New Glasgow Kelvin College principal sets sustainability, skills, and social mobility as priorities
Joanna Campbell sets out plans to align Glasgow Kelvin College with Net Zero goals and workforce needs
Joanna Campbell has taken up her post as principal of Glasgow Kelvin College, setting out plans to prioritize sustainability, workforce development, and social mobility.
Glasgow Kelvin College, located in northeast Glasgow, provides vocational and academic training and is home to a Green Academy specializing in low-carbon technologies.
Campbell, who previously served as principal of Dumfries and Galloway College and vice principal at City of Glasgow College, joins following the retirement of Derek Smeall. Her appointment comes at a time when the college is seeking to expand its green skills initiatives and strengthen its role in supporting local communities.
Curriculum to align with Net Zero goals
Campbell says her leadership will focus on aligning the college’s curriculum with Glasgow’s economic priorities and Net Zero ambitions.
“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,” says Campbell.
In her first weeks in the role, Campbell has engaged with students, staff, employers, and community partners to identify areas where the college can expand its impact. She points to the need for stronger educational pathways in sectors such as sustainable construction, digital technologies, health, and social care.
“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,” says Campbell.
Focus on social mobility and community impact
In addition to supporting Net Zero targets, Campbell emphasizes the college’s role in tackling child poverty and improving social mobility in areas such as Springburn and Easterhouse.
“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 programs, we create pathways for people who are often furthest from the labor market,” says Campbell.
The college works closely with universities to facilitate progression into higher education. Demand for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses remains strong, reflecting demographic changes within Glasgow.
Campbell sees Glasgow Kelvin College as a critical part of Scotland’s efforts to address workforce shortages, particularly in sectors like health care and science. “There’s a huge opportunity to support people into roles in health and social care, or to help them take the first steps towards studying medicine or science. For many, those journeys start here,” she says.
Sector challenges and the call for greater recognition
Campbell also acknowledges the financial pressures facing the college sector. She describes a “perfect storm” of funding cuts, changing student needs, and rapid shifts in skills demand.
“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 recognize the scale of impact colleges make – particularly when we have seen a 17 percent drop in funding since 2021/22,” says Campbell.
With reforms underway in Scotland’s skills planning and funding system, Campbell is calling for a stronger voice for colleges and more direct engagement with policymakers and employers.
“You can’t advocate for something you don’t fully understand,” says Campbell. “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.”
