Hello
CDN Update
I hope this action-packed Update finds you safe and well.

We look forward to celebrating the Virtual College Awards with you on Thursday 3 December. The awards celebrate the talent and skills of staff and learners, and truly showcase a sector that can innovate and succeed in the toughest of circumstances. The awards are free and open to all, and we look forward to welcoming you.

We are delighted to be welcoming a new member of the CDN team, Dougie Smith, who will take up the post of National Research and Improvement Manager. This new role will champion and support national research and performance enhancement activities across a range of different disciplines in Scotland’s colleges. Dougie will be joining us towards the end of next month.

We are excited to have supported the launch of the publication Digital Ambition for Scotland’s Colleges which was commissioned to provide evidence on the sector’s digital intentions. It has been created by the college sector, for the college sector. Discover more below.

If you haven't done so already, I highly recommend reading the new CDN Thought Leadership Series. The brand-new series of inspiring blogs come from a range of key experts covering topics including college delivery, digital innovation, and leadership.

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: jim.metcalfe@cdn.ac.uk
Jim Metcalfe, Chief Executive, CDN
Virtual CDN College Awards 2020
This year we received a record-breaking number of entries for the College Awards, a fantastic endorsement of the value of this special event. We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Awards is now online and can be viewed here.

Due to the current circumstances, we are going virtual for this year's awards. The virtual celebration on Thursday 3 December is free to attend and everyone is welcome. So get your glad rags on, raise a glass and join the party here.
CDN Welcomes Dougie Smith as National Research and Improvement Manager
CDN is delighted to announce the appointment of Dougie Smith as National Research and Improvement Manager.

The new role will champion and support national research and performance enhancement activities across a range of different disciplines in Scotland’s colleges.

Dougie has worked in education for all his professional life - as a teacher in secondary schools and as support staff in colleges and universities. Most recently he has been working as Development Manager at NUS Scotland.

The CDN team looks forward to welcoming Dougie into his new role.
New Digital Ambitions Report Published for the College Sector
The launch of publication Our Digital Ambition for Scotland’s Colleges took place on Friday 9 October, which was commissioned to provide evidence on the sector’s digital intentions. It has been created by the college sector, for the college sector.

The Report was developed through consultation with hundreds of practitioners across Scotland’s college sector, including CDN, Colleges Scotland and Scottish Funding Council, as well as discussion with key partners in digital industries.
CDN Thought Leadership Series
Our brand-new series of Thought Leadership guest-blogs continues…

Read our latest guest blogs:

  • Campaign to prevent Gender Based Violence in Education by Fiona Drouet, founder of the charity Emily Test. Read here
  • Face coverings – The impact on the deaf and hard of hearing community by Alison Hendry, British Sign Language Development Officer at The University of Edinburgh. Read here
  • Sport and physical activity in Scotland’s colleges by Stew Fowlie, Chief Operating Officer of Scottish Student Sport. Read here

Our guest blogs come from a range of key experts covering topics including college delivery, digital innovation, and leadership. We recognise how important it is to collaborate and share best practice so that the college workforce can continue to grow, improve, lead, and enhance student success. We hope you find our guest-blog series inspiring and thought-provoking.
Get into Governance - Free Virtual Workshop
Joining a board is a great way to enhance your skills, expand your professional networks and make a difference to your local community.

Join CDN and Changing the Chemistry at our free Get into Governance virtual workshop on 9 November to find out more about becoming a board member and hear about our new Get into Governance training programme, offering you a suite of online training modules to get you ready for your first step into the world of governance.
Virtual Bridge Webinars
We bring you our popular digital learning series, Virtual Bridge Webinars, delivered in partnership with Jisc. The 30-minute sessions run twice a week (Tuesday and Friday, 11am) and anyone can join for free!

Putting Staff Wellbeing First

Are you looking for advice on ways to be proactive and take control of your wellbeing in these uncertain times?

Watch back our Virtual Bridge webinar Putting Staff Wellbeing First all about staff wellbeing, delivered by Sandy MacLean, Curriculum and Teaching Lead at CDN.


Missed a webinar?

Don't worry, all recordings are available to view online here.
Partner News: John Muir Award in Scotland’s colleges 2019-20
John Muir Trust's annual 'John Muir Award in Scotland’s Colleges 2019/20 summary' is now available.

The summary highlights some key reference points and resources that can help college staff who are looking to make the most of outdoor spaces as part of blended learning approaches.
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