Lews Castle College

UHI North, West and Hebrides
A Tuath, An Iar, is Innse Gaal
TypeCollege
Established1953
Location
Stornoway
,
Scotland
AffiliationsUniversity of the Highlands and Islands,
Websitewww.lews.uhi.ac.uk

UHI North, West, and Hebrides (formerly UHI Outer Hebrides and Lews Castle College) (Scottish Gaelic: Colaisde a' Chaisteil [ˈkʰɔl̪ˠɪʃtʲə ə ˈkʰaʃtʰal], meaning literally "College of the Castle") is a further and higher education college in the Western Isles of Scotland. The main campus is in the grounds of Lews Castle, Stornoway. The college also has two learning centres in Benbecula and Barra. The college is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

The college opened in September 1953;[1] its first principal was Colonel John Macsween. It was originally run by the local authority. It had 83 students and 9 full-time faculty members.[2] In 1993, the college became an independent entity under the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. Lews Castle was originally used as accommodation for the students, but it is currently needing renovation.

In December 2012, the college had 2,700 students enrolled in 150 full-time, part-time and online courses, representing nine different nationalities, and employed 130 staff.[2]

The college has a subsidiary company, Lews Castle College (Trading) Limited, which provides Gaelic translation services.[3]

Merchant navy training

Lews Castle College conducts several courses for the seagoing merchant navy personnel both long and short term:[4]

  • Access to Merchant Navy (1 year full-time)
  • Efficient Deck Hand, GMDSS & STCW Courses (short courses)

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Isles College Opened. Need for Support for Industry". The Glasgow Herald. 25 September 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Stornoway - a university town". Stornoway Gazette. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Fosglan". Archived from the original on 14 June 2007.
  4. ^ Merchant Navy Programmes

58°12′47″N 6°23′48″W / 58.21306°N 6.39667°W / 58.21306; -6.39667