Highland councillors join in UHI celebrations

Highland Councillors joined in the celebrations to mark the award of university title to UHI, the University of the Highlands and Islands, hailing it as a huge boost to the region’s status and economy.

The Council fully backed the bid for university status throughout the 20-year campaign.

Convener Sandy Park said: “This is very proud and important day of celebration for the Highlands and Islands.  A university for the Highlands and Islands has been a long held aspiration for the area  The educational, economic and social benefits are huge and will have a transformational impact on the region. The benefit of investment in UHI’s infrastructure is already being felt throughout the Highlands in Skye, Fort William, Thurso and Dornoch. It is important now to make progress with the UHI campus project at Beechwood, Inverness, which promises to bring together academic research and allow businesses to benefit from the pool of talent involved in research and development on the site."

Leader of the Council Administration Councillor Michael Foxley, who is vice-chairman of West Highland College (UHI), added: “We have all worked long and very hard to achieve this. Our university is a statement of pride, confidence and opportunities in the Highlands and Islands. In terms of economic benefit, this exceeds other important milestones in the recent history of the Highlands."

Provost Jimmy Gray, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee, said: “We have supported a university for the Highlands because it will have a major positive impact on the local and regional economy. Socially our communities will benefit from the retention of our young people and from the influx of students from outside the region. This also offers huge opportunities for lifelong learning for our mature students.”