UHI North, West and Hebrides professor wins Outstanding Contribution award at Herald Education Awards 2026
UHI North, West and Hebrides is celebrating after Professor Stuart Gibb was named winner of the Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member category at The Herald Education Awards for Further and Higher Education 2026. The prestigious ceremony took place on Wednesday night in Glasgow, recognising excellence across Scotland’s education sector.
Announcing the award, the judging panel described Professor Gibb as a sector-leading academic whose systemic work in learning, teaching and environmental research has shaped regional policy and practice, delivering sustained benefits for students, communities and fragile rural environments across the Highlands.
Professor Gibb has dedicated more than 30 years to higher education and environmental research, including over two decades at UHI. As Director of the Environmental Research Institute and Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange for UHI North, West and Hebrides, he leads research strategy across a distributed tertiary institution serving some of the most remote and environmentally significant regions in Europe. His research spans marine biogeochemistry, renewable energy, water quality and emerging contaminants, with a particular focus on the growing global challenge of pharmaceuticals in the environment.
Professor Stuart Gibb said:
"I am honoured to receive this award on behalf of the many brilliant colleagues, students and partners I have had the privilege of working alongside. The work we do at UHI North, West and Hebrides is rooted in our landscapes, our communities, and our challenges, and it is deeply meaningful to see that recognised on a national stage. I hope it inspires others to see that world-leading science does not only happen in cities; it happens here, and there has never been a better time to be part of it."
Among his most significant achievements is his leadership of the Flow Country Partnership, which in 2024 secured UNESCO World Heritage Site status for the world’s largest expanse of blanket bog, placing the Highlands at the centre of global climate and biodiversity conversations. The partnership has received national recognition including the Nature of Scotland Award for Nature and Climate Action and multiple Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards. Through the One Health Breakthrough Partnership, which he co-founded, Professor Gibb has also helped redefine how policy-makers think about healthcare and the environment, influencing discussions around pharmaceutical pollution and sustainable prescribing.
Lydia Rohmer, Principal and Chief Executive of UHI North, West and Hebrides said:
“This is a richly deserved recognition of Stuart’s outstanding contribution to education, research and our communities over many years. As Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Stuart has played a leading role in building a research culture that combines academic excellence with real-world impact. Through his leadership and throughout his career, he has inspired and created countless opportunities for researchers, students and partners to collaborate across disciplines, institutions and communities, strengthening both UHI North, West and Hebrides and the wider UHI partnership.
“Stuart has been instrumental in ensuring that our research is deeply connected to the people, places and challenges of the Highlands and Islands. His ability to bring together talented teams and diverse expertise has helped deliver internationally recognised research while supporting sustainable development, environmental stewardship and community resilience across our region.
“His chairmanship of the Flow Country Partnership, culminating in the inscription of the Flow Country as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a remarkable achievement. Through collaboration, vision and persistence, Stuart helped secure global recognition for one of the world’s most important peatland landscapes and its significance in addressing climate and biodiversity challenges.
“Stuart exemplifies the values of UHI North, West and Hebrides: excellence, innovation, collaboration and a deep commitment to place. We are enormously proud to see his achievements recognised on a national stage and offer him our heartfelt congratulations on this exceptional honour.”
UHI North, West and Hebrides also extends warm congratulations to UHI partner Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture on the Isle of Skye, on their win for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community award, in recognition of its role as lead partner in the Kilbeg community development.
The UHI partnership is additionally proud to have been shortlisted in the Best Marketing Campaign “Where Learning Means More” reflecting the quality and ambition of work being delivered across the partnership.
Professor Gibb’s award is a testament to the calibre of staff and the quality of the learning environment that prospective students can expect at UHI North, West and Hebrides. The institution offers a unique opportunity to study alongside world-leading researchers in some of Scotland’s most inspiring landscapes, with courses from access level to PhD across campuses and centres throughout the North and West Highlands, Skye, and Outer Hebrides.
Explore our full range of courses or learn more about our world-leading research initiatives.
