Sharpen Your Skills, Spark Insights, Stay Ahead – that’s the promise of #YourCDN, our refreshed hub supporting every college, every staff member, every step of the way.
CDN is here to help Scotland’s colleges grow, connect, and thrive. With the launch of our brand-new website, it’s now easier than ever to access the resources, insights, and opportunities you need – faster, clearer, and all in one place.
What’s on #YourCDN
- Sharpen Your Skills – events, CPD, and on-demand LearnOnline courses
- Spark Insights – networks, communities, research, and projects
- Stay Ahead – the latest news, views, and sector thinking
- Showcasing Colleges – celebrating excellence across the sector
Discover More
Your new home for everything CDN is live. Explore events, publications, news, and resources to keep you informed and inspired.
In just 60 seconds, see how #YourCDN supports you, your role, and Scotland’s colleges.
Learning On Demand
Access flexible CPD with CDN LearnOnline – courses, toolkits, and resources updated regularly.
Plan Your Pathway
Explore our latest brochure for a complete guide to learning, networks, and professional support.
Discover #YourCDN today.
Starting a new role in the college sector – or refreshing your knowledge – can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re excited to launch Understanding Colleges Today, a free online course on CDN LearnOnline.
The course has been designed to provide a clear and engaging introduction to Scotland’s colleges. Blending interactive activities, videos and reflective exercises, it aims to build confidence and deepen understanding of how the sector works.
Jo Turbitt, CDN’s Insight and Innovation Partner and creator of the course, has introduced Understanding Colleges Today in a short video below, giving learners the chance to discover the course in just 60 seconds.
What the course covers:
- The College Landscape – an interactive introduction to Scotland’s colleges, key organisations and the wider tertiary sector.
- Finance Unplugged – accessible explanations of funding, budgets and financial management.
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Unpacked – practical guidance and real-world examples of fostering inclusive environments.
- People and Roles – interactive blueprints to help understand college structures and responsibilities.
- Curriculum Components – a journey map through curriculum design, processes and documentation.
- College Systems – an inside look at the infrastructure that supports teaching, learning and administration.
- Reflection – guided activities to help learners consider their values, strengths and areas for growth.
The course is free, flexible and designed to support both onboarding and ongoing professional development.
Understanding Colleges Today is now live on CDN LearnOnline. Whether you’re starting a new role or looking to refresh your knowledge, it offers the perfect starting point to explore Scotland’s colleges.
CDN and QAA are thrilled to announce that Emma MacIsaac, President of North East Scotland College Students’ Association, has been appointed as the new College Student Topic Lead for STEP (Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme).
This is an exciting appointment for STEP, the national programme for colleges and universities managed jointly by CDN and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).
Emma will join the core team of four STEP Topic Leads – two staff and two students, representing both colleges and universities – who act as sector-level champions of enhancement across Scotland. Together, they provide leadership, insights, and expertise to drive improvement and innovation in learning and teaching.
Along with our University Student Topic Lead, Adelayo Adebayo (University of Stirling), Emma will represent students in STEP’s various governance groups, highlight student-led perspectives at STEP events, and contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the programme.
Emma said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as College Sector Student STEP Topic Lead. I look forward to representing students at a national level and helping to drive positive change within Scotland’s tertiary education sector.”
Emma’s appointment brings fresh energy and student leadership to STEP at a pivotal moment as the sector prepares to launch a number of exciting collaborative projects. Her experience, passion, and commitment to enhancing the student experience will be invaluable in shaping the direction of sector-wide enhancement activity.
We are delighted to welcome Emma into this important leadership role and look forward to working with her as she helps ensure that the student voice continues to influence and inspire Scotland’s tertiary education sector.
CDN is proud to announce the launch of the Tertiary Self-Evaluation Toolkit (TSET) – a brand-new online resource designed to guide institutions through self-evaluation and support the creation of Self-Evaluation and Action Plans (SEAPs). The toolkit is now available on CDN LearnOnline.
Co-created with QAA Scotland and partners from across the tertiary sector, the TSET is a key element of the Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework. It empowers institutions to carry out robust, reflective, and continuous self-evaluation that drives enhancement, informs strategic planning, and ensures consistency in national reporting.
Interactive, Flexible, and Practical
The toolkit is designed to be interactive and easy to use – enabling staff to engage with self-evaluation in short, focused bursts rather than through lengthy processes. A standout feature is its series of podcasts and case studies, which showcase real-world experiences and practical approaches to self-evaluation across Scotland’s tertiary sector.
Practical Insights – Real Experiences from the Sector
At the heart of the toolkit is the UHI Inverness case study, Milestones and Horizons. This central resource takes users through the full journey of creating a SEAP, offering practical ideas and challenge questions to guide institutions step by step. Alongside this, other case studies provide additional perspectives: Dundee and Angus College explores applying the toolkit in practice, Edinburgh Napier University shares its experience of embedding a culture of self-evaluation, and SRUC highlights how curriculum review can plant the seeds of meaningful change. Together, these examples provide rich insights and lived experiences that bring the toolkit to life.
The Toolkit Also Offers:
- Guidance links to resources from the Scottish Funding Council, QAA Scotland, and sparqs
- Information sheets on embedding a self-evaluation culture, making best use of data, and more
- Approaches and insights on student engagement, practitioner perspectives, and partner contributions
- Evaluation sessions with practical advice, podcasts, and top tips
Part of a Wider National Commitment
The launch of the TSET marks one of two flagship projects being delivered by CDN through the TQEF. Alongside Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) – delivered by CDN and QAA Scotland, and funded by the Scottish Funding Council – it reflects a shared commitment to collaboration, innovation, and the continuous enhancement of learning experiences across Scotland’s tertiary education system.
Explore the Tertiary Self-Evaluation Toolkit now and see how it can support your institution’s journey.