In this blog post, CDN’s Sandra-Jane Grier, Delivery and Engagement Partner, explores how CDN’s Teaching in Colleges Today (TiCT) can give new lecturers the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to get off to a strong start in Scotland’s colleges.
Starting a lecturing career in Scotland’s college sector is an exciting opportunity, for any industry professional bringing valuable industry experience into post compulsory learning. However, becoming an effective lecturer requires more than subject and vocational expertise. It demands a solid understanding of how to plan and deliver high quality and inclusive learning, teaching and assessment, as well as responding to increasingly diverse changing learner needs together with the lived values of professional practice. This is where the CDN’s Teaching in Colleges Today (TiCT) units play a vital role in supporting new lecturers entering the sector in 2026.
Our TiCT programme consists of two SCQF credit-rated units at SCQF Level 7 and SCQF Level 8, specifically designed to meet the initial professional development needs of newly appointed college lecturers and other staff involved in learning, teaching and assessment. The original Teaching in Colleges Today unit at SCQF level 7 which was first used by the sector 2013 has gone through two major redevelopments in 2021 and in 2026, these units were refreshed and relaunched by CDN after being re-accredited by Fife College ensuring they continue to reflect contemporary professional standards and the realities of modern college teaching.
Co delivered in partnership with colleges, for new lecturers arriving in Scottish colleges in 2026, the TiCT units provide an accessible introduction to the fundamental knowledge and skills required for successful classroom practice. To support delivery in colleges we have an extensive range of online learning materials for both Teaching in Colleges Today units, providing access to free high quality learning content. These free to use materials are available on CDN’s LearnOnline platform and can be used at a time and place that best suits candidates’ needs, even by those not formally completing the units. Participants completing TiCT units or those working through our online learning materials can develop their understanding of lesson planning, inclusive practice and learning and teaching approaches, assessment for and of learning, and reflective practice – all essential foundations for delivering high-quality learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of today’s college students.
A particular strength of TiCT is its alignment with the Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges with each section of our updated online learning materials aligned and mapped to specific standards for full and provisional registration with the General Teaching Council, Scotland (GTCS). As part of their ongoing commitment to professionalism, new lecturers are expected to engage in ongoing professional learning and, ultimately, work towards recognised teaching qualifications to achieve full registration with the General Teaching Council (Scotland). The TiCT units help staff begin this journey as soon as they come into the sector by developing professional competences and encouraging critical reflection on teaching practice against specific professional standards from the outset.
For colleges offering the TiCT units to their staff, the two-level structure also provides a valuable progression pathway that can be tailored to suit individual staff needs and prior learning and experience. As such they support future study, including routes towards qualifications such as the PDA Teaching Practice in Scotland’s Colleges and PGCert or PGDip Tertiary Education programmes (TQFE). For example, our SCQF Level 7 unit offers an excellent starting point for lecturers with important industry experience who are new to college teaching, while our SCQF Level 8 unit allows candidates to deepen their analysis of practice and demonstrate greater critical evaluation of their current skills.
As Scottish colleges continue to rise to the challenge of responding to evolving student needs, varied and complex technology enhanced learning environments, and widening access agendas, investing in lecturer development remains essential for individual staff and the colleges which employ them. CDN’s TiCT units provide a flexible, recognised and sector-specific entry level credit rated qualification that helps new lecturers build confidence, enhance their teaching effectiveness and impact and helps them establish lifelong professional learning habits. For anyone beginning a college lecturing role in 2026, Teaching in Colleges Today offers a valuable first step towards a successful and rewarding career in Scotland’s colleges.
For more information on the TiCT units and how these can be delivered within your college, visit the CDN website.
