Chuir Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean (UHI) fàilte air 600 aoigh gu Eden Court ann an Inbhir Nis Diardaoin 14 Samhain, airson cuirm ceumnachaidh còrr air 130 oileanach banaltrachd is optomatrachd bho na h-àrainnean ann an Inbhir Nis is Steòrnabhagh.
B’ e Seansalair UHI, A Mòrachd Rìoghail a’ Bhana-Phrionnsa Rìoghail, a bha os cionn an tachartais.
Bha cuirm na bliadhna-sa gu sònraichte cudromach, leis gun robh a’ chiad chlas ceumnachaidh den phrògram BSc (le Urram) Optomatrachd, a’ nochdadh.
Thòisich an tachartas le caismeachd den phàrtaidh acadaimigeach air a stiùireadh leis an neach-giùlain masair An Dr Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo, Àrd-Òraidiche ann an Optomatrachd.
Dh’ fhosgail Vicki Nairn, Prionnsapal agus Iar-Sheansalair UHI, an deas-ghnàth, a’ nochdadh moit ann an euchdan nan ceumnaichean:
“An-diugh, bidh sinn a’ cruinneachadh gus clach-mhìle iongantach a chomharrachadh ann am beatha ar ceumnaichean banaltrachd is optomatrachd.
“Tha na choilean iad na theisteanas, chan ann a-mhàin air an obair chruaidh agus an dealas, ach cuideachd air an taic sheasmhach a fhuair iad tron t-slighe aca.”
B’ e an t-Àrd-Ollamh Melaine Coward, Comhairliche Sònraichte airson Foghlam agus Dearbhadh Càileachd leis a’ Chomhairle Banaltrachd agus Banas-glùine an neach-aoigheachd.
Mar phrìomh neach ann an ceannardas agus foghlam cùram slàinte, dh’aithnich an t-Ollamh Coward dealas agus obair chruaidh an luchd-ceumnachaidh agus chomharraich i cho cudromach ’s a tha leasachadh proifeiseanta leantainneach.
Chaidh grunn dhuaisean sònraichte a thoirt seachad aig an deas-ghnàth gus aithne a thoirt do na rinn iad agus coileanaidhean air leth nan oileanach agus luchd-obrach.
Thug a’ Bhana-Phrionnsa Rìoghail seachad Bonn cliùiteach an t-Seansalair don Ollamh Emeritus Neil Simco.
Fhuair an t-Ollamh Simco, a leig dheth a dhreuchd ann an 2024 mar Leas-phrionnsapal Acadaimigeach is Rannsachaidh aig UHI, an duais mar chomharra air na chuir e ri rannsachadh UHI, ro-innleachdan foghlaim treas-ìre, agus iomairtean Gàidhlig.
Am measg nan urraman a bharrachd bha Duais Banaltrachd an t-Seansalair, a chaidh a bhuileachadh air Gemma NicAoidh à Goillspidh, a rinn BSc ann am Banaltrachd Inbheach.
Chaidh Gemma aithneachadh airson a tapachd, a dealas, agus a coileanadh air leth mar oileanach banaltrachd, a dh’aindeoin dùbhlain phearsanta mhòra a bhith aice.
Thuirt i:
“Bha an cùrsa dùbhlanach dhomh aig amannan.
“Tha tòrr air a bhith agam nam bheatha phearsanta thar nam beagan bhliadhnaichean a dh’fhalbh, ach rinn mi an gnothach.
“Cha bhithinn an seo an-diugh às aonais misneachd agus taic bho Danni, an neach-teagaisg acadaimigeach pearsanta agam.
“Tha e na urram dhomh a bhith air m’ ainmeachadh airson Duais Banaltrachd an t-Seansalair agus tha e na thoileachas mòr dhomh gun do bhuannaich mi!”
Chaidh Oileanach na Bliadhna aig Ionad UHI airson Saidheansan Slàinte Dùthchail, a bharrachd air Oileanach na Bliadhna san fharsaingeachd aig UHI, a bhuileachadh air Lou Hyett-Collins à Fachabair. Chaidh Lou, a chrìochnaich BSc ann am Banaltrachd Inbheach, a thaghadh airson a dealas sònraichte a thaobh banaltrachd, coileanadh acadaimigeach àrd, agus obair tagraidh air cùisean leithid ionmhas oileanach, suidheachadh luchd-obrach agus maoineachadh foghlam banaltrachd.
Thuirt Lou:
“Tha mi an dà chuid air bhioran agus moiteil a bhith a’ ceumnachadh bho UHI mar bhanaltram inbheach.
“Chòrd an cùrsa rium gu mòr. Chòrd an dùbhlan acadaimigeach rium gu mòr, a bharrachd air na cothroman agus na duaisean a thug an cùrsa seachad.
“Tha e air a bhith dùbhlanach aig amannan, ach tha an taic bhon a h-uile òraidiche air a bhith air leth math.
“Tha a bhith nad oilthigh nas lugha a’ toirt cothrom air suathadh pearsanta agus cothrom eòlas fhaighinn air co-oileanaich is òraidichean – tha mi air caraidean a dhèanamh airson beatha.”
A’ bruidhinn mun dà dhuais Oileanach na Bliadhna aice, thuirt i:
“Tha mi air leth toilichte, taingeil agus urramaichte gun do choisinn mi na duaisean seo.
“Tha mi air taghadh cho farsaing de chothroman buannachdail fhaighinn tro UHI.
“Chòrd e rium a bhith a’ tagradh airson mo chomhaoisean agus a’ riochdachadh na h-Alba air comataidh oileanach Colaiste Rìoghail na Banaltrachd.
“Tha tagradh na phàirt cho cudromach de bhanaltrachd agus aon de na h-adhbharan a thàinig mi gu bhith nam bhanaltram.
“Tha mi a-nis a’ coimhead air adhart ris an dreuchd ùr agam mar bhanaltram coimhearsnachd, agus san fhad-ùine, tha mi an dòchas cur ri foghlam banaltrachd san àm ri teachd.”
Às dèidh an deas-ghnàth, thàinig luchd-ceumnachaidh còmhla ann an caismeachd thraidiseanta timcheall air Cathair-eaglais Inbhir Nis, air a stiùireadh leis a’ phìobaire agus Oifigear Gàidhlig UHI, DJ Mac an t-Saoir, mus do thill iad gu Eden Court airson cuirm-chiùil.
Dhùin an t-Àrd-Ollamh Nicola Carey, Ceannard an Ionaid airson Saidheansan Slàinte Dùthchail, an deas-ghnàth le mealadh-naidheachd chridheil air a h-uile ceumnaiche:
“Às leth UHI, tha mi a’ cur meal-a-naidheachd air gach fear agaibh.
“Tha e air a bhith na urram a bhith a’ faicinn ar ceumnaichean, an caraidean, an teaghlaichean, agus an co-obraichean a’ tighinn còmhla gus a’ chlach-mhìle seo a chomharrachadh.
“Tha sinn air leth moiteil asaibh agus a h-uile rud a tha sibh air a choileanadh.”
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal Joins UHI in Celebrating Nursing and Optometry Graduates at Special Ceremony
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) welcomed 600 guests to Eden Court in Inverness on Thursday 14 November, for the graduation ceremony of over 130 nursing and optometry students from its Inverness and Stornoway campuses.
The event was presided over by UHI’s Chancellor, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
This year’s ceremony was particularly significant, as it featured the first graduating class of the BSc (Hons) Optometry programme.
The event began with a procession of the academic party led by macebearer Dr Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo, Senior Lecturer in Optometry.
Vicki Nairn, UHI Principal and Vice-Chancellor, opened the ceremony, expressing pride in the graduates’ accomplishments:
“We gather to celebrate an extraordinary milestone in the lives of our nursing and optometry graduates.
“Their achievements are a testament not only to their hard work and commitment but also to the unwavering support they have received throughout their journey.”
Professor Melaine Coward, Specialist Advisor for Education and Quality Assurance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council was the guest speaker.
A leading figure in healthcare leadership and education, Professor Coward acknowledged the graduates’ dedication and hard work and highlighted the importance of ongoing professional development.
Several special awards were presented during the ceremony to recognise the exceptional contributions and achievements of students and staff.
The Princess Royal presented the prestigious Chancellor’s Medal to Emeritus Professor Neil Simco.
Professor Simco, who retired in 2024 as UHI’s Deputy Principal Academic and Research, received the award in recognition of contributions to UHI’s research, tertiary education strategies, and Gaelic language initiatives.
Additional honours included the Chancellor’s Nursing Award, presented to Gemma Mackay from Golspie, who completed a BSc in Adult Nursing.
Gemma was recognised for her resilience, commitment, and outstanding performance as a nursing student, despite facing significant personal challenges.
She said:
“The course was challenging for me at times.
“I’ve had a lot going on in my personal life over the last few years, but I got there.
“I wouldn’t be here today without the reassurance and support of Danni, my personal academic tutor.
“I am honoured to have been nominated for the Chancellor’s Nursing Award and overwhelmed that I won!”
The UHI Centre for Rural Health Sciences Student of the Year, as well as the UHI Overall Student of the Year, was awarded to Lou Hyett-Collins from Fochabers.
Lou, who completed a BSc in Adult Nursing, was selected for her exceptional dedication to nursing, high academic performance, and advocacy work on issues such as student finance, workforce conditions and nursing education funding.
Lou said:
“I’m both excited and proud to be graduating from UHI as an adult nurse.
“I absolutely loved the course.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the academic challenge, as well as the opportunities and rewards the course has provided.
“It’s been challenging at times, but the support from all the lecturers has been fantastic.
“Being a smaller university allows for a personal touch and the chance to really get to know fellow students and lecturers — I’ve made friends for life.”
Speaking about her both of her Student of the Year awards, she added:
“I’m delighted, grateful and honoured to have won these awards.
“I’ve had such a wide range of rewarding opportunities through UHI.
“I’ve relished advocating for my peers and representing Scotland on the Royal College of Nursing student committee.
“Advocacy is such an important part of nursing and one of the reasons I became a nurse.
“I’m now looking forward to my new role as a community nurse, and long-term, hope to contribute to future nurse education.”
Following the ceremony, graduates joined in a traditional procession around Inverness Cathedral, led by piper and UHI Gaelic Officer, DJ MacIntyre, before returning to Eden Court for a celebratory reception.
Professor Nicola Carey, Head of the Centre for Rural Health Sciences, closed the ceremony with warm congratulations to all graduates:
“On behalf of UHI, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of you.
“It has been an honour to witness our graduates, their friends, families, and colleagues come together to celebrate this milestone.
“We are incredibly proud of you and all you have accomplished.”
