• Researcher Development Programme

    Empowering College Staff with Research Skills to Elevate Practice and Boost Outcomes

    View the programme and register here
  • CDN Trauma-Informed College Programme

    The ambitious new Trauma-Informed College Programme is aimed at facilitating the creation of a trauma-informed culture in every college in Scotland.

    View the programme here
  • Enhancing learning together

    Step Forward is the CDN Research and Enhancement Centre’s new action research programme. Its purpose is to enhance practice across our colleges and develop the action research skills of college staff.

    View Step Forward here
  • Tune in to the Podcast series

    Research Matters Podcast Series hosted by the CDN Research and Engagement Team, shines a light on new and existing Reserach taking place in the Scottish college sector.

    Tune in here

CAIRN Journal

The CDN Research and Enhancement Centre hosts the Colleges Action Inquiry Research Network (CAIRN) Journal. 

The Journal aims to be an important voice in the scholarship of the Scottish college sector. It aims to provide a forum to disseminate innovation, knowledge and critical insights through a variety of scholarly submissions from active researchers in colleges. 

You can find out more and read previously published articles on the Journal’s web page below.

Find out more here

Aims and objectives of the CDN Research and Enhancement Centre

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To coordinate existing research and enquiry work in an easily accessible central location to allow key recommendations and themes to be displayed and explored

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To drive new research and enquiry in the Scottish college sector – ensuring it is relevant, applicable and useful

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To drive the improvement work emerging from the research, ensuring that the findings of any research are taken forward in a collaborative way for the enhancement of college progress and student success

How the CDN Research and Enhancement Centre will work:

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We will provide an information hub for existing published research relevant to Scotland’s colleges, keeping it up-to-date and drawing out key themes

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We will provide a framework for proposing new research and enquiry work, supporting and commissioning original research where appropriate

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We will support and drive the enhancement work arising from the research, working with networks and short-life working groups

Who we are

We are a small team dedicated to driving research and enquiry activity in Scotland’s colleges, to enhance performance and student success.

Victoria Underwood

Director of Operations & Strategic Planning


victoria.underwood@cdn.ac.uk

Gordon Hunt

Head of Insight, Planning & Impact


gordon.hunt@cdn.ac.uk

Paula Christie

Head of Delivery & Engagement


paula.christie@cdn.ac.uk

Grant Ritchie

Fellow and Associate Director at CDN


How to get involved

Looking to get involved in Research? Look no further - contact us today!