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 STEP Day and final Network gathering of the academic year – bringing together more than 60 colleagues from across the tertiary sector.
Hosted at Glasgow Caledonian University, the event showcased strong progress across STEP projects. Teams from Appreciating Belonging and Enabling Change: From Strategy to Practice, Regional Enhancement and Collaboration in Tertiary Scotland (REACTS), and Supporting Neurodivergent Students with Professional Dialogue in Work-Based Learning Settings provided updates on their work, highlighting collaboration and shared learning across the programme.
A key highlight was an interactive LEGO® Serious Play session led by CDN’s Valerie Jackman, encouraging delegates to explore collaboration, challenge and change through a creative, hands-on approach. The day also included networking and reflection on STEP’s second year.
Momentum continued the following day with the 2026 STEP conference, Stepping Over the Threshold: Belonging and Inclusion in Scotland’s Tertiary Sector, which attracted exceptionally high interest from across Scotland’s tertiary sector.
The conference focused on belonging, inclusion and the transitions shaping learner experiences. Delegates took part in keynote sessions, provocations, workshops and lightning talks designed to support enhancement across the sector.
The conference opened with a Provocations Panel chaired by CDN’s Gordon Hunt. Panellists included Colin Campbell, student at New College Lanarkshire; Joanna Campbell, Principal and CEO of Glasgow Kelvin College; and Nazira Karodia, Professor of Science Education and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University. The panel reflected on the conference themes and wider sector efforts to support diverse learner journeys.
A series of lightning talks highlighted practice across work-integrated learning, neurodiversity support in practice-based settings, student and staff experiences of learning, and approaches to strengthening belonging through curriculum design and mentoring.
Workshops led by STEP project teams and partners explored inclusive assessment, regional collaboration, personalised support in STEM pathways, disabled student experiences, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and student voice and representation.
Keynotes included spoken word poet Bethany Rose, who delivered An Invitation to the Party, and surprise guest Robin Ince, with Letting the Wild Minds and the Quiet Minds Thrive, both offering creative and thought-provoking perspectives on inclusion and learning.
The conference also featured welcome remarks from Mairi Watson and Julie Grace and closing reflections from Helen Scott, Co-Chairs of the STEP Steering Group. Catherine Canning and Eilidh Fulton exhibited findings from the NEO Thematic Review, Safety and Belonging in Tertiary Education.
Together, STEP Network event 8 and the national conference demonstrated strong collaboration across Scotland’s tertiary sector and a shared commitment to inclusive, supportive and empowering learning experiences.
