Gaelic degrees take centre stage at UHI North, West and Hebrides careers event

The value of Gaelic in shaping future careers was celebrated at a successful event held recently at UHI North, West and Hebrides’ Stornoway campus.

 - Lecturers took to the stage and told participants that 90% of Gaelic graduates from UHI NWH have moved on to a Gaelic specific career.

The event, which took place on Tuesday 28 October, welcomed around 40 attendees, including pupils from local schools and residential students from UHI North, West and Hebrides. Staff highlighted the wide range of career opportunities available to Gaelic graduates - from education and media to culture, community development and beyond.

Gaelic lecturing staff introduced attendees to the educational opportunities offered by UHI NWH. This was followed by presentations from alumni, Donald John MacRitchie, Head of Projects at Stòrlann, and Jayne Macleod, Researcher at MacTV. Evelyn Coull, Gaelic Education Manager at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Iain Macrae, Manager at Advocacy Western Isles also shared their experiences and insights into the growing place of Gaelic skills in professional life.

Maggie Macleod, Engagement Lead, UHI North, West and Hebrides said: “This event was a fantastic celebration of Gaelic language and culture, showcasing the strength of our community connections. Hearing from alumni, engaging with young people, and sharing local food together reminded us how deeply Gaelic is woven into the identity of our region and into the learning experience at UHI NWH.”

Gaelic lecturer, Catriona Murray said: “It was wonderful to see so many young people who are considering pursuing Gaelic as a career option. We offer Gaelic degrees in a number of flexible formats, including part-time and online. This makes the courses particularly suitable for those in employment who are seeking to upskill, or change career direction”

UHI Gaelic Alumnus Jayne Macleod, who is Assistant Producer at MacTV in Stornoway, said: “I thought the Gaelic careers event was an excellent opportunity for school pupils and others to hear about the fantastic Gaelic courses on offer at UHI. I certainly enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane reminiscing about my time studying at Lews Castle College. I hope that it was encouraging for the school pupils to hear that studying Gaelic can be advantageous despite the career you choose.”

The event created an inspiring platform for discussion between students, educators and employers about how Gaelic continues to open doors in education, the arts and wider community life.

UHI North, West and Hebrides continues to play a leading role in promoting Gaelic education and cultural development across the region, with a range of courses available to learners at all levels.

For more information on how to study Gaelic at UHI North, West and Hebrides, please visit:

Gaelic - UHI North, West and Hebrides