A SKYE-based lecturer has been honoured by students in the fourth annual University of the Highlands and Islands Teaching awards.
Catriona Johnston, a course leader for the university’s diploma in Gaelic media (a professional development award) at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI, won the ‘best preparation for the workplace category’.
She was nominated for helping students to develop their practical skills and make key industry contacts.
One student explained: “Catriona is the best person to help you for preparation into the workplace. Not only does she help us out with our PDA, she also gives us as many opportunities as she can to meet people who may be of influence in getting us jobs.
“Our PDA is media based and Catriona has us running (voluntarily) for as many production companies as she can. Having spent many years in the industry, she knows exactly who would be useful to know.
“Her course is highly recommended and comes with the opportunity to learn in a college-based environment for one academic year and a work placement for another academic year.
“Once the PDA is finished, there is a high chance you can go straight into a job with the amount of practical skills and knowledge that is given to us by Catriona.”
Ms Johnston grew up on the island of Grimsay, North Uist, but now lives in Drumfearn, Sleat.
She welcomed the awards, saying: “We run a fantastic course here and I am privileged to work year in and year out with a great bunch of tutors and students. I was completely unaware that the students had nominated me for this award, but I am both honoured and delighted to have won it.”
Organised by UHISA, the UHI Students’ Association, the awards recognise excellence in eight categories. The other winners were:
- Most inspiring lecturer, Reverend Hector Morrison, Highland Theological College UHI
- Outstanding student support, Martin Cameron, Highland Theological College UHI
- Best personal academic tutor, Jane MacIntosh, North Highland College UHI
- Most engaging online tutor, Dr Elizabeth Ritchie, Centre for History
- Most engaging video conference tutor, Dr Edward Graham, Lews Castle College UHI
- Best assessment feedback, Matt Sillars, Inverness College UHI
- Best dissertation or research supervisor, Dr John Howe, Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI
The University of the Highlands and Islands was one of the first institutions to work with the Higher Education Academy and National Union of Students to introduce student-led teaching awards. They have now been adopted throughout Scotland and were introduced to the rest of the UK last year.
UHISA president, Rachel Parker, said: “The awards celebrate and highlight teaching excellence at the university, enabling students to commend the dedication of staff. We received a record number of nominations this year which demonstrates how much students value being able to provide positive feedback.”
Dr Iain Morrison, dean of students at the university, said: “These awards are tribute to the hard work and excellence of the staff. All those nominated, as well as the eventual winners themselves, have demonstrated commitment to our students and a high level of professional expertise that has been rightly recognised by those who appreciate it most.”
The winners will all receive a trophy and certificate.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The University of the Highlands and Islands is a partnership of 13 further and higher education colleges, specialist colleges and research institutions, distributed throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. They are bound together through constitutional, management and academic structures, and coordinated through an executive office.
There are currently over 7,000 students studying on undergraduate and postgraduate courses or undertaking postgraduate research with the university.
The University of the Highlands and Islands is the only university based in the Highlands and Islands.
Its purpose is to have a transformational impact on the development and prospects for the region, its people and its communities.
The University of the Highlands and Islands is a limited company registered in Scotland No. 148203. Scottish charity No. SC022228. Registered office: 12B, Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5SQ.
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Tha òraidiche anns an Eilean Sgitheanach an dèidh bhith air a h-onarachadh le oileanaich anns na ceathramh Duaisean Teagaisg bliadhnail aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.
Bhuannaich Catrìona NicIain, stiùiriche cùrsa airson dioplòma an oilthigh anns na meadhanan Gàidhlig (a tha na theisteanas leasachadh proifeiseanta) aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI, an duais sa chatagaraidh ‘an deasachadh as fheàrr airson an àite-obrach’. Chaidh a h-ainmeachadh airson oileanaich a chuideachadh a bhith a’ leasachadh nan sgilean practaigeach aca agus a’ coinneachadh ri daoine cudromach sa ghnìomhachas.
Mar a chuir aon oileanach an cèill e: “Is i Catrìona as fheàrr a chuidicheas leat a bhith gad dheasachadh fhèin airson an àite-obrach. Chan e a-mhàin gum bi i gar cuideachadh leis an teisteanas fhèin, ach gum bi i cuideachd a’ toirt dhuinn uiread de chothroman ’s as urrainn dhi a bhith a’ coinneachadh ri daoine a dh’fhaodadh ar cuideachadh a bhith a’ faighinn obair. Tha an teisteanas againn stèidhte air na meadhanan agus bidh Catrìona gar brosnachadh a bhith ag obair (gu saor-thoileach) do na h-uiread de chompanaidhean riochdachaidh ’s a ghabhas. Às dèidh dhi iomadh bliadhna a chur seachad sa ghnìomhachas, tha fios aice cò na daoine as urrainn do chuideachadh. Tha deagh chliù aig a’ chùrsa aice agus na lùib tha cothrom ionnsachadh aig a’ cholaiste fad bliadhna agus bliadhna eile a bhith agad air greis-ghnìomhachais. Aon uair ‘s gum bi am PDA dèante, tha e gu math coltach gum faigh thu obair sa bhad leis na sgilean practaigeach agus an t-eòlas a bhios Catrìona a’ toirt dhuinn.
Fhuair a’ Bh-Uas NicIain a h-àrach ann an Griomasaigh, Uibhist a Tuath ach tha i a-nis a’ fuireach anns An Druim Fheàrna, Slèite. Chuir i fàilte air an duais, agus i ag ràdh: “Tha sinn a’ ruith cùrsa air leth an seo agus ’s e sochair a th’ ann dhomh a bhith ag obair le fìor dheagh bhuidheann de luchd-oide agus oileanaich gach bliadhna. Cha robh càil a dh’fhios agam gun do dh’ainmich na h-oileanaich mi airson na duais seo, ach ’s e urram agus adhbhar toileachais a th’ ann dhomh gun do bhuannaich mi i.”
Agus iad air an cur air dòigh le UHISA, Comann Oileanaich UHI, bidh na duaisean ag aithneachadh sàr-mhathais ann an ochd roinnean. Is iad na buannaichean eile:
- An t-òraidiche as brosnachaile, an t-Urramach Eachann Moireasdan, Colaiste Dhiadhachd na Gàidhealtachd UHI
- Taic air leth do dh’oileanaich, Màrtainn Camshron, Colaiste Dhiadhachd na Gàidhealtachd UHI
- An neach-oideachaidh acadaimigeach pearsanta as fheàrr, Sìne Nic an Tòisich, Colaiste na Gàidhealtachd a Tuath UHI
- An neach-oideachaidh air-loidhne as inntinniche, an t-Oll Ealasaid Ritchie, Ionad Eachdraidh
- An neach-oideachaidh co-labhairt bhidio as inntinniche, an t-Oll Eddie Greumach, Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI
- Am fios air ais as fheàrr ann am measadh, Matt Sillars, Colaiste Inbhir Nis UHI
- An stiùiriche as fheàrr air tràchdas no rannsachadh, An t-Oll John Howe, Comann Saidheans Mara na h-Alba UHI
Bha Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean am measg nan ciad institiudan a dh’oibrich leis an Acadamaidh Àrd-fhoghlaim agus Aonadh Nàiseanta nan Oileanach gus duaisean teagaisg, air an stiùireadh le oileanaich, a chur air bhog. Thathas air gabhail riutha air feadh na h-Alba agus chaidh an toirt a-steach anns a’ chòrr den RA an-uiridh.
Thuirt ceann-suidhe UHISA, Raonaid Parker: “Tha na duaisean seo a’ comharrachadh agus a’ taisbeanadh sar-mhàthas an oilthigh a thaobh teagasg, agus iad a’ leigeil le oileanaich dìorras an luchd-obrach a mholadh. Fhuair sinn am-bliadhna an àireamh as àirde de dh’ainmeachaidhean a fhuair sinn riamh, rud a tha a’ sealltainn an luach a bhios oileanaich a’ cur air a’ chothrom a bhith a’ cur an cèill am beachdan moltach.”
Thuirt an t-Oll Iain Moireasdan, deadhan nan oileanach aig an oilthigh: “Tha na duaisean seo ag aithneachadh obair chruaidh agus sàr-mhathas an luchd-obrach. Sheall a h-uile duine a chaidh ainmeachadh, cho math ris an fheadhainn a shoirbhich, cho dealasach ’s a tha iad airson nan oileanach againn agus an ìre àrd de dh’eòlas proifeiseanta a th’ aca, a chaidh aithneachadh, mar bu chòir, leis an fheadhainn as taingeile air a shon.”
Gheibh na buannaichean cuach agus teisteanas.
CRÌOCH
Notaichean do luchd-deasachaidh
‘S e com-pàirteachas de thrì-deug de cholaistean foghlaim adhartaich agus àrd-fhoghlaim, colaistean speisealta agus ionadan rannsachaidh a th’ ann an Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, is iad air an sgaoileadh air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Tha iad ceangailte ri chèile tro structaran a bhuineas don bhonn-stèidh, an stiùireadh agus gnothaichean acadaimigeach, agus air an co-òrdanachadh tro oifis stiùiridh.
An-dràsta tha barrachd is 7000 oileanach ag ionnsachadh air cùrsaichean fo-cheum agus for-cheum no a’ gabhail rannsachadh for-cheum os làimh leis an oilthigh.
Is e Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean an t-aon oilthigh a tha air a shuidheachadh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan.
Is e a adhbhar bith buaidh chruth-atharrachail a thoirt air leasachadh na sgìre agus air na tha san amharc don sgìre, do a muinntir agus do a coimhearsnachdan.
Tha Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean na chompanaidh earranta clàraichte ann an Alba Àir. 148203. Àir. charthannais Albannaich SC022228. Oifis chlàraichte: 12B, Slighe Nis, Inbhir Nis, IV3 5SQ.
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