CDN launched its ground-breaking Fellowship programme two years ago.

The first and only programme of its sort for the college sector, CDN’s Fellows support the development of key innovations that benefit the whole college sector. They bring an ambitious perspective to the work of the organisation and the wider college sector.

Now, CDN has achieved a major new development in its Programme with the appointment of former Principal of Dundee and Angus College, Grant Ritchie as a Fellow and Associate Director.
Highly regarded within the sector and beyond, Grant was responsible for the growth of creative and cultural industries in Dundee College, the development of the award-winning Space Dance Centre, and the £50m redevelopment of the Gardyne campus.

He sits on a range of local Boards and Committees and is past Chair of the Angus Community Planning Partnership. Nationally he has chaired the Energy Skills Partnership, leading the college sector in industry engagement. He also led SQA’s HN Next Generation Project and was awarded the SQA Fellowship in 2017.

Grant said:

‘I am delighted to have been asked to become part of the fellowship programme at CDN, and to be able to continue to support the college sector in this way and at this critical time.

I am passionate about the ways that colleges can transform the lives of people in the community, and I want to see them driving economic recovery by working with business to make sure the right skills are in the right place at the right time.

‘I very much look forward to being part of delivering a continued positive impact on the college sector by CDN.’

Jim Metcalfe, Chief Executive of CDN said:

‘I warmly welcome Grant’s appointment. He is an outstanding colleague, and a nationally respected education leader and innovator. Grant’s knowledge and experience of the college sector will play a critical role in driving forward our ambitions at CDN, particularly as we grow our practical research and thought leadership initiatives in the coming years. Our Board and staff team are excited to be working with him.’