Inaccurate reports of “moving to a largely online mode of tuition"

 We are not moving to a “largely online model of tuition.” Over 80% of our further education qualifications and courses will be taught face to face on campus, in school, or outdoors next year. 

UHI North, West and Hebrides undertook a curriculum review earlier this year, to create a single, integrated offer for UHI North, West and Hebrides for the 2024-2025 academic year.

We have safeguarded provision across our subject areas and qualification levels in the 2024-2025 academic year. We continue to deliver practical courses on our campuses, while widening access to learning opportunities across our rural and island communities through digital technology. We have done this at a time when many colleges and universities have been forced to reduce their offer because of the serious financial challenges across our sector.  

We are not moving to a “largely online model of tuition.” Over 80% of our further education qualifications and courses will be taught face to face on campus, in school, or outdoors next year. 

Around 20% of our further education qualifications and courses are delivered online via timetabled classes with a lecturer in a virtual classroom. This increases access to subjects across our rural and island communities, and beyond, building on e-Sgoils and UHI’s sector leading learning model for virtual learning.  

Our 19 campuses and centres continue to play an important role in supporting students and the student experience, providing a supportive space to study, socialise with other learners, and access support, irrespective of how a qualification is delivered. We encourage students to come in and use our campuses and facilities to study.

Ensuring an excellent student experience remains our key priority and we will continue to ensure the appropriate level of support is in place to enable our students to succeed and for our staff to deliver excellent learning and teaching. 

We continue to invest in specialist learning facilities in our campuses, including a £2.3 million investment at our Stornoway campus, as part of the Islands Growth Deal, supporting growth in STEM apprenticeships and courses supporting growth sectors in the renewable energy sector, delivering a skilled workforce and supporting career pathways to high value jobs in our islands and rural economies. 

The college is an anchor institution in our rural and island communities, acting as a catalyst for economic development and strong communities, helping our rural and island communities prosper through education and skills, supporting knowledge transfer, innovation and enterprise for people who want to live, work and study in our Islands and Highlands.