WITH the Royal National Mod in full swing in Inverness, the University of the Highlands and Islands has today (Tuesday 14 October) launched its second Gaelic Language Plan.
The document sets out the university’s strategy for continuing to promote and develop the use of Gaelic through its practices, curriculum and communications until 2018. Proposals include producing more bilingual resources, encouraging staff to learn Gaelic as part of their development plans and holding more Gaelic events.
The document is the university’s second Gaelic Language Plan. The organisation was the first higher education institution to produce a Gaelic Language Plan in 2010. Its first plan helped to increase the amount of Gaelic the university uses in services to students, staff and the public and to widen the Gaelic medium and Gaelic language learning opportunities it provides. A professional graduate diploma in (primary) education, which includes an option for people to train as Gaelic medium primary teachers, is just one of the university’s new Gaelic-related courses.
Staff hope the latest plan will help the university to build on these achievements. The new strategy includes a dedicated student experience section, which recognises the importance of delivering student services in Gaelic. Commitments include increasing the amount of student web content available in Gaelic, running Gaelic careers events and providing feedback mechanisms in Gaelic.
Professor Clive Mulholland, University of the Highlands and Islands principal and vice-chancellor explained the importance of the plan: “As the only university based in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, we are intensely aware of our responsibilities to enhance the use and status of Gaelic. While we are proud of our achievements to date, we also are keen to build on these successes. This new plan demonstrates the university’s continuing commitment to the development and enhancement of Gaelic.”
Scott McNally, who represented students in the development of the plan and is currently studying for an MSc in material culture and Gàidhealtachd history with the university, said: “This plan will be hugely beneficial to students who wish to learn Gaelic or to use Gaelic from day to day. There are Gaelic speaking students and those with an interest in Gaelic throughout the Highlands and it’s very important that the university is recognising its role in the revitalisation of the language.”
Bòrd na Gàidhlig Ceannard (CEO), John Angus MacKay, said: “The University of the Highlands and Islands has a significant role to play in encouraging the learning and use of the Gaelic language on an everyday basis. We welcome the university’s second Language Gaelic Plan which builds upon the successes of their first plan and continues to enhance Gaelic language learning throughout the university’s widespread network.”
The University of the Highlands and Islands second Gaelic Language Plan has been prepared in line with statutory criteria set out in the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and included public consultation. It was approved by the national Gaelic development agency, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, in September. The plan can be viewed and downloaded at www.uhi.ac.uk/gaelicplan
ENDS
More photos available on request
An t-oilthigh a’ foillseachadh plana Gàidhlig ùr
Agus Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail fo làn sheòl ann an Inbhir Nis, dh’fhoillsich Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean an dàrna Plana Gàidhlig aige an-diugh (14 Dàmhair).
Tha an sgrìobhainn a’ cur an cèill ro-innleachd an oilthigh airson a bhith a’ leantainn air ag adhartachadh agus a’ leasachadh an fheuma a nithear den Ghàidhlig anns na cleachdaidhean, an curraicealam agus na conaltraidhean aige gu 2018. Am measg nam molaidhean tha a bhith a’ solar barrachd ghoireasan dà-chànanach, a’ brosnachadh an luchd-obrach a bhith ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig mar phàirt de na planaichean fèin-leasachaidh aca agus a’ cumail barrachd thachartasan sa Ghàidhlig.
Is e darna plana Gàidhlig an oilthigh a tha san sgrìobhainn seo. B’ e an t-oilthigh a’ chiad stèidheachd àrd-fhoghlaim an Alba a dh’fhoillsich plana Gàidhlig ann an 2010. Chuidich a’ chiad phlana leis an oilthigh a bhith a’ cleachdadh barrachd Gàidhlig sna seirbheisean a bheir e do dh’oileanaich, do luchd-obrach agus don mhòr-shluagh, agus a bhith a’ solar chothroman nas fharsainge airson ionnsachadh tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus a’ Ghàidhlig fhèin ionnsachadh. Tha dioplòma for-cheum proifeiseanta ann am foghlam (bun-sgoile), a tha a’ gabhail a-steach roghainn a bhith a’ trèanadh mar thidsear bun-sgoile ann am foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, am measg chùrsaichean Gàidhlig ùra an oilthigh.
Tha an luchd-obrach an dòchas gun cuidich am plana as ùire an t-oilthigh ann a bhith a’ togail air na choilion e. Anns an ro-innleachd ùir tha earrann shònraichte air na dh’fhiosraicheas oileanaich, a tha ag aithneachadh cho cudromach is a tha e seirbheisean a thoirt do dh’oileanaich sa Ghàidhlig. Tha na geallaidhean cuideachd a’ gabhail a-steach a bhith a’ cur ris an t-susbaint-lìn a tha ri faotainn do dh’oileanaich sa Ghàidhlig, a’ ruith thachartasan mu dhreuchdan Gàidhlig agus a’ solar dhòighean air fios air ais a thoirt sa Ghàidhlig.
Mhìnich An t-Àrd-Ollamh Clive Mulholland, prionnsapal agus iar-sheansalair Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean cho cudromach ’s a tha am plana: Leis nach eil oilthigh ann air a shuidheachadh air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan ach sinn fhèin, tha sinn gu math mothachail air na dleastanasan a tha oirnn a bhith a’ cur ri inbhe na Gàidhlig agus ris an fheum a nithear dhith. Ged a tha sinn pròiseil às na rinn sinn gu ruige seo, tha sinn gun teagamh airson togail air na choilion sinn. Tha am plana ùr seo a’ sealltainn dealas leantainneach an oilthigh airson leasachadh agus adhartachadh na Gàidhlig.”
Thuirt Sgotaidh Mac Con Ulaidh, a riochdaich oileanaich ann an leasachadh a’ phlana, agus a tha a’ dèanamh MSc ann an cultar dùthchasach agus eachdraidh na Gàidhealtachd tron oilthigh: “Bidh am plana seo na dheagh chuideachadh do dh’oileanaich a tha ag iarraidh Gàidhlig ionnsachadh no a chleachdadh anns an obair làitheil aca. Tha oileanaich aig a bheil a’ Ghàidhlig no aig a bheil ùidh ann an Gàidhlig sgapte air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus tha e gu math cudromach gu bheil an t-oilthigh ag aithneachadh an àite aige ann an ath-bheothachadh a’ chànain”
Thuirt Iain Aonghas MacAoidh, ceannard Bhòrd na Gàidhlig: “Tha àite cudromach aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh ionnsachadh agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig o latha gu latha. Tha sinn a’ cur fàilte air dàrna Plana Gàidhlig an oilthigh a tha a’ togail air soirbheachadh a’ chiad phlana aca agus a leanas air a bhith a’ cur ri ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig air feadh lìonra farsaing an oilthigh.”
Chaidh dàrna Plana Gàidhlig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean a chur ri chèile a rèir nan slatan-tomhais reachdail ann an Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 an co-chomhairle ris an t-sluagh. Chaidh aontachadh le buidheann leasachaidh nàiseanta na Gàidhlig, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, san t-Sultain. Faodar am plana fhaicinn agus a luchdachadh a-nuas aig www.uhi.ac.uk/planagaidhlig
CRIOCH
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