Associate Professor title awarded to sustainability lecturer

Dr Eilidh MacPhail, a UHI North, West and Hebrides lecturer, has been awarded the title of Associate Professor of Sustainable Rural and Islands Development by the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Based in Stornoway, Dr MacPhail teaches on UHI North, West and Hebrides sustainability programmes, and has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to learning, teaching, and academic leadership. 

Her academic interests span public policy, rural and island community development, land reform, and education and skills development, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. 

A passionate advocate for online education, Dr MacPhail has over 15 years of experience in digital teaching and has played a key role in initiatives aimed at enhancing staff capabilities in supporting student mental health. 

Her work is central to UHI’s mission to foster sustainable and inclusive development across rural and island regions. 

Reflecting on her new appointment as Associate Professor, Dr MacPhail said: “I’m delighted to be awarded this title. I hope it will provide a platform to further develop opportunities for our rural and island regions, particularly in education and skills development related to sustainability. 

There are many opportunities emerging as we transition to net zero, and our communities can and should be at the forefront of this shift thanks to our land, resources, and people. 

Through our sustainability degrees and continuous professional development, we already offer pathways for individuals - locally and internationally - to gain the knowledge and skills needed for this transition. 

We want to ensure our communities are well-equipped to seize these opportunities through our existing curriculum, and to attract new talent to the Highlands and Islands through innovative programmes. 

I also hope this new role will open doors to collaborate with others nationally and internationally on key issues such as education, land and governance, community development, housing, and energy.” 

UHI North, West and Hebrides delivers a full range of online sustainability programmes, from undergraduate degree to postgraduate and master's level study, to short continuous professional development and upskilling short courses. 

The college is also developing further work-based courses to support the Just Transition and ‘green jobs’ in the islands through the TalEntEd programme, an Islands Growth Deal project supported with joint investment of up to £5.9 million from the Scottish Government and UK Government.