CDN College
Awards 2025
The CDN College Awards, proudly delivered by CDN and supported by Title Sponsor SQA, took place on Thursday 4 December 2025 at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow, welcoming over 300 guests — our largest Awards yet.
The Awards celebrate the talent, skills, and achievements of colleges, staff, and learners, shining a spotlight on the innovation and excellence happening across Scotland’s college sector.
This year saw a record 199 submissions from colleges across Scotland, reflecting the ambition and creativity within the sector. Check out the interactive Shortlist Summary Booklet to explore inspiring projects and testimonials from all shortlisted entries.
The evening was hosted by Amy Irons and featured guest speaker Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education, who highlighted the vital role colleges play in shaping Scotland’s future.
Guests enjoyed entertainment from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, showcasing the exceptional talent nurtured within Scotland’s colleges, alongside the presentation of 13 prestigious awards.
2025 also marked the 26th anniversary of the CDN College Awards, celebrating the long-standing impact of Scotland’s colleges on learners and communities alike.
We loved sharing and showcasing the incredible work happening across Scotland’s college sector — this is #YourCDN
Congratulations to all the winners!
Watch the highlights and relive an unforgettable night of celebration
Winners
We’re delighted to announce the winners:
Winner: Glasgow Clyde College – Glasgow Clyde College Social Care Team
Highly Commended: New College Lanarkshire – The Undergraduate School
Commended: Dundee and Angus College – Leading the Pack @D&A
Sponsored by:
Winner: Dumfries and Galloway College – Empowering Communities: a co-Designed PDA for Scotland’s CLD Workforce
Highly Commended: Ayrshire College – Life Lessons: Ayrshire College and RAMH Wellbeing and Recovery College Breaking Barriers Together
Commended: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches
Sponsored by:
Winner: Glasgow Clyde College – Glasgow Code Learning
Highly Commended: Dumfries and Galloway College – Enhancing Digital and Inclusive Learning in Our College
Commended: UHI Moray – Digital Essentials for Carers
Sponsored by:
Winner: Glasgow Clyde College – Building Learners Onsite with Keepmoat Homes
Highly Commended: West College Scotland – Babcock International
Commended: UHI Inverness and Fife College – CECA Scotland Academy – A National Model for Employer-Led Skills Development
Sponsored by:
Winner: New College Lanarkshire – The Wellbeing Academies
Highly Commended: Glasgow Clyde College – Stay Well and Thrive at Glasgow Clyde College
Commended: Glasgow Kelvin College – Whole College, Whole Person: A Holistic Wellbeing Framework for Staff and Students
Sponsored by:
Winner: West College Scotland – A West Fashion Show: 4 Seasons in a Day
Highly Commended: South Lanarkshire College – We Promise to Care
Commended: UHI Perth – The International Integration Initiative
Sponsored by:
Winner: UHI North, West and Hebrides – For Peat’s Sake…
Highly Commended: Glasgow Clyde College – Introduction to Nursing Pathway
Commended: North East Scotland College – Student-centered Curriculum Redesign
Sponsored by:
Winner: Marion Darling – West Lothian College
Highly Commended: Arlene Robertson – Ayrshire College
Commended: Marleen Mowatt – North East Scotland College
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Winner: New College Lanarkshire – Cumbernauld Kids
Highly Commended: City of Glasgow College – Keep Getting Up – A Graduation Film
Commended: UHI North, West and Hebrides – Student Voices of the Highlands and Islands – a Digital Student Ambassador Programme
Sponsored by:
Winner: Monica McKerlie – Glasgow Kelvin College
Highly Commended: Tracy Johnston – Glasgow Clyde College
Commended: Chris Sumner – South Lanarkshire College
Sponsored by:
Winner: Dundee and Angus College – Sports Performance Lab @D&A
Highly Commended: Glasgow Kelvin College – More Than Music
Commended: Forth Valley College – Industry Transition Training Project
Sponsored by:
Winner: Dumfries and Galloway College – Net Zero Skills Centre
Highly Commended: UHI Moray – UHI Moray Just Transition Project
Commended: Glasgow Kelvin College – Cycling for All – Breaking Barriers to Sustainable Transport
Sponsored by:
Winner: Christopher Kaan Caudwell – UHI Perth
Highly Commended: Finlay McConnell – New College Lanarkshire
Commended: Adam Hutchison – UHI North, West and Hebrides
Sponsored by:
Sponsors
Proudly supported by our Title Sponsor, SQA, the awards recognise the talent, innovation and achievement demonstrated by our colleges, their staff and learners. #CollegeAwards
Meet the judges
Samantha Houten Feeley
Communication and Marketing Officer, Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership
Jason Miles-Campbell
Director, Jisc Scotland and Jisc Northern Ireland
Rachael Cochrane
Programmes and Engagement Manager, Association of Colleges
Professor Nazira Karodia MBE
Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice Principal of Learning and Teaching, Edinburgh Napier University
Abigail Kinsella
Development Manager, Skills Development Scotland
Caroline Hunter
National Manager for Scotland, Scottish Qualifications Authority
Dr Stephanie Thomson
Senior Lecturer in Educational Policy, University of Aberdeen
Eve Lewis
Director, Sparqs
Fiona Hutchison
Head of Research, Diffley Partnership
Kirsten Leask
Project Manager, Learning For Sustainability Scotland
Matt Woodthorpe
Scotland Programme Manager, EAUC
Rosemarie McIlwhan
Associate Professor of Digital Pedagogies and Practice, Heriot-Watt University
Sheila Macneill
Consultant, Teacher and Public Speaker
Steven Maclennan
Development Officer, CLD Standards Council Scotland
Walter Patterson
Walter Patterson Consultancy