Latest news with #DumfriesandGallowayCollege
Scotsman
08-08-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Dumfries and Galloway College boosted by new SOSE investment to help tackle digital poverty
Dumfries and Galloway College (DGC) is proud to announce it has taken a significant step forward in addressing digital poverty and empowering student innovation, thanks to a £50,000 investment from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE). Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The funding has enabled the college to deliver a major upgrade to its wireless infrastructure and invest in a new range of modern laptops, boosting digital inclusion and enhancing learning opportunities for students across both the Dumfries and Stranraer campuses. These devices will be available to students to support their learning, drive innovation projects and explore entrepreneurial ventures. By equipping learners with the tools they need to succeed, the college aims to foster confidence, creativity and develop skillsets that align with regional and national ambitions for economic growth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the same time, the upgraded Wi-Fi access points have significantly improved campus-wide connectivity, ensuring students will benefit from a digitally secure and reliable learning environment. This is particularly vital for students from rural or lower-income backgrounds, where access to high-quality digital resources can often be a barrier to success. Douglas Dickson, Principal and CEO, Dumfries and Galloway College Kirstie Scrimgeour, Entrepreneurship Lead at SOSE, said: 'SOSE is delighted to support Dumfries and Galloway College with this digital inclusion and entrepreneurial development project. 'This assistance came from our Pathways programme, which is a Scottish Government-funded pilot supporting the ambitions of new and under-represented founders across the South of Scotland. 'Pathways provided specialist coaching to 269 existing or prospective business founders across the South in 2024/2025 to help kick-start their business ideas and build business confidence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'SOSE is continuing its efforts to work with all of our region's colleges to deliver more entrepreneurial activity this year as part of the Pathways Programme.' Douglas Dickson, Principal and CEO, Dumfries and Galloway College, said: 'We are grateful to South of Scotland Enterprise for this valuable investment. By improving our digital infrastructure and providing students with access to modern laptops, we are tackling digital poverty head-on and creating an inclusive, future-focused learning environment. 'These resources will support our students not only in their day-to-day studies, but also in developing entrepreneurial skills, testing new ideas and contributing to the economic future of the South of Scotland.'
Scotsman
14-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Scotland's colleges power a skilled workforce through quality apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) are a cornerstone of Scotland's strategy to develop a skilled, adaptable and resilient workforce. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... At the heart of this effort lies Scotland's college sector ─ an often unsung but highly effective network of institutions equipping thousands of learners with the real-world skills demanded by employers. As the national voice for colleges, Colleges Scotland proudly highlights the critical role education institutions play in delivering high-quality apprenticeship programmes, and a shining example of this is Dumfries and Galloway College (DGC). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A recent report by Education Scotland, External Review of Modern Apprenticeship Delivery by Dumfries and Galloway College (April 2025), confirms what many in the sector already know: colleges are not just delivery agents ─ they are innovators, collaborators and community anchors. Douglas Dickson, Principal and CEO of Dumfries and Galloway College The college, with campuses in Dumfries and Stranraer, and under the leadership of Principal and CEO Douglas Dickson, received a 'Very Good' rating for leadership and quality culture. This endorsement is not merely a badge of honour… it is evidence of a system working at its best. One of the core strengths of Dumfries and Galloway College lies in its enhanced management structure dedicated to work-based learning. This strategic overhaul has strengthened oversight and coordination across apprenticeship programmes, directly leading to higher success rates and improved learner outcomes. It's a model that other institutions across the country can emulate; especially as we strive to close skills gaps and support regional economic priorities. Collaboration is a hallmark of effective apprenticeship delivery. And Dumfries and Galloway College certainly excels in this area, from its leadership team working hand-in-hand with employers to the college's staff participating in self-evaluation and portfolio review processes. This inclusive approach ensures apprenticeship provision remains dynamic and aligned with the needs of both learners and industries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The establishment of employer reference groups within each curriculum area further enhances the DGC's responsiveness. These groups identify skills shortages and emerging trends, helping the college design and refine apprenticeship frameworks which are aligned with current and future job market demands. This targeted alignment ensures apprentices gain skills that are not only academically sound, but also practically valuable. The college's Business Development team also plays a pivotal role in maintaining strong employer relations. Through biannual visits and post-induction reviews, the team ensures onboarding arrangements are effective and apprentices receive the support they need from the outset. The improved onboarding process has significantly boosted retention and performance across the board, which is a testament to the value of proactive engagement. Another commendable feature of the college's model is its strategic approach to subcontracting. By working with external providers for specific MA frameworks, the college broadens its delivery capacity without compromising quality, allowing even the most specialised sectors to receive comprehensive training solutions. It is worth noting that about 70% of the college's apprentices are in engineering and health and social care ─ two sectors which are vital to the South of Scotland's and, indeed, the country's economic health. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad By concentrating on these high-demand areas, DGC demonstrates an acute awareness of regional workforce needs and a steadfast commitment to supporting them. The emphasis on data-driven decision making further reinforces the college's effectiveness. Eligibility and suitability tests ensure that apprentices are matched with programmes that are best suited to their existing qualifications and skill levels. This level of scrutiny optimises learner success and ensures that employers receive well-prepared, capable trainees. However, perhaps, most importantly, Dumfries and Galloway College fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Structured self-evaluation and stakeholder involvement initiatives are designed to never allow that apprenticeship delivery to stagnate. Instead, it evolves in tandem with industry developments as well as educational best practices. 'The future of Scotland's workforce won't be built in distant boardrooms,' says Douglas Dickson, Principal and CEO of Dumfries and Galloway College. 'It will be built in classrooms, workshops and on the ground, with apprentices, employers and colleges working side by side. That's where real change happens. And we're proud to be leading that change here in Dumfries and Galloway.' All of this feeds into a broader mission: supporting Scotland's regional and national economic priorities. Modern Apprenticeships are not just a pathway to employment, they are a strategic tool for workforce planning, growth and social mobility. Colleges are uniquely positioned to deliver on these objectives due to their long-standing roots in local communities and their relationships with local employers that allow them to continually adapt curricula swiftly and effectively. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Glasgow Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Meet Glasgow Kelvin College new principal as she reveals future plans
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. Read more; Football team in 'impoverished' Glasgow area welcomes funding boost 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." Read more: Ambitious plan revealed for former Glasgow banking hall 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.'
The Herald Scotland
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow college to deliver net zero skills and tackle poverty
'In Glasgow,' says Joanna Campbell, 'we've got some of the highest levels of unemployment in Scotland and we have a need to get people out of poverty. Plus we've got the grand challenges of our regional economy – productivity, inclusive growth, climate change.' 'If,' she says, 'you think about the technology and the industries that are going to support Scotland's drive to becoming net zero, then actually right now the college has a role to play in helping people develop those skills.' Campbell, who stepped into the role following the retirement of Derek Smeall, has already pioneered environmental leadership in education in her previous role as principal at Dumfries and Galloway College, where she led the institution to three UK Green Gown Awards for exceptional sustainability initiatives during her six-year tenure. Her focus now is on aligning education with Glasgow's economic and environmental ambitions. Net zero will be a core priority for Glasgow Kelvin, as is tackling child poverty. With campuses serving some of the most economically challenged communities in Scotland – in areas such as Springburn and Easterhouse – Campbell sees the college as having a central role in 'improving life chances'. It is about getting, as she describes 'people out of impoverished situations to become highly productive members of the workforce' and also tackling the climate emergency. It also aims to deliver education that 'develops the skills that we're going to need for the future to support the jobs and roles that we're going to have in our society' 40% of college education in Scotland is delivered in Glasgow, and 20 % of that is delivered by Glasgow Kelvin College. Glasgow Kelvin College was formed from the merger of three colleges in 2013, and named after the scientist Lord Kelvin to indicate its intent to promote engineering and scientific education programmes. The college has already itself won a Green Gown award for a pioneering sustainable fashion initiative and is home to a Green Academy – a dedicated training facility focused on low-carbon heating systems such as air-source heat pumps. Principal Joanna Campbell and students at Glasgow Kelvin College (Image: Glasgow Kelvin College) Glasgow Kelvin, Campbell says, can provide 'opportunity for those people who are furthest away from the labour market by offering them not just the courses that you would expect a college to put on, like HNDs or national qualifications but actually taster programmes, bite-sized learning and we can do that in the community as well as doing it in our three campuses as well.'. But delivering this is going to be difficult in a cash-strapped sector. 'One of the things,' she says, 'I want to get across is that we work in a sector where we've had flat cash and we have already reduced our student activity by 8% because of those funding challenges and we've reduced our workforce by about 12% to meet the challenges of funding.' Funding is particularly important, in terms of poverty and inequality, since, Campbell says, the college has 'proportionately higher than any other college in supporting the most deprived communities in Scotland'. 38% of its enrolments are from areas in the most deprived 10% in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Principal Joanna Campbell and students at Glasgow Kelvin College (Image: Glasgow Kelvin College) 'Any reduction in our funding," she says, "has a real impact on our ability to be able to support that. And when you think about the fact that we are working with 45 community learning and development partners and as well as what we're doing in our three campuses we're actually operating across 32 locations in the community and delivering training within those locations to about 4000 learners. "That's significant. We need the system to recognise the scale of impact colleges make – particularly when we have seen a 17% drop in funding since 2021/22.' Colleges, however, she observes, are used to adapting and agile as organisations. 'We had the last set of reforms in 2010 where we went from 43 colleges to 24 and became regional colleges and had regional boards we managed to navigate our way through that. I'm not saying it was easy but we did it. But I think the thing that we're not seeing at the moment is we're not seeing a sense of urgency to address this. We talk about reform but we've yet to see that materialise.' The kind of changes needed to deliver net zero are also not, she pointed out, going to be delivered just by looking at curriculum alone. Read more: Minister hails 'world-class' action on sustainability at city college Answers to the 'not enough' supply issues of offshore wind? Scotland needs 1000s of heat pump fitters. Where's the training? 'You have to embed that,' she says, 'into the organisational DNA, the culture of the organisation. That's one of the things I managed to do in my previous role. It wasn't just about what can we do to develop the skills to tackle climate change, but actually how can we embed it into our practices because we need to role model that, not just teach.' Campbell's background is in digital, as a former computing lecturer. 'It's not in climate at all. I'm not a scientist. I'm not an engineer. I'm none of those. But the reason it came about is because when I first went to work in Dumfries & Galloway, we had just secured a significant amount, £7 million, of funding from what was the precursor to South of Scotland Enterprise agency, to develop a green energy centre.' In partnership with Borders college, and with additional funding from the Green Energy Fund, the college set up not just the centre, but a whole suite of programmes. 'If I'm honest some of the work I've left behind there was leading the college sector and they were very much seen as being the trailblazer for some of the things we see now around green energy, training, offshore wind, onshore wind, just starting to touch on hydrogen production and the curriculum that goes to support that. I think they were ahead of their time.' There is, Campbell says, one golden thread through her work in both colleges. 'It's the workforce, it's all employers whether you're in Dumfries & Galloway, Glasgow, Edinburgh, right now what employers are feeding back is that the challenges that they have now are workforce and skills deficits. Any college in Scotland is very much deeply rooted in the community that it serves, and also our heritage is providing skills for the economies that are in and around us – and particularly in Scotland where we have that place-based approach that the government has very much focussed on.' Campbell says she was drawn to Glasgow Kelvin because of its clear sense of mission and values, describing it as an institution rooted in its communities and committed to transforming lives through education. '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.'
