Introduction to Conference
Dear Colleagues,
I have great pleasure in welcoming you to the 5th Biennial University of the Highlands and Islands Staff/(Research) Student Conference, which I am equally pleased to acknowledge is being hosted by Perth College UHI for the first time.
On your behalf, I would like to thank our hosts for all their help and enthusiastic engagement over the past year, while planning for the Conference. This type of event, and the spirit of cooperation that accompanies it – from the organising team, the academic partner hosts, and the staff and students who take part – really brings out the best in our University. Furthermore, the contribution from colleagues who are attending from outwith the University, most notably: Professor Lesley Yellowlees, Dr Ian Brotherston, Dr Stuart Fancey, and Philip Piatkiewicz – all of whom are presenting keynote addresses; is set to make this a truly memorable occasion.
The timing of the conference this year could not be better. Whilst, at the time of writing, there is significant uncertainty around how, eventually, BREXIT will play out and what the implications will actually be for research and innovation, it is also the case that our University’s activities in research, knowledge exchange and innovation are already being formed by a rapidly changing external context. The conference will provide an opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of that external environment and the implications that it has for our work. Significant elements of the new environment include the advent of UK Research and Innovation, the Industrial Strategy and the rise and rise of the criticality of impactful research. Given this context, it is important to celebrate our successes, clarify our strengths and opportunities, and plan our engagement with this brave new world. In order to do this, we must look at the landscape, read the runes, plan our strategy, and be bold and confident as we move ahead.
We will aim to do all of these things at the conference, through a programme that will be stimulating, challenging, thought-provoking, and practical in its orientation and focus.
Enjoy the conference!
Professor Neil Simco
Vice Principal Research and Impact
A Charaidean còire,
Tha e na thoileachas mòr dhomh a bhith a’ cur fàilte oirbh gu an 5mh Co-labhairt Oileanaich/Luchd-obrach (Rannsachadh) Dà-bhliadhnail Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, agus tha mi a cheart cho toilichte a ràdh gu bheil e air aoigheachd le Colaiste Pheairt UHI airson a’ chiad uair.
Às ur leth, bu mhath leam taing a thoirt dha na h-aoighean againn airson an cuid taice agus an ceangal dealasach aca thairis air a’ bhliadhna a dh’fhalbh, fhad ’s a bha iad a’ planadh airson na Co-labhairt. Tha an seòrsa tachartais seo, agus an spiorad co-obrachaidh a tha a’ dol còmhla ris - bhon sgioba eagrachaidh, an com-pàirtiche acadaimigeach, an luchd-obrach agus na h-oileanaich a tha a’ gabhail pàirt – a’ taisbeanadh nan nithean as fheàrr mun Oilthigh againn. A bharrachd air an sin, tha an taic bho cho-obraichean a tha a’ frithealadh bho thaobh a-muigh an Oilthighe, gu h-àraid: An t-Àrd Ollamh Lesley Yellowlees , an Dr Ian Brotherston, an Dr Stuart Fancey, agus Philip Piatkiewicz - a tha uile a’ lìbhrigeadh prìomh òraidean; a’ gealltainn gum bi seo na thachartas as fhiach a chumail air chuimhne.
Cha b’ urrain dha àm na co-labhairt am-bliadhna a bhith na b’ fheàrr. Ged a tha mì-chinnt mhòr ann aig an àm sgrìobhaidh, mu dheidhinn mar a thachras le BREXIT aig a’ cheann mu dheireadh agus a’ bhuaidh ann an da-rìribh a bhios aige air rannsachadh agus ùr-ghnàthachadh, tha gnìomhachdan an Oilthighe a thaobh rannsachadh, iomlaid eòlais agus ùr-ghnàthachadh gan cruthachadh mar-thà tro cho-theacsa air taobh a-muigh a tha a’ sìor atharrachadh.
Bheir a’ cho-labhairt cothrom dhuinn na tha sinn a' tuigsinn mun àrainneachd sin air an taobh a-muigh a dhoimhneachadh agus na builean a bhios aige air ar n-obair. Am measg nan eileamaidean cudromach den àrainneachd ùir tha teachd-a-steach Rannsachadh is Ùr-ghnàthachadh RA, an Ro-innleachd Gnìomhachais agus àrdachadh is àrdachadh air deatamachd rannsachaidh buadhmhor. Leis a’ cho-theacsa seo, tha e cudromach a bhith a' comharrachadh ar soirbheachaidhean, a’ soilleireachadh ar neartan agus ar cothroman, agus a' dealbhadh ar com-pàirteachais leis an t-saoghal ghaisgeil ùr seo. Gus seo a dhèanamh, feumaidh sinn coimhead air an t-sealladh-tìre, an rùn-sgrìobhaidh a leughadh, ar ro-innleachd a phlanadh, agus a bhith dàna agus misneachail nuair a bhios sinn a’ gluasad air adhart.
Bidh sinn ag amas air na nithean sin uile a dhèanamh aig a’ cho-labhairt, tro phrògram a bhios brosnachail, dùbhlanach, smaoineachail, agus practaigeach ann an stiùireadh agus ann am fòcas.
Gabhaibh tlachd às a’ cho-labhairt!
An t-Àrd Ollamh Neil Simco
Iar-Phrionnsapal Rannsachaidh agus Buaidh