University of the Highlands and Islands

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University of the Highlands and Islands
Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean
UHI Coat of Arms.jpg
Motto Foghlam aig ìre Oilthigh air a' Ghàidhealtachd is anns na h-Eileanan
University-level study in the Highlands and Islands
Established 2011 - University Status
1992 - UHI Millennium Institute
Type federal, public
Chancellor HRH The Princess Royal
Principal James M Fraser[1]
Students 5,220[2]
Location Inverness (Executive Office), Scotland
Colours Purple & White
         
Website www.uhi.ac.uk
Logo of the University of the Highlands and Islands.jpg

The University of the Highlands and Islands (Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean) is a federation of 13 colleges and research institutions in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland delivering higher education. Its executive office is in Inverness.

History [edit]

While the university is Scotland's newest university,[3] many of its 13 colleges and research institutions have longer histories, the earliest having been founded in the 19th Century.

In April 2001, the Scottish Parliament awarded UHI Higher Education Institute status, and it now provides university level courses. UHI degrees were authenticated by the Open University Validation Service, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Aberdeen until 2008 when the UHI was awarded taught degree awarding powers (tDAP) by the Privy Council [4][5] under recommendation from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA);[6] Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma courses are awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. University status was awarded by the Privy Council in February 2011, and UHI became the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Organisation and programmes [edit]

UHI has a number of undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes, most of which can be studied at a range of locations across the area.

In the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, courses such as Honours programmes in Gaelic,[7] BA (Hons) Theological Studies,[8] BA (Hons) Scottish History [9] and BA (Hons) Scottish Cultural Studies [10] all reflect the distinctive nature of the region, its past, present and future. This last course, BA (Hons) Scottish Cultural Studies is a groundbreaking interdisciplinary programme which has been internationally recognised by receiving the 2005 Times Higher Education Supplement Award for Most Imaginative Use of Distance Learning.[11] Other programmes within the Faculty include MLitt Orkney & Shetland Studies, MLitt Highlands & Islands Literature, BSc Audio Engineering, BA Classical Ballet & Dance Performance, BA (Hons) Fine Art, BA (Hons) Popular Music Performance, and many others.

UHI Millennium Institute Executive Office

The Faculty of Business and Leisure offers distinctive programmes in Golf Management [12]—Scotland's only degree of this kind—Outdoor Adventure Management[13]—using Lochaber, the UK's Outdoor Capital as a living research laboratory—as well as popular courses in Business, Accounting, Hospitality, Computing, Sports Coaching, and Tourism.

The Faculty of Science & Technology has research in Renewables, Marine Science, Sustainable Rural Development and Environmental Issues. A fully online Honours degree programme is available across the UK from this faculty. The BSc(Hons) Sustainable Rural Development [14] is an example of a multi-disciplinary programme from this Faculty. The programme has professional accreditation from the Institution of Economic Development.[citation needed] The Faculty of Science also offers postgraduate studies, including an MSc in Managing Sustainable Development.[15] This Masters programme also has professional accreditation from the Institution of Economic Development.[citation needed]

The Faculty of Energy, Engineering and Construction offers a range of academic programs up to, and including Masters level. Various subjects are taught at HNC/HND level, including Aircraft Engineering, Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, Marine Engineering, Computer Aided Draughting, Engineering Systems, Fabrication and Welding and Quantity Surveying. Current degree programs at Bachelors level include BEng(Hons) Aircraft Engineering, BSc Architectural Technology, BEng(Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, BEng(Hons) Energy Engineering, BEng Mechanical Engineering, BEng(Hons) Mechanical and Energy Engineering and BSc Quantity Surveying. Current Masters level programs are MSc Developing Low Carbon Communities and MSc Sustainable Energy Solutions.

Through its Faculty of Health and Education, UHI has links with the new Centre for Health Sciences located behind Raigmore Hospital. This is being funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Executive and Johnson and Johnson. Phase I of this opened in early 2007, phase II and phase III were opened in 2009. The University of Stirling has moved its nursing and midwifery operations from Raigmore Hospital to the CfHS. A BSc Oral Health Science was set up in 2008, and was based on two campuses, the Centre for Health Sciences and Dumfries Dental Centre. In 2011 a third campus was added in Stornoway.

Key dates for UHI [edit]

  • 1992 - UHI Project established
  • 1996 - Millennium Commission funding awarded
  • 1998 - Open University confirms degree validation backing
  • 2001 - Higher education institution status granted
  • 2002 - Research funding awarded
  • 2005 - Application for taught degree awarding powers lodged with the Privy Council
  • 2008 - Taught degree awarding powers granted
  • 2010 - Decision made to relocate to a new campus at Beechwood farm
  • 2011 - Awarded university status as the University of the Highlands and Islands
  • 2012 - Princess Royal installed as Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands

Constituent Institutions [edit]

Map of UHI Campus locations throughout Scotland
College Founded Main Campus Location
Argyll College 1997 Dunoon, Argyll and Bute
Highland Theological College 1974 Dingwall, Highland
Inverness College 1960 Inverness, Highland
Lews Castle College 1953 Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
Moray College 1971 Elgin, Moray
NAFC Marine Centre 1988 Scalloway, Shetland
North Highland College 1959 Thurso, Highland
Orkney College 1995 Kirkwall, Orkney
Perth College 1961 Perth, Perth and Kinross
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig 1973 Sleat, Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides
SAMS 1884 Oban, Argyll and Bute
Shetland College 1970 Lerwick, Shetland
West Highland College 2010 Fort William, Highland

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "James Fraser — UHI Millennium Institute". Uhi.ac.uk. 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  2. ^ "University of the Highlands and Islands". UHI. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  3. ^ "Facts and figures". The University of the Highlands and Islands. Retrieved 6 January 2013. 
  4. ^ "''UHI is awarded taught degree awarding powers'', news release 26 June 2008, Highland Council website, accessed 20 March 2009". Highland.gov.uk. 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  5. ^ "University of the Highlands and Islands". UHI. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  6. ^ "''A brief guide to QAA's involvement in degree-awarding powers and university title'', Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) website, accessed 20 March 2009". QAA. 2004-09-01. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  7. ^ "Sabhal Mòr Ostaig - Full-time Courses - Choose a Course" (in (Scottish Gaelic)). Smo.uhi.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  8. ^ HTC On-Line - BA Degree Introduction[dead link]
  9. ^ "BA (Hons) Scottish History". UHI. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  10. ^ [1][dead link]
  11. ^ Times Higher Education - Proud winners and PM sparkle at first awards
  12. ^ "BA (Hons) Golf Management". UHI. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  13. ^ "Lochaber College, Study and Gain Qualifcations in and Around Fort William. Lochaber College is part of the UHI". Lochaber.uhi.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  14. ^ "Sustainable science, heritage and development — UHI Millennium Institute". Uhi.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 
  15. ^ "Sustainable science, heritage and development — UHI Millennium Institute". Uhi.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-02. 

External links [edit]
Ancient (pre-1600)
University of Edinburgh, Old College Quad
Plate-Glass (1960s)
Modern (1992 on)
Distance-Learning
Other institutions
of higher education
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