College Welcomes National Learner Development Network for Landmark Summer Meeting

City of Glasgow College proudly hosted the summer meeting of ScotHELD on Friday 8 May, welcoming learner development professionals and student support practitioners from across Scotland’s tertiary education sector for a day of collaboration, innovation and shared practice.

The event, hosted by the College’s Skills Development Service, marked a significant milestone as the first ScotHELD gathering ever to be hosted by a college, recognising the increasingly important role colleges play in shaping learner success, widening access and driving innovation across tertiary education.

Opened by Siobhan Wilson, the event featured a keynote address from Professor John McKendrick, Commissioner for Fair Access, alongside interactive sessions led by colleagues from Edinburgh Napier University, LEAPS, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen and City of Glasgow College’s own Skills Development team.

Centred around the theme “Learning development in the tertiary sector: what can HE and FE learn from each other?”, the meeting explored how further and higher education institutions can work together to better support learners throughout their educational journeys. Discussions focused on partnerships, progression pathways, widening access, lifelong learning and the ways learning development can support students at key transition points.

The programme also highlighted the importance of learning development across diverse educational contexts, examining how vocational, professional and practice-based programmes can shape approaches to learner support and academic development.

Delegates also had the opportunity to engage with the wider Student Experience directorate through information stalls hosted by Library Services, City Welcomes and Get Ready for College, showcasing the breadth of support available to students at City of Glasgow College.

The event was organised by Skills Development Advisors Hannah Ferguson and Gloria Brown, with support from the wider Skills Development team, including Student Engagement Officers Kerry Rafferty, Fiona Cirlinaru and Brittney Nathaniel.

Hannah Ferguson, Skills Development Advisor at City of Glasgow College and Co-Chair of ScotHELD, said:

“It was a privilege to host this year’s ScotHELD summer meeting and welcome colleagues from across Scotland’s tertiary sector. The event created valuable opportunities to share practice, strengthen partnerships between further and higher education, and explore how learning development can continue to support student confidence, achievement and progression.”

The successful event further strengthens City of Glasgow College’s reputation as a leader in learner development, student experience and inclusive educational practice, while reinforcing the value of collaboration across Scotland’s tertiary education landscape.