Tourism Expert Awarded UHI Title

An expert in tourism has been awarded the title of Associate Professor by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). Dr Steve Taylor from Glenfinnan was given the title in recognition of his contribution to research commercialisation and knowledge exchange.

Dr Taylor, who has worked with UHI West Highland since 2010, has been involved in more than 20 EU-funded transnational projects on tourism-related subjects, ranging from adventure sports to wellbeing tourism.

Most recently he was involved in the Royal Irish Academy bilateral project with Munster Technological University, exploring regenerative tourism in a rural community development context.  

As Director of the Centre for Recreation and Tourism Research, Dr Taylor has overseen a number of flagship projects including Slow Adventure in Northern Territories and The Coast that Shaped the World.

The former initiative saw partners and associated businesses across Northern Europe collaborate on the development of new tourism products, which culminated in a spin-off company, Slow Adventure Ltd, being established in Scotland.

The Coast that Shaped the World, meanwhile, has seen UHI work with destination marketing organisations and communities on the west coast and islands of Scotland to gather maritime cultural heritage stories to be used to both celebrate our rich history and inspire visitors to more destinations.

A recognised academic author, his extensive publication record saw him included as part of UHI’s successful submission into the 2021 Research Excellence Framework exercise, a review of research in UK higher education institutions.

He is also an experienced PhD supervisor, chair of UHI’s tourism knowledge exchange group, coordinator of the global Adventure Tourism Research Association and co-organiser of its international adventure conference, which takes place in Germany this summer.

Vicki Nairn, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UHI, commented:

“The title of Associate Professor is reserved for academic colleagues who have established distinguished international reputations in their research or scholarship.

“Dr Taylor has dedicated his career to the development of the tourism sector, working with contacts across the globe to inform and create new opportunities.

“He is a credit to the UHI partnership and I am delighted his work has been recognised in this way.”

Lydia Rohmer was Principal of UHI West Highland when she nominated Dr Taylor for his Professorship. Lydia, now Principal Designate of UHI North, West and Highland, said:

“I am delighted Steve’s work has been recognised in this way, he has an extensive network of national and international colleagues and played a pivotal role in growing our international reputation for research excellence. He is highly deserving of this accolade.

“Our talented staff and their expertise are the foundation to our success at UHI West Highland and I want to thank Steve and his team at the Centre for Recreation and Tourism for all their fantastic work which has direct positive impact on our communities and businesses in providing local access to world-class expertise, research and innovation for more sustainable forms of tourism.”

She continued:

“As we progress towards merger with our partners in UHI North Highland and UHI Outer Hebrides, we will be looking to continue to grow our research and innovation activity further enhance the positive impact on our students, staff and our communities locally, nationally and internationally.”

For more information about business, leisure and tourism courses at UHI, visit www.uhi.ac.uk/courses

Eòlaiche Turasachd a’ Faighinn Tiotal UHI

Tha eòlaiche ann an turasachd air an tiotal Àrd-Ollamh Co-cheangailte a bhuileachadh air le Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean (UHI).

Fhuair an Dr Steve Mac an Tàilleir bho Gleann Fhionnainn an tiotal mar chomharra air na chuir e ri malairt rannsachaidh agus iomlaid eòlais.

Tha an t-Oll Mac an Tàilleir, a tha air a bhith ag obair le UHI Gàidhealtachd an Iar bho 2010, air a bhith an sàs ann an còrr is 20 pròiseact thar-nàiseanta le maoineachadh bhon EU air cuspairean co-cheangailte ri turasachd, bho spòrs dànachd gu turasachd sunnd.

O chionn ghoirid, bha e an sàs ann am pròiseact dà-thaobhach Acadamaidh Rìoghail na h-Èireann le Oilthigh Teicneòlais na Mumhan, a’ rannsachadh turasachd ath-nuadhachail ann an co-theacs leasachadh coimhearsnachd dùthchail.

Mar Stiùiriche air an Ionad airson Rannsachadh Cur-seachad agus Turasachd, tha an Dr Mac an Tàilleir air sùil a chumail air grunn phrìomh phròiseactan a’ gabhail a-steach Slow Adventure in Northern Territories agus The Coast that Shaped the World.

Chunnaic an iomairt a bh’ ann roimhe com-pàirtichean agus gnìomhachasan co-cheangailte air feadh ceann a tuath na Roinn Eòrpa co-obrachadh air leasachadh thoraidhean turasachd ùra, a thàinig gu crìch le companaidh ùr eile, Slow Adventure Earranta, ga stèidheachadh ann an Alba.

Aig an aon àm, tha An Oirthir a Thug Cumadh air an t-Saoghal air UHI fhaicinn ag obair le buidhnean margaidheachd cinn-uidhe agus coimhearsnachdan air a’ chosta an iar agus eileanan na h-Alba gus sgeulachdan mu dhualchas cultarach na mara a chruinneachadh airson an cleachdadh gus ar n-eachdraidh bheairteach a chomharrachadh, agus gus luchd-tadhail a bhrosnachadh gu barrachd chinn-uidhe.

Mar ùghdar acadaimigeach aithnichte, bha an clàr foillseachaidh farsaing aige ga fhaicinn mar phàirt de thagradh soirbheachail UHI gu eacarsaich Frèam Sàr-mhathais Rannsachaidh 2021, lèirmheas air rannsachadh ann an ionadan foghlaim àrd-ìre na RA.

Tha e cuideachd na neach-stiùiridh PhD eòlach, na chathraiche air buidheann iomlaid eòlas turasachd UHI, na cho-òrdanaiche air Comann Rannsachaidh Turasachd Global Adventure agus na cho-eagraiche air a’ cho-labhairt dàn-thurais eadar-nàiseanta aca, a bhios a’ gabhail àite sa Ghearmailt as t-samhradh.

Thuirt Vicki Nairn, Prionnsapal agus Iar-Sheansalair Eadar-amail UHI:

“Tha an tiotal Àrd-Ollamh Co-cheangailte glèidhte airson co-obraichean acadaimigeach a tha air cliù eadar-nàiseanta a stèidheachadh nan cuid rannsachaidh no sgoilearachd.

“Tha an Dr Mac an Tàilleir air a chùrsa-beatha a choisrigeadh do leasachadh na roinne turasachd, ag obair còmhla ri luchd-aithne air feadh na cruinne gus fiosrachadh agus cothroman ùra a chruthachadh.

“Tha e na chliù do chom-pàirteachas UHI agus tha mi air leth toilichte gun deach an obair aige aithneachadh san dòigh seo.”

Bha Lydia Rohmer na Prionnsapal air UHI Gàidhealtachd an Iar nuair a dh’ainmich i an Dr Mac an Tàilleir airson a dreuchd mar Àrd-Ollamh.

Thuirt Lydia, a tha a-nis na Prionnsapal Ainmichte aig UHI a Tuath, an Iar agus Innse Gall:

“Tha mi air leth toilichte gun deach obair Steve aithneachadh san dòigh seo, tha lìonra farsaing de cho-obraichean nàiseanta is eadar-nàiseanta aige agus bha pàirt chudromach aige ann a bhith ag àrdachadh ar cliù eadar-nàiseanta airson sàr-mhathas rannsachaidh.

“Tha e gu mòr airidh air an urram seo.

“Tha an luchd-obrach tàlantach againn agus an cuid eòlais nam bunait airson ar soirbheachas aig UHI Gàidhealtachd a Tuath agus tha mi airson taing a thoirt do Steve agus an sgioba aige aig an Ionad Cur-seachad agus Turasachd airson na h-obrach ionmholta a rinn iad, a thug buaidh dhìreach air ar coimhearsnachdan agus ar gnìomhachasan ann a bhith a’ solarachadh sheirbheisean ionadail, cothrom air eòlas, rannsachadh agus ùr-ghnàthachadh aig ìre chruinneil airson seòrsaichean turasachd nas seasmhaiche.”

Lean i oirre:

“Mar a thèid sinn air adhart a dh’ionnsaigh aonadh le ar com-pàirtichean ann an UHI Gàidhealtachd a Tuath agus UHI Innse Gall, bidh sinn a’ coimhead ri leantainn air adhart a’ leudachadh ar gnìomhachd rannsachaidh is ùr-ghnàthachaidh a’ cur ris a’ bhuaidh dheimhinneach air ar n-oileanaich, ar luchd-obrach agus ar coimhearsnachdan gu h-ionadail, gu nàiseanta. agus gu h-eadar-nàiseanta.”

Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu chùrsaichean gnìomhachais, cur-seachad agus turasachd aig UHI, tadhailibh air www.uhi.ac.uk/courses