PROPOSALS for a new Gaelic Language Plan at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) are going out to public consultation for eight weeks to allow people to tell academic bosses what they think about it.
The document sets out how UHI intends to continue to promote and develop the use of Gaelic through its practices, communications and curriculum from this year through to 2022.
Its plans include enhancing the Gaelic curriculum, producing more bilingual resources for students and providing training opportunities for employees.
They will also increase the amount of Gaelic used in marketing and communications materials.
This document is the university’s third Gaelic Language Plan – UHI was the first higher education establishment in Scotland to produce such a programme in 2010.
Members of the public are being invited to read the new plan and share their thoughts on it during the consultation period.
Professor Clive Mulholland, the university’s principal and vice-chancellor, said: “Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s heritage, national identity and cultural life.
“As the only university based in the Highlands and Islands, we are intensely aware of our responsibilities to enhance the status of Gaelic and promote its use through the learning opportunities we provide.
Mulholland added: “I am proud of our achievements to date, which have seen us increase the visibility and audibility of Gaelic in our services to students, staff and the public, while making opportunities for Gaelic medium and Gaelic language learning more widely available.
“We hope our new plan will build on these achievements and demonstrate the university’s continuing commitment to the development and enhancement of Gaelic.
“Consultation is an important part of the process, so I would encourage anyone with an interest in the plan to share their views.”
Meanwhile, Gaelic is to the fore as delegates gather in Inverness for XpoNorth 2018, Scotland’s leading creative industries festival.
Delegates to XpoNorth 2018 will see and hear about some of the leaders in the Gaelic language at the festival which takes place this week in Inverness.
The two-day long event will be kicked off by Skills Development Scotland, which will today outline the range of programmes they deliver and how they can support young creatives.
Consultation on the UHI plan will run until August 20.
The draft can be read and feedback given at www.uhi.ac.uk/draftgaelicplan.
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