THE third University of the Highlands and Islands Christmas Lecture will be delivered by the organisation’s outgoing principal and vice-chancellor. James M Fraser MA, MEd, FRSA, who is set to retire at the end of the year, will explore the challenges Scottish universities face in the 21st century.
The free lecture, which will be held in Inverness on Thursday December 5, will also look at whether the elements universities bring from their past make them suitable for a fast-changing, global environment.
Mr Fraser will argue that the University of the Highlands and Islands has unusual characteristics which offer a model of Scottish university more attuned to the realities of the 21st century.
Mr Fraser will use the University of the Highlands and Islands, an organisation which delivers courses through a partnership of 13 colleges and research institutions around the region, as a case study to illustrate his talk.
Following his lecture, Mr Fraser will be interviewed by local writer and MFR broadcaster, Nicky Marr. He will be quizzed on his 40-year career in education which has seen him help three Scottish institutions gain university status, Queen Margaret University, the University of the West of Scotland and, latterly, the University of the Highlands and Islands.
The event will also feature a performance by some of the university’s BA applied music students and will be followed by a drinks and Christmas canapés reception.
Dr Crichton Lang, deputy principal and vice-principal academic, will take on the role of acting principal for the university from January 1, 2014.
Speaking about Mr Fraser’s forthcoming lecture, he said: “This will be an opportunity to hear about the experiences of someone who has had a long career in education.
“Not only has James helped three Scottish institutions to university status, he has also witnessed the changing landscape of the sector over the last four decades. He will have invaluable insights into how universities need to adapt to best serve the needs of today’s learners, communities and employers.”
The 2013 University of the Highlands and Islands Christmas Lecture, ‘The new realities for universities of the 21st century’, takes place from 7:15pm to 9pm on Thursday, December 5 at the One Touch Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness.
To book a place at this free event, please contact the university events team on 01463 279344 or at events@uhi.ac.uk by Monday, December 2.
ENDS
Thèid treas Òraid Nollaig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean a thoirt seachad le prionnsapal agus iar-sheansalair na buidhne a bhios a leigeil dheth a dhreuchd. Sgrùdaidh Seumas M Friseal MA, MEd, FRSA, a bhios a’ leigeil dheth a dhreuchd aig deireadh na bliadhna, na dùbhlain a tha mu choinneamh oilthighean na h-Alba san 21mh linn.
Anns an òraid shaor an asgaidh seo, a thèid a chumail ann an Inbhir Nis Diardaoin 5 Dùbhlachd, bidh e cuideachd a’ sgrùdadh a bheil eileamaidean a bhios oilthighean a’ toirt bhon àm a dh’fhalbh a’ fàgail gu bheil iad freagarrach airson àrainneachd chruinneil a tha ag atharrachadh gu luath. Cumaidh Mgr Friseal a-mach gu bheil feartan sònraichte aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, a tha a’ tabhann modal oilthigh a tha nas fhreagarraiche don 21mh linn.
Gabhaidh Mgr Friseal Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, buidheann a bhios a’ lìbhrigeadh chùrsaichean tro chom-pàirteachas de trì deug colaistean agus ionadan rannsachaidh air feadh na sgìre, mar eisimpleir san òraid aige.
Às dèidh na h-òraid aige, nì Nicky Marr, sgrìobhaiche ionadail agus craoladair MFR, agallamh le Mgr Friseal. Thèid ceistean a chur air mun bheatha aige ann am foghlam thar 40 bliadhna anns an do chuidich e trì ionadan an Alba tiotal oilthigh fhaighinn – Oilthigh Banrigh Maighread, Oilthigh na h-Alba an Iar agus, mu dheireadh, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.
Mar phàirt den tachartas bidh ceòl bho oileanaich an oilthigh air a’ chùrsa BA ann an ceòl ghnìomhaichte agus bidh cuirm le deochan agus biadh Nollaig às a dèidh.
Tòisichidh an t-Oll Crichton Lang, leas-phrionnsapal agus iar-phrionnsapal acadaimigeach, mar phrionnsapal an gnìomh airson an oilthigh bho 1 Faoilleach 2014. Agus e a’ bruidhinn mun òraid aig Mgr Friseal a tha air fàire, thuirt e: “Is e cothrom a bhios ann an seo a bhith a’ cluinntinn mu na dh’fhiosraich fear aig an robh rèis-obrach fhada ann am foghlam. Chan ann a-mhàin gun do chuidich Seumas trì ionadan Albannach a bhith a’ faighinn inbhe oilthigh ach cuideachd, dh’fhiosraich e mar a tha roinn an oilthighe air atharrachadh sna ceithir deichead a chaidh seachad. Bidh tuigse luachmhor aige air mar a dh’fheumas oilthighean atharrachadh gus feumalachdan luchd-ionnsachaidh, coimhearsnachdan agus fastaichean an latha an-diugh a choilionadh.”
Bidh Òraid Nollaig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean 2013, ‘An fhìrinn ùr do dh’oilthighean anns an 21mh linn’, a’ gabhail àite eadar 7:15f agus 9f Diardaoin 5 Dùbhlachd aig Taigh-cluiche One Touch, Cùirt an Aodainn, Inbhir Nis.
A ghleidheadh àite aig an tachartas seo, a tha saor an asgaidh, cuir fios gu sgioba thachartasan an oilthigh air 01463 279344 no cuir post-d chun events@uhi.ac.uk ro Diluain 2 Dùbhlachd.
CRÌOCH
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Contact: Susan Szymborski
Phone: 01463279222
Email: susan.szymborski@uhi.ac.uk
Website: http://www.uhi.ac.uk
