The Scottish Government has tasked College Development Network (CDN) with reviewing the existing Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges, to deliver a modernised set of workforce development standards for the national college sector.  

The Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges is a framework which sets out the competencies required for lecturers to deliver an outstanding service to learners. They consist of Initial Standards, which underpin the Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE), and a suite of Continuing Professional Development Standards. The Initial Standards were revised in 2012 and the CPD Standards remain unchanged since their introduction in 2006.  

Now, the modernisation of the Standards will embed the rapid changes seen across the learning and teaching landscape in recent years. It will also address advances made in technology and consider what that means for today’s practitioners and learners. 

Jim Metcalfe, Chief Executive of CDN, said:

We are delighted to be leading on this critical work for the college sector, in partnership with the Scottish Government. CDN is proud to be the formal guardian and developer of the Standards, and we are determined to deliver an excellent, modernised and user-friendly framework. Our ambition is to ensure that the Standards are fit for the needs of college lecturers and students today, and into the future.

Work to review the Standards will begin later this month and will be overseen by a Steering Group, which will be chaired by Mhairi Harrington, Principal of West Lothian College.

Mhairi Harrington, Principal of West Lothian College, said:

The College Sector places a great deal of value in developing highly professional staff and sees this review as an excellent opportunity to match our new Standards with the future needs of learners and stakeholders.

The work will include wide consultation with college staff and key stakeholders and will run throughout the academic year. It is anticipated that the review of the Standards will be completed in Summer 2018.

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