Teacher training places double at UHI

17 Apr 2014 04:23 PM

Teacher training places offered by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) will double to 40 this year, Education Secretary Michael Russell has announced.

During a visit to Lews Castle College Mr Russell also announced that from August UHI will be responsible for college funding in the region, to ensure decisions fully reflect local demand, and will introduce a partnership to offer teacher training with Argyll and Bute Council from 2015.

Mr Russell was meeting college staff and students as the Scottish Cabinet visited Stornoway. He said:

“The demand to study teaching at UHI has been incredible, with applications outnumbering the 40 places now available by five to one, including seven places to teach through the medium of Gaelic.

“UHI has been hugely successful in offering quality higher education to many students across 13 campuses from Argyll to Scalloway using a combination of classes, tutorials and online learning. With its new responsibilities for funding and planning further education in the Highlands and Islands, UHI will have a key role in ensuring that learning across the region meets the needs of students and employers.

“The new agreement with Argyll and Bute Council will build on the successful partnership between UHI and Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, Moray Council, Western Isles Council and Highland Council that encourages talented teachers in our rural and island communities. From September 2015 students will be able to access courses at Argyll College in Oban and Ionad Chaluim Chille IIe.”

Notes To Editors

In October 2013 the Scottish Government consulted on giving UHI responsibilities over funding allocation as the regional strategic body for:

Argyll College
Inverness College
Lews Castle College
Moray College
North Highland College
Orkney College
Perth College
Shetland College
West Highland College