Qualifications Scotland Professional Development Conference Returns to China 7 September 2026

Forward Thinking for the Future 

Qualifications Scotland welcomed 105 delegates from its centres across China to the 2026 Professional Development Conference in Chengdu, marking the first in-person CPD event held in the country since the transition from SQA to Qualifications Scotland.

The conference, held from 18 to 20 August, saw the highest delegate uptake of any Professional Development Conference to date, bringing together qualifications development, quality assurance and verification experts alongside teaching staff and coordinators from centres across China.

This year's theme, Forward Thinking: Planning for the Future, connected directly to the Circle of Success, Qualifications Scotland's continuous professional development model.

Sessions focused on meaningful student feedback, assessment decisions, interactive teaching, integrated delivery and quality assurance good practice.

Robert Quinn, Head of Qualifications Development said “I felt privileged to once again return to China and lead the team from Qualifications Scotland to deliver our China centre CPD conference in Chengdu. Our subject and assessment specialists, including those from our China centres, worked collaboratively with the conference delegates over a series of presentations and workshops with a focus on sharing best assessment practice and reflecting on the opportunities and challenges for future delivery of our Advanced Diplomas.  It was a great example of knowledge sharing and transfer and I would like to thank all the participants for welcoming us to China and engaging in a great conference.”

Gillian Hepburn, Head of International added: “Returning to Chengdu for this year’s conference was a real highlight for our international team. Seeing our China centres come together in such strong numbers to share ideas, challenges and best practice speaks volumes about the strength of the AD programme and the commitment from the Chinese centres. Events like this are so valuable, not just for the professional development opportunities they offer, but for the relationships they help us build for the future.

One of the attendees shared: “As a lecturer, it helps me to rethink and improve my teaching skills in some specific units. It also makes me feel more confident about how to work with my colleagues during the external verification.”

Another attendee reflected: “Training brings significant personal‑development benefits. It equips participants with good guidance and [....] these practical knowledge and methods can be well applied to better organise teaching activities, optimise teaching arrangements, sort out teaching logic, and improve the overall quality of course delivery.

Qualifications Scotland looks forward to building on the connections made in Chengdu and continuing to support centres across China as they plan for the future.

Full details of the conference programme, speakers and sessions are available on the webpage: Tutor Resources - CPD - Events.