Strategy
Our 2025 strategic drivers and their intersecting themes, reflect our dedication to mainstreaming equality, whilst also supporting our drive to achieving our Equality Outcomes.
Having made significant progress over the past 5 years with Strategy 2025, work is well underway to develop Strategy 2030. Strategy 2030 will allow us to build on our achievements to date and set out the future direction of our college by identifying key priorities and projects. More importantly it will continue to underpin our efforts to mainstreaming equality in all facets of college life.
Education Strategy
NCL's Education Strategy is designed to offer a learning experience that will develop inquisitive and creative minds, support ambition and talent while developing students and staff to allow them to realise their potential. The strategy has been developed following extensive consultation with our college community and provides the framework for staff to refresh their focus transforming the curriculum. NCL is dedicated to delivering high quality education which promotes social justice and enables whole person education.
Central to this is our Student Partnership Agreement. The Student Partnership agreement outlines how we will work together to enhance the NCL student experience. It is built on equal collaboration between staff and students creating a supportive and innovative learning experience. Through this partnership we aim to empower students to shape the curriculum ensuring that it stays relevant and future focused, run campaigns, like our Be Well to Do Well, and raise the student voice to ensure their feedback results in action.
Course Curriculum Review
The college’s Course Curriculum Review not only demonstrates our hard work to continually evolve and transform the curriculum, but to also support the need to mainstream equality. Central to this process is meaningful consultation, reflection and evaluation involving students and other partners to act as change agents and co-creators in the delivery of education. Comprised of 3 stages, a recent review of the process has seen the inclusion of specific EDI related questions, ensuring that the college is listening to our students and has a better understanding of the diverse student body we work with.
Student Mental Health Agreement (SMHA)
In response to the recommendations highlighted in the Thriving Learners Report, NCL have launched a focused Student Mental Health Agreement (SMHA), a partnership between the college and all students.
In Scotland 64% of students reported low mental health and wellbeing and 14.67% of NCL students in academic year 2023 -2024 withdrew from their course due to health issues, including mental health. With this in mind, the Agreement is anchored in 3 key stages: raising awareness; identification of factors and triggers; and coping strategies.
NCL recognises the relationship between emotional wellbeing and student withdrawal. It is noted that students who struggle with wellbeing issues (such as stress, anxiety, depression, or physical health), or financial issues are likely to be challenged by the demands of their programme of study and, therefore, are more likely to withdraw from their studies.
To support a holistic approach which does not simply focus on academic results, NCL has developed 3 key campaigns:
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- Be Well to Do Well
- Be Financially Fit
- Getting to Know You.
These critical campaigns have helped to bridge the gap between students’ wellbeing and their academic studies whilst also addressing retention of our students.