New academic years starts at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, recently welcomed new and returning students through its doors last week, and a new academic year for all its students – those learning residentially on campus and the growing number studying throughout the world via distance learning programmes.

This year welcomes over 40 new students, the majority of whom will be staying on the College campus.  As ever, there is a wide variety of students from all over Scotland but also much further afield, including America, Canada, Sweden, Germany and the Isle of Man.

Induction week gave the students the opportunity to meet with staff, get to know one another and experience a variety of language rich gatherings and fun outings including An Tac an Teine with lecturer Dr DW Stewart; music sessions; Gaelic singing; kayaking; a talk by SMO Alumnus and BBC weather presenter, Kirsteen MacDonald and the week finished in the Talla Mòr with the Cast Ewe Ceilidh Band. 

Welcoming the new term, SMO Principal, Dr Gillian Rothach, said:  “We are delighted to warmly welcome each new and continuing student to the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture – Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. It is inspiring to see so many students and to hear so much Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr. Student numbers have increased this year, both at the College and on distance learning courses, meaning that SMO is opening up opportunities wherever you are in the world to learning and using Gaelic. We wish all of our students a very successful year!”

There are a variety of options available to anyone who wants to learn Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr, from the Short Courses to the Distance Learning programme, An Cùrsa Inntrigidh.  Other opportunities are also expanding, as explained by Further Education Development Manager, Iain Finlay Macleod:

“Distance learning has expanded rapidly this year, with over 300 students throughout the world learning Gaelic with us.  They hail from all corners of the world, including Shanghai, New Zealand, Norway and Slovenia.  It has been greatly encouraging for me to witness this global growing market and the interest they have in the language and culture.  It is also encouraging to see the Apprenticeships expanding, with our new courses beginning in Portree, Inverness and Glasgow.  They are Foundation Apprenticeships, the same level as SQA Higher, and this scheme gives students the opportunity to gain valuable experience and skills in the fields of Media and Children and Young People.”

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig will be holding an Open Day on 1 November for anyone interested in a course in Gaelic and information and booking can be obtained through Eventbrite http://bit.ly/LathaFosgailte