Transforming education through digital innovation: inspiring projects from Scotland’s colleges
Three pioneering colleges in Scotland have been shortlisted for the College Development Network’s award for digital learning, proudly sponsored by Jisc.
The institutions – Fife College, Edinburgh College, and Dumfries and Galloway College – have been recognised for their innovative approaches to integrating digital tools into education, setting new standards in enhancing learning experiences, and addressing critical skills gaps.
Here, we explore the inspiring initiatives that earned them a spot on the College Development Network judges’ shortlist. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on 14 November.
Dumfries and Galloway College’s Digiplan
For the unique challenges faced by rural learners, Dumfries and Galloway College has embarked on a creative, new project: Digiplan. The innovative and inclusive solution allows work-based learners to upskill and access personal and professional development using one-to-one support and digital assessment plans regardless of when or where.
Sector collaboration
To tackle the geographical barriers that often hinder access to quality education in rural areas, the skills delivery team at Dumfries and Galloway College focused on their collaboration with employers, establishing long-term relationships with organisations large and small to understand how to mitigate some of these barriers.
With a focus on the benefits of digital and online methods, the digital assessment plan – or “Digiplan” for short – was born, enabling customisable qualification delivery to workplaces.
Customised learning experiences
Digiplans are entirely personalised to the learner and can be accessed wherever and whenever they like, including evidencing their own work from their own desk in real-time.
This flexibility is a game-changer for many learners, allowing them to balance work and study more effectively. This is made easier still by learners being able to have quality one-to-one time with their assessor online – saving both the assessor and learner travel time while also reducing the overall carbon footprint.
From an employer’s perspective, Digiplans enable them to upskill employees on areas of work based specifically on the need of their business.
Achieving results
The college has already successfully implemented Digiplan across work-based business admin, customer service, team leading and management delivery, and is currently rolling it out to its engineering and construction sectors.
The feedback from external verifiers in each of these sectors has been overwhelmingly positive, praising the personal learner support and the quality of evidence and assessment methodology within Digiplan.
The rollout of the project has contributed to an increased commercial turnover for the college with demand for Digiplan continuing to grow with increasing numbers of learners and employers taking part.
Depute Principal Douglas Dickson said:
“We are incredibly proud to be nominated for the digital learning award in recognition of our Digiplan project. At Dumfries and Galloway College, we are passionate about providing innovative, flexible learning solutions that meet the needs of our learners and local employers and the Digiplan project does exactly that.”
Edinburgh College: Data Education in Colleges initiative
The Data Education in Colleges initiative, funded by the Data Skills Gateway programme, is on a mission to enhance data science skills across Edinburgh and south-east Scotland.
This collaborative effort between Edinburgh College, Fife College, Borders College, and West Lothian College, establishes a progression pathway from SCQF levels 3 to 8, leading to higher education or direct employment.
Leveraging digital platforms
The initiative uses a suite of digital platforms to deliver versatile courses: Moodle supports comprehensive online interactions, Microsoft Teams facilitates virtual classrooms and group work, and H5P enriches learning with interactive content. This digital, multi-platform approach ensures accessibility and quality tailored to a diverse set of learner needs.
Personalised support and pedagogy
Across the courses, a lot of focus is given to personalised support, group work, and project-based learning. This helps to directly address individual learners’ challenges, fosters teamwork skills, and bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring holistic skill development.
Data-driven insights
It’s not just learners benefitting from a digitally-focused approach, teaching staff are empowered to take data-driven decisions using Power BI dashboards. With real-time visualisations on attendance, retention, and achievement, educators can quickly identify areas for improvement, enhancing overall educational quality.
Developing staff digital capabilities
Beyond the data science and data skills courses, the initiative also extends its impact with a professional learning programme for college staff, ensuring they stay updated with the latest digital, data science, and AI skills, enhancing curriculum relevance and student preparedness for the contemporary workforce.
Career pathways
The Level 3, 4, and 5 courses have recorded impressive achievement rates to date, ranging from 83% to 94%, with learners developing the skills necessary for further study at institutions like Edinburgh Napier University or for immediate entry into the job market.
David Hiddleston, curriculum portfolio manager, said:
“The Data Education in Colleges initiative is a transformative journey, developing and delivering essential digital skills in data science and AI across Edinburgh and southeast Scotland.
“This initiative’s use of digital platforms such as Moodle, Microsoft Teams, and HP5—enables us to deliver accessible, engaging, and highly adaptable learning experiences. Coupled with data-driven insights and professional learning for our staff, we are not only empowering our students but also providing opportunity for everyone."
“It’s great the initiative has been shortlisted for the CDN award for digital learning.”
Fife College’s Healthcare Pathways course
Fife College, in collaboration with the NHS and Skills Development Scotland (SDS), has developed the Healthcare Pathways course, an innovative programme designed for S4-S6 learners worth 24 credits at SCQF Level 5.
Using cutting-edge digital tools, the course provide a comprehensive introduction to multiple healthcare roles through a blend of online and in-person learning.
Innovative learning design
What sets this course apart is its use of immersive virtual spaces, including 360-degree environments based on real NHS facilities. Learners get to experience these virtual settings from multiple perspectives, whether viewing an A&E waiting room from a patient’s viewpoint or navigating a busy ward as a medical professional – developing their confidence in multiple healthcare environments.
The course is then complemented by classroom learning and visits to local hospitals, clinical labs, and other healthcare settings, giving learners the opportunity to apply their online experiences to real-world settings.
Engaging learners with challenge-based learning
To increase engagement further, the course incorporates challenge-based learning. Assessments are designed as challenges, allowing students to approach them from different roles within the NHS. This not only makes learning more interactive but helps learners develop empathy while also exposing them to the diversity of roles within healthcare.
Successful outcomes for learners
The initial pilot, although developed by Fife College, comprised an initial cohort of 50 learners in groups throughout Scotland. To support positive outcomes and progression, everyone completing the course was guaranteed an interview with NHS for a healthcare support worker role, or able to progress on to a modern apprenticeship or another college or university course.
Fife College plans to continue the course in the 2024/25 academic year, with a focus on expanding access to learners from areas of higher deprivation.
Jisc’s director of Scotland Jason Miles-Campbell is part of the judging panel for awards:
“Reviewing the entries for this year’s CDN award for digital learning has been truly inspiring. The level of creativity and dedication demonstrated by all those shortlisted is a testament to what a resourceful, innovative college sector we have here in Scotland. All the projects have made a lasting impact, whether for learners, teaching staff or the wider community, and all are incredibly worthy of this recognition.”
For more inspiring stories from colleges, take a look at our member stories.