Meet Glasgow Kelvin College new principal as she reveals future plans

Glasgow Times

03-05-2025

Joanna Campbell, who took over in April following the retirement of Derek Smeall, has pledged to focus on innovation, sustainability, and social justice.
Ms Campbell previously served as the principal of Dumfries and Galloway College and vice principal at City of Glasgow College.
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She has a proven track record of environmental leadership, having led Dumfries and Galloway College to win three UK Green Gown Awards during her six-year tenure.
Joanna Campbell (Image: Supplied) Ms Campbell said: "This college has a clear mission – to serve some of the most deprived communities in Scotland, and to do so in a way that is bold, inclusive and future-facing.
"It's a purpose I feel deeply connected to.
"I can see clear alignment between that mission and the transformational work already being done."
In her first weeks in the role, Ms Campbell has been engaging with students, staff, employers, and community partners to understand their needs and identify areas where the college can do more.
This includes reaching parts of Glasgow that could gain from stronger educational pathways and strengthening strategic partnerships across sectors like construction, engineering, digital technologies, and health and social care.
She said: "We want to ensure our curriculum is fully aligned with the skills Glasgow needs for the future.
"Whether that's in health and care, sustainable construction, data and digital, or the green economy, we need to be responsive and ambitious."
As well as Net Zero, tackling child poverty is set to be a main priority.
With campuses serving some of Scotland's most economically challenged communities– in areas such as Springburn and Easterhouse – Ms Campbell views the college as having a vital role in improving life chances.
She said: "Colleges like Kelvin have a huge role to play in social mobility.
"We provide skills and qualifications, but also opportunity and hope.
"From ESOL and access courses right through to university access programmes, we create pathways for people who are often furthest from the labour market."
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Ms Campbell also acknowledges that the college sector is under pressure, describing it as a "perfect storm" of funding challenges, shifting learner expectations, and skills evolution.
She said: "Thanks to the leadership of my predecessor Derek Smeall during some of the most challenging times the sector has ever seen, we've been prudent, we've delivered against our targets, and now we have an opportunity to build on that work and grow further.
"But we need the system to recognise the scale of impact colleges make – particularly when we have seen a 17 per cent drop in funding since 2021/22.
'You can't advocate for something you don't fully understand.
'We'll be inviting changemakers into the college – we want them to experience what's happening here, to see the talent and potential that exists across our campuses.'