Leadership Prospectus

The Scottish Digital Academy is the public sector centre of excellence for digital capability in Scotland. Our prospectus provides an overview of our leadership development courses and programmes.

These courses are funded by the Scottish Government Digital Directorate.

Transforming public services

The Leadership Prospectus helps leaders shape strategic transformation and manage operations by refining their leadership approach. Our offer enables them to inspire teams, design user-centred services and adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. Our offer also provides an opportunity to hear more about the work of the Digital Directorate in Scottish Government and the technologies that are available for use, such as the Scottish Government Cloud Platform, App, identity services, payments and licencing platforms and the Digital Scotland Service Manual.

Agile mindsets are vital for public service reform. We provide Senior Civil Servants with high-quality learning opportunities to build knowledge and confidence in developing digital products and services.

Open Courses for Public and Third Sector Leaders

These courses are available to anyone working in the public or third sector in Scotland. You do not need to be a Civil Servant nor do you need to work in a digital or data role. There are four open courses which are designed to provide progression in learning, but you may attend any of them in an order to suit you.

Digital Leadership Essentials (2 hour course at an awareness skill level)
Agile Leadership in Practice (4 day course at a practitioner skill level)
Leading in a Digital World (4 day programme at an expert skill level)

Full details and eligibility criteria can be found on each course page. These courses are in high demand, if you cannot see any scheduled dates complete the waiting list or contact us and we will contact you when a space become available.

Available leadership courses

Digital Leadership Essentials

Open to leaders and professionals across the Scottish public and third sectors, this course offers a unique opportunity to explore how government is driving digital transformation. It provides insight into the digital products and services shaping public service delivery and helps participants develop the knowledge and confidence to lead change.

Agile Leadership in Practice

Agile Leadership in Practice is designed for senior leaders across the Scottish public and third sectors who lead or manage agile teams in complex operating environments. The course explores practical strategies to help leaders foster collaboration, build resilience, navigate uncertainty, and deliver meaningful impact through agile ways of working.

Leading in a Digital World

Designed for senior leaders and practitioners across the Scottish public and third sectors, this programme helps deepen understanding of the principles and concepts shaping digital transformation. It equips leaders with the insight and confidence to navigate change, drive innovation, and lead successfully in an increasingly digital landscape.

Digital Leadership and Skills for Senior Civil Servants

“To lead effectively in the digital world, Senior Civil Servants (SCS) must be confident in delivering digital programmes and projects. Whether it’s shaping policy, improving services, or making informed decisions, embracing digital skills will empower us to lead with impact.

Participants will learn from real-world experiences of SCS digital specialists, build a stronger network with peers across government, and stay ahead of technological advances that impact public service delivery. The programme consists of various courses, which can be taken in any order and I recommend completing as many as possible for maximum benefit.”

Miriam Craven
Director General Corporate, Scottish Government

Developing digital leaders (SCS only)

From building effective teams and managing performance through to resolving team tensions and coping with periods of change and ambiguity, leading and managing people can be a constant challenge. Additional leadership and development opportunities are available for Civil Servants through Pathways. This offer is supported by the Scottish Government People Directorate.

The Scottish Digital Academy provides five courses for Senior Civil Servants (SCS). These are available to Scottish Government employees, only (including Executive Agency employees). Similar content is delivered through the Leading in a Digital World programme which is open to the public and third sector.

This offer is designed and delivered by the Senior Leadership Team in the Digital Directorate. We recommend completing the whole offer in order, however delegates may attend any courses which they find most suited to their development requirements and courses can be attended in any order, either in entirety or individually.

Themes include:

Leading Digital in the Scottish Government
Innovation in the Public Sector
Designing quality services around people and AI
Solutions For You
Building Strong Foundations for Success

Course One – Leading with a digital mindset

Understand how agile leadership can enable transformation of public services and learn more about the Scottish Digital Academy’s capability offer and how wider development programmes can strengthen leadership capacity and drive digital transformation.

Course Two – Innovation tools & techniques

Understand innovative and entrepreneurial thinking and the principles, benefits & practical applications of challenge-based innovation to harness new technology for public benefit.

Course Three: People focus in a digital world

Understand that public sector services must be accessible to all users, and how to ensure that accessibility regulations and best practice are followed. Understand how to apply a user-centred design approach to the delivery of services. Demonstrate innovation in the design and development of your service, operation and policy.

Course Four: Agile leadership in practice, psychological aspects of leadership

Explore your leadership identity considering aspects such as emotional intelligence, imposter syndrome and personal bias to help you understand what kind of leader you are and craft your own personal leadership mission.

Course Five: Utilising data and AI in the public sector

Understand how to support data analysis in Scottish Government, gain increased awareness of the AI register and associated governance. Understand now data science can help address challenges and how to identify the best data solutions to meet requirements

Course Four: The Ideas Lab

Practical workshops for SCS (and their teams) to work with digital specialists in order to turn your ideas into tangible concepts or models. Option to register up to 5 from your team.

Course Six: Utilising data and AI in the public sector, SCS level (duration 5 hours)

Course Seven: Agile leadership in practice, communicating with intent

Examine how complexity impacts the way we do things and what complexity means for your leadership, you will learn how we deal with conflict and serve your people, aligning your vision and your intent to be able to communicate in complex areas.

Course Eight: Agile leadership in practice, reflecting on your real-world problems

We will look at how we influence people and examine different change approaches whilst having the opportunity to scrutinise one of your own problems, employing a consultative approach.

Yes. The Scottish Digital Academy sits within the Digital Directorate – People, Strategy and Corporate Services Division.

Anyone working within the public and third sector in Scotland can register to attend one of our courses or programmes.

Our courses are not accredited or certificated unless otherwise stated.

As a result of Covid restrictions, all our training is delivered online unless otherwise stated. We use a variety of online platforms and you’re advised to check the course details for further information.

Yes. Email us digitalacademy@gov.scot and tell us your ideas. We can’t guarantee to provide the course for you but we will listen and include it in our demand planning.

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