CDN College Awards 2024

Recognising the talent, innovation and achievement demonstrated by our colleges, their staff and their learners.

View Shortlist Summary Booklet here

College Awards 2024

Celebrating Talent, Innovation, and Success

The CDN College Awards took place on Thursday 14 November, at the Radisson Blu in Glasgow, with over 270 guests in attendance – making it the largest Scottish College Awards event to date. The evening celebrated the exceptional talent, innovation, and success of Scotland’s colleges, their staff, and their students.

This year’s event truly reflected the ambition and excellence within the sector, with a record-breaking 163 submissions from colleges across Scotland. You can explore the inspiring projects and testimonials in our interactive guide here.

We were thrilled to welcome back the fantastic Amy Irons as our host for the evening.

Our guest speaker, Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans, addressed the audience, highlighting the vital role colleges play in shaping Scotland’s future.

In addition to the presentation of 14 prestigious awards, the evening featured outstanding entertainment from UHI Perth students, showcasing the diverse talent nurtured within Scotland’s colleges.

This year was particularly meaningful as we marked the 25th anniversary of the CDN College Awards, celebrating the lasting impact Scotland’s colleges have on learners and communities across the country.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing sponsors for their continued support.

Photographs can be viewed here.

And congratulations to the winners listed below:

College Community Learning Award

Winner: Dundee and Angus College – Empowering the Linlathen Community

Highly Commended (JOINT): New College Lanarkshire – Women’s Aid Project

Highly Commended (JOINT): Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – Working with the Gaelic Community

Sponsored by:

Digital Learning Award

Winner: Dumfries and Galloway College – The ‘Digiplan’ Project

Highly Commended: Edinburgh College – Bridging the Skills Gap: Reskilling and Upskilling for a Digital Future

Commended: Fife College – Innovative Healthcare Pathways: Transforming Digital Learning

Sponsored by:

Employer Connections Award

Winner: Dundee and Angus College – Elevating Care through Culinary Excellence

Highly Commended: Ayrshire College – Empowering the Future: XLCC and Ayrshire College’s Innovative Pathway to Renewable Energy Careers

Commended: Dundee and Angus College – Inclusive Employability at Dundee and Angus College and NHS Tayside

Sponsored by:

Health and Wellbeing Award

Winner: Ayrshire College – Building Future Pathways: Wellbeing and Learning are Intrinsic

Highly Commended: Edinburgh College – Halls of Residence Engagement Project

Commended: West Lothian College – Embedding Mental Health First Aid Delivery to Support Student Health and Wellbeing

Sponsored by:

Inclusive College Award

Winner: Dundee and Angus College – Creating a College of Sanctuary

Highly Commended: West Lothian College – Empowering Difference in our LGBTQ+ Community

Commended: Edinburgh College – Black History and Representation in FE through Make-Up Artistry

Sponsored by:

Innovation Award

Winner: West College Scotland – The Bettii Pod

Highly Commended: Glasgow Clyde College – Wella Diploma

Commended: West Lothian College – CyberDrive: Accelerating the Take-Up of Digital Skills

Sponsored by:

Lecturer of the Year Award

Winner: Raymond Bremner – West Lothian College

Highly Commended: Becky Galbraith – Edinburgh College

Commended: Suzanne Thompson – West College Scotland

Sponsored by:

Marketing and Communications Award

Winner: Glasgow Clyde College – Swiftie Masterclass

Highly Commended: Glasgow Kelvin College – National Opportunity Day

Commended: West College Scotland – #WeAreWest Student Takeovers

Sponsored by:

Professional Services Colleague of the Year Award

Winner: Micole Cochrane – West Lothian College

Highly Commended: Kelly Mackenzie – UHI Inverness

Commended: Catherine McCormack – Edinburgh College

Sponsored by:

Research Project of the Year Award

Winner: New College Lanarkshire – Global Smiles: International Co-operation in Training Dental Nurses

Highly Commended: UHI Inverness – Development of a Research Pathway for all Staff

Commended: City of Glasgow College – AI Think, Therefore I Am

Sponsored by:

Skills Development Award

Winner: Dundee and Angus College – Multiplying Maths Skills

Highly Commended: Fife College – Developing Skilled Counsellors

Commended: West College Scotland – Sports Analyst Programme in Partnership with Kilmarnock FC

 

Sponsored by:

Student of the Year Award

Winner: Sumi Bhandari – Fife College

Highly Commended: Aidan Marmion – City of Glasgow College

Commended: Callum Keith – City of Glasgow College Students’ Association

Commended: Kenneth Tong – New College Lanarkshire

Sponsored by:

Sustainability Action Award

Winner: West Lothian College – A Whole College Approach to Net Zero

Highly Commended: Dumfries and Galloway CollegeD&G Sustainability Champion

Commended: UHI Moray – Under the Scissors

Sponsored by:

The Judges’ Award

Dundee and Angus College – Creating a College of Sanctuary

Sponsored by:

Meet the judges

Take a look back at last year

Last year's College Awards took place on Thursday 30 November at Radisson Blu in Glasgow with guests celebrating the talent and skills of staff and learners.

Find out more