The Improvement Service (IS) is delighted to announce that we are partnering with the Open University to develop the Councillor Academy – a dedicated learning portal for councillors. This marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to supporting elected members with high-quality, accessible learning opportunities tailored to the unique demands of public office.
The portal will be hosted on the Open University’s OpenLearn platform and will feature a blend of existing Open University content and bespoke modules designed specifically for councillors and those interested in becoming a councillor.
This initiative allows us to respond to requests from a range of national bodies - including COSLA, the Scottish Government, and Parliamentary committees, for enhanced development for councillors and those interested in standing to be a councillor.
By partnering with the Open University, we are leveraging their global reputation for excellence in distance learning, access to subject matter experts, and a rich library of courses which councillors will be able to access for free from the portal.
We look forward to sharing more updates as development progresses and the portal prepares to launch.