really pleased to share some important updates, opportunities, and upcoming events. 

We are delighted to announce that CDN has secured funding through the Digital Xtra Fund to develop a ground-breaking web application. The app will help next generation programmers, so critical to the national workforce and economy, to learn vital coding skills. It will be a welcome additional resource for computing lecturers, providing a series of computing challenges linked to SQA qualification frameworks. The involvement of industry partners could also see real life career paths described. We're keen to work with colleges to develop future challenges, please do get in touch if your computing department is interested.

Meanwhile, we are also involved in promoting exciting overseas opportunities for college staff and students as part of the Erasmus+ programme. The project is being driven hand in hand with the excellent CDN International Network, one of the 23 Networks hard at work across the sector in 2017.

Lastly - was your college shortlisted for our Marketing Awards 2017? Many congratulations if so. Don't miss the chance to celebrate their success on Thursday 9 March at the awards ceremony. I hope to see you there.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss our work in more detail: jim.metcalfe@cdn.ac.uk   

    
Jim Metcalfe, Chief Executive, College Development Network (CDN)

 

Digital Xtra success  
CDN has won funding from Skills Development Scotland to develop a sustainable digital platform that will engage and inspire Scotland's next generation of digital makers. One of ten selected initiatives, our project is called 'Can You Code it?' and is designed to help young programmers develop their Python coding skills through a series of weekly challenges.
Find out more.
 
CDN Marketing Awards 2017
    
Marketing teams across the college sector are looking forward to a night of celebration on Thursday 9 March. View the shortlisted colleges. Now in their 19th year, the Awards are the must-attend event in the college marketing calendar. They honour the outstanding staff who help to communicate the work colleges do to serve Scottish learners and communities.
Book your place at the Marketing Awards.
 
International opportunities for staff and students 
CDN is working with Erasmus+ to raise awareness of overseas training and vocational opportunities open to college lecturers and students. Complemented by the work of our new International Network, we will be delivering a series of workshops across the country in colleges. The opportunities we will explore include overseas vocational training for students, teaching and training for lecturers and working abroad.
Find out more.

'Less teaching, more learning'

That's the subject for discussion at our second Glasgow TeachMeet event - bringing educators together to share good practice, practical innovations and personal insights. The event is hosted by City of Glasgow College with support from CDN, and takes place on 7 March at Riverside Campus, City of Glasgow College.
Sign up for this TeachMeet event.

Weekly round-up of college news   
Every Friday CDN issues an online round-up of what's been happening across the college sector. It's free and very quick and easy to sign up. Do please let us know if there is anything that you would like us to add to the round-up, too.
Take a look at the latest version and subscribe.

     

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