News / Shetland gets university status
STUDENTS can now study for a degree in Shetland after university status was conferred upon the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) on Tuesday.
Shetland College UHI and NAFC Marine Centre UHI can now offer full degree courses without students needing to leave the islands.
Welcoming the news, Shetland MSP Tavish Scott has warned that it should not undermine the further and higher education courses being run at the two colleges.
He said: “These two colleges have played a key role in providing Shetlanders with the qualifications they, and the wider community, need and this work must continue. The university should be seen as adding to the good work of the colleges’ and not in any way superseding it.”
Education secretary Michael Russell led a ceremony at UHI’s Inverness headquarters, saying the institution would attract student, researchers and staff and stimulate the region’s economic, social and cultural development.
Shetland College director George Smith said: “It is tremendously important for Shetland College UHI and for Shetland as a whole that students can now study for qualifications to degree level and beyond without having to leave the islands.
“This will allow industry to access a broad range of qualifications relevant to the economic and social development of Shetland on their doorstep.”
NAFC Marine Centre director David Gray added: “We are delighted that university title has been awarded to UHI; a deserving recognition of the high standard of education being delivered throughout the Highlands and Islands.””
UHI comprises 13 colleges, specialist institutions and research centres spread across the highlands and islands, an area twice the size of Wales. It uses information technologies to link together students and staff to bring access to higher education to dispersed communities.
The achievement of university title by UHI is the realisation of a long-time ambition for the region to have its own university to support economic development and to help sustain rural and island communities.
UHI Millennium Institute was designated as a higher education institution in April 2001. It was granted taught degree awarding powers, a necessary precursor to university title, in August 2008.
UHI’s application for university title was supported by the universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Strathclyde who will continue to work with UHI in its future development.
UHI has over 8,000 students and more than 100 courses in subjects including marine science, sustainable rural development, Gaelic studies, fine art, engineering, social sciences, child and youth studies, archaeology, computing, history, and business leadership and management; all tailored for the needs of the region and beyond.
New courses for this year include a BA in tourism and hospitality practice, a postgraduate certificate in enterprise and e-marketing, and an MLitt in the history of the highlands and islands.
The UHI partners are:
Argyll College UHI
Highland Theological College UHI – (Dingwall)
Inverness College UHI
Lews Castle College UHI – (Western Isles)
Moray College UHI
NAFC Marine Centre UHI – (Scalloway, Shetland)
North Highland College UHI
Orkney College UHI
Perth College UHI
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI – (Skye)
Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI – (Dunstaffnage, near Oban)
Shetland College UHI
West Highland College UHI
More information is available at www.uhi.ac.uk
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