This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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UHI Millennium Institute
16/09/2005
The new headquarters offices of the UHI Millennium Institute were officially opened in Inverness today by First Minister Jack McConnell.
He paid tribute to the success of the UHI Millennium Institute and said it had made real progress towards establishing a University of the Highlands and Islands.
The First Minister said:
"Scotland has a worldwide reputation for the quality of its education system. Our universities and further education institutions are known the world over for the quality of the education they provide.
"And a University of the Highlands and Islands will make higher education more accessible than ever before to communities throughout the Highlands and Islands.
"Over the last four years the UHIMI has made real progress and this new building will further enhance the excellent services on offer.
"No longer will the brightest and best need to leave their community to get on.
"It will provide a vital link in the network of institutions spanning the length and breadth of the Highlands and Islands, improving educational opportunities and bringing full university status one step closer."
The UHI Millennium Institute is an educational partnership of 12 colleges, two research institutions and a network of over 50 learning centres across the Highlands and Islands.
The Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers of the Quality Assurance Agency will today consider the UHIMI's application to award top degrees. If approved this will be the next milestone towards the UHIMI achieving university status.
In 2002, the First Minister set a target for the UHIMI a university by 2007.