Pomp and ceremony to celebrate the University of the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and Islands
Highland capital will host robing ceremony and academic procession. RAF flypast to honour university.
Inverness will witness some pomp and ceremony in August to celebrate the creation of the new University of the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and Islands (ÐÔÊӽ紫ý).
This historic event at Eden Court Theatre will be marked by the robing of the university’s first principal and vice-chancellor, James Fraser, and the presentation of the new mace, a gift from the universities of Edinburgh, Strathclyde and Aberdeen.
The ceremony will be followed by an academic procession, headed by the Royal British Legion Scotland Inverness Pipes and Drums, to the Town House for a civic reception.
The festivities on Thursday, 25 August, will include a fly-past by RAF jets, a film showing ÐÔÊӽ紫ý students, locations and activities across the partnership, formal speeches, poems, traditional music especially composed for the occasion, and a welcome to guests in Gaelic, Orcadian, Scots, English and Shetlandic by school children representing the region.
Guests from Scotland’s universities, local authorities, the Scottish Government, the university’s academic partners, the education sector and others who have made a significant contribution to the university’s creation, will attend the ceremonial part of the day. Free seats are also available to members of the public through the Eden Court box office.
Ceremonial robes featuring the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý colour of purple will be formally presented to Mr Fraser; the chair of the governing University Court, Professor Matthew MacIver; rector Garry Coutts, and mace bearer for the day, Allan Bransbury who was assistant director of the former University of the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and Islands Project.
Civic leaders from across the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and Islands, representing the university’s campus areas, will greet the ensuing procession at the Town House. As it crosses the Ness Bridge in the town centre, Tornado jets will make a low level flypast in honour of Scotland’s newest university. This will be the climax of a flypast of all the campuses – a symbol of the collegiate nature of the university
James Fraser, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý principal and vice-chancellor, said: "After centuries of migration out to universities in Scotland and across the world, the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and Islands now have their own university for the first time. We are laying the foundation of an institution which will last for many hundreds of years and will transform the economic, cultural and social prospects of the people who live in this part of Scotland."
ÐÔÊӽ紫ý was granted university title by the Privy Council in February this year. It now has over 8000 students, located and studying throughout a partnership comprising: Argyll College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Highland Theological College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, Dingwall; Inverness College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Lews Castle College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, Lewis; Moray College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; NAFC Marine Centre ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, Shetland; North Highland College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Thurso; Orkney College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Perth College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý; Sabhal Mòr Ostaig ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, Skye; Scottish Association for Marine Science ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, Dunstaffnage; Shetland College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, and West Highland College ÐÔÊӽ紫ý.
Media contact: Glenda Johnson
01463 279222
glenda.johnson@uhi.ac.uk