How can we unlock education and career opportunities to build a stronger rural Scotland?

Join us at The Crichton in Dumfries for a day of expert insights and conversations about the future of rural Scotland.

This one-day conference brings together community voices and organisational stakeholders from across Scotland and Northern England to explore how we can build a stronger rural economy by fostering skills development, innovation, and equal opportunities.

The conference will shine a light on the challenges and opportunities facing rural education, with a focus on tertiary education, reskilling, and upskilling the workforce.

Through the lens of rural experience, we’ll look at how innovation in curriculum and delivery can better support learners – and how we can break down barriers to achieve genuine parity of esteem across all educational pathways.

Please note: Your ticket gives you access to the entire conference day. It is not possible to purchase access to individual sessions or speakers. A small number of subsidised places are available, to find out more please email: public_engagement@therse.org.uk.

Conference running order

09:00–09:30

• Registration and refreshments

09:30–12:15

• Welcome and introduction to session one from Professor Sarah Skerratt, Chief Executive of the RSE
• Session one: The needs of the rural economy
  • Chaired by: Andrew Walls FRCS Ed et Eng, Convenor, Crichton Foundation
• Talk one: SOSE Youth Advisory Forum
• Talk two: Liam Middleton, Deputy Director of Economic Development at the University of Glasgow
• Break
• Talk three: Douglas Dickson, Principal and Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway College
• Q&A discussion

12:15–13:00

Lunch

13:00–16:45

• Welcome and introduction to session two: Panel discussions
  • Chaired by: Dr Janet Brown FRSE, Vice President, Education, RSE
• Panel discussion with Q&A: Innovating training, apprenticeships, and alternative pathways.
• Speakers:
  • Angela Cox, Principal & CEO of Ayrshire College
  • Mrs Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne FRSE, CEO and Founder, Genius Foods
  • Phil Robinson, Continual Improvement and Sustainability Manager, Jas P Wilson
  • Young person panel member from SOSE Youth Advisory Forum
• Break
• Panel discussion with Q&A: Achieving parity of esteem: Elevating the value of rural careers.
  • Speakers:
    • Douglas Morrison, Director of Operations and Future Skills at Construction Scotland Innovation Centre
    • David Lowe, Assistant Principal Delivery & Sustainability, Borders College
    • John McKendrick, Commissioner for Fair Access, Strathclyde University
    • Lynne Somerville, Skills Lead, Digital Dairy Chain, University of the West of Scotland
    • Young person panel member, SOSE Youth Advisory Forum
• Reflections with all speakers

16:45–17:00

• Closing remarks from Andrew Walls, Convenor, The Crichton Foundation

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