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3 September 2026 News

CDN College Awards 2026: Shortlist Announced! 

CDN is delighted to reveal the shortlist for the CDN College Awards 2026, celebrating the outstanding talent, dedication and achievements of Scotland’s colleges, their staff and learners.  This year, we received a phenomenal 195 entries from colleges across Scotland, showcasing the breadth of inspiring work taking place across the sector. From innovative approaches and outstanding […]
31 August 2026 Blogs

Launching our Strategy 2026-2030: Every College, Every Step of the Way

Blog Post by Marie Hendry, CEO, and Dr Ken Thomson OBE DL, Chair Whenever we’re asked what gives us confidence about the future of Scotland’s colleges, the answer is always the same: the people. Across the sector, we meet colleagues who are passionate about their learners, committed to their communities and determined to make a […]
19 August 2026 News

CDN launches new Strategy 2026–30: Every College, Every Step of the Way

College Development Network (CDN) has launched its new Strategy 2026–30, Every College, Every Step of the Way, setting out how it will support Scotland’s colleges to navigate change, strengthen practice and maximise their impact for learners, employers and communities over the next four years. As the national development and enhancement agency for Scotland’s colleges, CDN’s […]
13 August 2026 News

Elevate LT returns for 2026–27 to support learning and teaching enhancement

Following the success of its first-year pilot, CDN’s Elevate LT programme is returning for 2026–27, providing colleges across Scotland with the opportunity to access fully funded places on this professional learning opportunity. Delivered in partnership with TeachingHOW2s, Elevate LT supports educators to explore and apply evidence-informed teaching approaches, build confidence in their practice and share […]
3 July 2026 News

CDN College Awards 2026 celebrate outstanding response with 195 entries

Entries for the CDN College Awards 2026, proudly delivered by CDN, are now officially closed, and we are delighted to share an incredible 195 submissions from colleges across Scotland. This fantastic response is a true celebration of the talent, creativity, and innovation thriving across the sector. Year after year, the College Awards shine a spotlight […]
3 July 2026 News

Elevate LT returns to enhance learning and teaching practice across Scotland’s colleges

CDN’s Elevate LT programme returns for its second year, continuing to provide a practical, evidence-based professional learning opportunity designed to strengthen learning and teaching practice across Scotland’s college sector. Developed in partnership with TeachingHOW2s, the programme supports staff to embed transformative approaches and evidence-based teaching techniques, enhanced through innovative digital tools, including AI-supported resources. The […]
30 June 2026 News

CDN Annual Review 2025/26: Showcasing a Year of Impact Across Scotland’s Colleges

As the academic year comes to a close, CDN has published its Review of the Year 2025/26, highlighting a year of progress, collaboration, and impact across Scotland’s college sector. The annual review reflects CDN’s ongoing commitment to supporting Scotland’s colleges, staff, and students, with a focus on strengthening leadership, enhancing professional practice, and driving continuous […]
30 June 2026 News

June CDN Update: Celebrating Impact, Innovation and Opportunity Across Scotland’s Colleges

As the academic year comes to a close, this month’s #YourCDN Update reflects on progress, collaboration and innovation across Scotland’s college sector – showcasing the work supporting staff, students and leaders to thrive in a changing landscape. A key highlight this month is the publication of the CDN Annual Review 2025/26, capturing a year of […]
24 June 2026 News

STEP seeks student topic leads

We are seeking expressions of interest from current students based in the Scottish tertiary education sector to become topic leads for Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP). We are looking to appoint one-college-based student topic lead and one university-based student topic lead. We are looking to appoint individuals who continuing their studies through academic year 2026-27 […]
24 June 2026 News

CAIRN Journal Issue 5 Now Published

The Colleges Action Inquiry Research Network (CAIRN) Journal is pleased to announce the publication of Issue 5, now available to read online here. CDN is proud to host the CAIRN Journal, a key platform supporting practitioner-led scholarship and research within Scotland’s college sector. The journal continues to provide a space for college-based educators and researchers […]
23 June 2026 News

JPAAP: Call for Submissions: College Edition

Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) is pleased to support this special College Edition of the Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice (JPAAP). STEPping over the threshold and beyond – supporting diverse learner journeys across colleges and universities Nearly two years on from the launch of Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme, we are delighted (alongside CDN […]
8 June 2026 News

Pass the Ball for Scotland

Famous college alumni come together to celebrate a once‑in‑a‑generation World Cup moment. As Scotland prepares to return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 28 years, the country’s colleges today launch a new nationwide campaign celebrating ambition, opportunity and national pride. Featuring some well-known alumni including chef Tom Kitchin, ex-Scotland footballer Darren […]
28 May 2026 News

May CDN Update: Strengthening Safety, Leadership and Inclusion Across Scotland’s Colleges

This month’s #YourCDN Update highlights the collaboration, innovation, and opportunities supporting Scotland’s college sector, with a focus on strengthening leadership, inclusion, and practice across the system. This month, we’re pleased to highlight the launch of Creating Safer Colleges — a practical toolkit developed by CDN in partnership with Colleges Scotland. The resource supports colleges to […]
28 May 2026 News

Scotland’s tertiary sector gathers in force for STEP Network event 8 and national conference on learner journeys

Scotland’s tertiary sector came together in force this week as Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) hosted a vibrant programme of events at Glasgow Caledonian University, leading to a high-demand national conference attended by more than 200 delegates from across Scotland. The week began on Tuesday 26 May with STEP Network event 8 – the eighth […]
26 May 2026 Blogs

Creating Safer Colleges: Strengthening Our Collective Response to Gender-Based Violence

This blog post, written by CDN’s Delivery and Engagement Partner and co-editor of the toolkit, Dr Gail Toms, introduces Creating Safer Colleges: A Practical Toolkit to Strengthen College Responses to GBV and Harassment. It explores how the toolkit supports Scotland’s colleges to strengthen prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV) and harassment through practical guidance, […]
26 May 2026 News

New toolkit launched to strengthen college response to gender-based violence

CDN in partnership with Colleges Scotland and stakeholders across the sector, has launched Creating Safer Colleges: A practical toolkit to strengthen college responses to gender-based violence (GBV) and harassment. The toolkit brings together practical guidance, evidence, and specialist expertise to support colleges in preventing and responding to GBV and harassment, and in creating safe, inclusive […]
20 May 2026 News

STEP projects drive forward innovation across Scotland’s tertiary sector

Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP), a sector-owned initiative funded by the Scottish Funding Council, is continuing to deliver ambitious, sector-wide collaboration and innovation across colleges and universities. The current cycle focuses on Supporting Diverse Learner Journeys, exploring how institutions can better understand and respond to learners at key transition points. As projects gather momentum across […]
5 May 2026 News

New Masterclasses support college leaders on strategic risk and political engagement

CDN, in partnership with Colleges Scotland, has launched the latest sessions in its Masterclass series for college senior leaders and board members. Designed to support leadership across the tertiary sector, these expert-led sessions focus on two critical areas: managing strategic risk and governance, and engaging effectively with government and parliamentary processes. Delivered by facilitators from […]