Dr Doug Cole

Deputy Director of Employability, 
Nottingham Trent University

Doug has fifteen years’ experience in leading learning and teaching in Higher Education, prior to this having spent over a decade in industry working with a range of sports organisations in the UK, Beijing, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

Doug is currently Deputy Director of Employability at Nottingham Trent University, having spent three years previously with the Higher Education Academy, focused on developing strategic approaches to learning for employability and student success with institutions across UK and globally. Doug is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs.

In 2012 Doug developed the concept of a national framework and guide for embedding employability in the curriculum, to support all institutions in developing graduates with the qualities and capabilities that are vital for success, not only in securing employment, but also for life more broadly.  In 2013 Doug co-authored the Higher Education Academy publication; Defining & developing your approach to employability: A framework for higher education institutions. In 2019 Doug co-authored The language of Employability, a book chapter in Education for Employability Volume 1 published by Brill in Australia.

Doug has worked as Creative Director on a voluntary basis since 2020 with Professor Norman Jackson to promote and raise awareness of Lifewide Education, a social enterprise dedicated to engaging across a range of professional communities.