Join us for Virtual College Expo21 – two incredible days featuring a wide range of interactive sessions and activities for everyone involved in post-16 education and training…
CDN’s annual College Expo event will take place online on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 June. This year’s theme is ‘Press the reset button: Reimagining college learning and life’, which we hope will generate plenty of conversations around the adjustments that have worked well during the Coronavirus pandemic, what we can take forward, and how that could alter and enhance college learning and life in the future.
We are delighted to be joined by Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, who will open the event at 10am on 9 June. Mr Hepburn will be followed by Edinburgh College graphic design lecturer and winner of the 2020 TES FE Teacher of the Year award Helena Good, who will deliver a keynote speech. Also speaking on Day 1 is Ollie Bray, Strategic Director at Education Scotland, who will offer a strategic perspective on the future of learning and teaching.
On Day 2 (Thursday 10 June), we are delighted to be joined by the world-record breaking MacLean Brothers. Join us at 10am to hear from Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan about how they managed to set three world records after rowing the Atlantic Ocean in just 35 days! We can’t wait to see CDN’s very own Sandy MacLean, Lead of Curriculum and Teaching, who is the brothers’ cousin, interviewing the trio and finding out how their determined mindsets kept them focused and motivated during their challenge.
New at College Expo this year are not one but five Round Table discussions, which will be chaired by Principals of Forth Valley College, Glasgow Clyde College, City of Glasgow College, Dundee and Angus College, and West Lothian College.
Choose from the following Roundtable discussions:
Wednesday 9 June
Round Table 1: Professional Learning, 12pm – Dr Ken Thomson OBE, Principal and Chief Executive, Forth Valley College
Confirmed panellists: Dr Pauline Stephen (GTCS), Carolyn Laird (New College Lanarkshire), Robin Ashton (Glasgow Kelvin College), Christine Calder (Dundee and Angus College), Professor Frank Rennie (Lews Castle College UHI).
Panellists will discuss how the past 15 months have shaped future approaches to professional learning; the priority areas for future professional learning; and what Professional Registration with GTCS means for future learning.
Roundtable 2: Student Experience, 2.30pm – Jon Vincent, Principal and Chief Executive, Glasgow Clyde College
Confirmed panellists: Eve Lewis (sparqs), Dorothee Lesie (Fife College), Iain Forster Smith (West College Scotland), Douglas Dickson (Dumfries and Galloway College), Anne Campbell (Ayshire College).
Panellists will look at approaches that have emerged over the last 15 months that will enhance the student experience moving forward; elements of the student experience that need to be prioritised in the return to greater levels of on-campus delivery; as well as elements of the student experience that need greater focus but which may require further support.
Roundtable 3: Management and Leadership, 4.15pm – Dr Paul Little, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, City of Glasgow College
Confirmed panellists: Stella McManus (South Lanarkshire College), Sarah-Jane Linton (West Lothian College), Jon Buglass (Edinburgh College).
Panellists will explore the competencies and skills required to be a college leader at all levels in the post-pandemic world; what we need to do to further develop agile, collaborative and inclusive leadership; how we can work with colleagues to develop leaders of change at every level.
Thursday 10 June
Round Table 1: Institutional Approaches to Curriculum Design, 11.45am – Simon Hewitt, Principal, Dundee and Angus College
Confirmed panellists: Professor Keith Smyth (University of the Highlands and Islands), Brian Hughes (Glasgow Clyde College), Jayne Gracie (Borders College).
Panellists will explore how the make-up of the curriculum has and will evolve to meet the changing needs of industry; the key issues for the 2021-22 academic session when designing and delivering the curriculum; and barriers and potential solutions to effective curriculum design.
Round Table 2: High impact learning, 2.15pm – Jackie Galbraith, Principal and Chief Executive, West Lothian College
Confirmed panellists: Fiona Grant (West Highland College), Jonny Pearson (Edinburgh College), Gus Grubb (City of Glasgow College), Eric Brownlie (Glasgow Clyde College), Gill Ritchie (Education Scotland).
Discussion will focus around approaches (online/face-to-face/blended/hybrid) to support high impact learning and teaching that have worked well over the past 15 months; views on aspects of pedagogy that lecturers should consider to maximise student learning both now and in the future.
Also new for 2021 is the Student Skills Arena, which will feature skills development approaches, focusing on how to develop skills remotely. Delegates will have the opportunity to view skills in action across industry sectors – and hear from the teaching teams and students behind them. Learn how Edinburgh College’s Performing Arts students worked collaboratively with staff to stream a performance on Instagram and find out how Perth College UHI’s Hospitality students got on when they were tasked with recreating the restaurant experience at home!
Find out more by viewing the Skills Arena Programme here.
College Expo 21 will also offer workshops on themes including: Supporting Mental Health, Developing Staff Digital Skills, Apps for Student Engagement, Creating the College of the Future, Big Data: Developing Curriculum, National Overview of Remote Learning, and many more! View the full list in the programme here.
What else can I expect?
- Find out who the next inspirational person is that will be inducted into the CDN College Hall of Fame
- Hear about how colleges can get involved in the World Skills UK Centre of Excellence
Jim Metcalfe, Chief Executive of CDN said: “I’m really looking forward to this year’s College Expo, which is taking place online for the second year. The past year has been tough for the college sector and this year’s conference and exhibition provides a great opportunity to bring colleagues together. We are keen to reflect on what aspects of college learning and delivery have worked well during the pandemic, to learn from what hasn’t worked as well, and to discuss what we want to take forward to enhance college learning and life. We’re looking forward to seeing you there on 9 – 10 June – don’t forget to check out the programme!”
Check out the full College Expo programme here.
Book your free place for College Expo21
