The University of Aberdeen has launched the third edition of their Gaelic Language Plan reaffirming its commitment to the support and promotion of Gaelic language and culture.
The plan outlines key steps the University will take to promote, support, and normalise the use of Gaelic across its campuses and community.
The University’s Gaelic Language Plan aligns with the aims of the National Gaelic Language Plan to revitalise Gaelic as a living, vibrant language and reflects the University’s role in shaping and supporting that work.
The new plan will take effect on August 6 and will set the strategic direction for Gaelic at the University over the next five years.
Universities have an important role to play in supporting the use and learning of Gaelic as well as contributing to the knowledge and understanding of Gaelic society, working with and strengthening links with Gaelic communities and local partners.
The plan sets out detailed commitments under each of these strategic aims.
Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, said: “The University’s Senior Management Team and I are committed to supporting the national aim of increasing the number of Gaelic-speakers in Scotland and increasing our community’s awareness of and exposure to the Gaelic language and culture. The University of Aberdeen has, of course, a statutory duty under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 to play its part in supporting the language. Furthermore, we are proud to embrace this responsibility with a particular focus on our local community in the North-East of Scotland.”
Professor Michelle MacLeod (Chair of Gaelic Language Plan Advisory Group and Head of School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture.) said: “This third edition of the Gaelic Language Plan demonstrates our deepening commitment to Gaelic as a vital part of Scotland’s cultural heritage and contemporary identity. As educators and researchers, we have a responsibility not only to preserve the language but to ensure it thrives in modern academic and community life. By aligning our goals with national strategy and Aberdeen 2040, we are embedding Gaelic into the heart of the University’s teaching, research and outreach – ensuring it is visible, valued, and actively used across our campuses and beyond.”
Carola MacCallum, Gaelic Language Development Officer at the University of Aberdeen, said: “The third edition of our Gaelic Language Plan commits to further increasing opportunities to learn and use the language on campus and embedding Gaelic further into the fabric of the University.
“The actions of the plan focus especially on increasing the visibility and awareness of the language at the University and deepening our connections with the local Gaelic community. This includes hosting local Gaelic groups and organising events that bring together our staff, students, and the local community. We are excited about our new plan as it gives us a lot of scope for many new initiatives.”
Oilthigh Obar Dheathain ag adhartachadh na Gàidhlig le plana còig-bliadhna ro-innleachdail ùr
Tha Oilthigh Obair Dheathain air an trìtheamh eagran den Phlana Ghàidhlig aca fhoillseachadh, ag ath-dhaingneachadh an dealais a thaobh taic agus adhartachadh do chànan is cultar na Gàidhlig.
Tha am plana a’ mìneachadh nam prìomh cheumannan a bhios an t-Oilthigh a’ gabhail gus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig adhartachadh, a chuideachadh agus àbhaisteachadh tarsainn àrainnean agus coimhearsnachd an oilthighe.
Tha Plana Gàidhlig an Oilthighe a’ co-thaobhadh ri amasan Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig a thaobh Gàidhlig ath-bheòthachadh mar chànan beò agus brìoghmhor a tha a’ nochdadh àite an Oilthighe ann an cumadh agus cur taic ris an obair sin.
Bidh am plana ùr èifeachdach bho 6 Lùnastal, a’ stèidheachadh na slighe ro-innleachdail don Ghàidhlig san Oilthigh thar nan còig bliadhna a tha ri teachd.
Tha dreuchd chudromach aig oilthighean ann a bhith a’ cur taic ri cleachdadh agus ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig a thuilleadh air cur ri eòlas air agus tuigse don chomann shòisealta, ag obair le agus a’ neartachadh cheanglaichean le coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig agus com-pàirtichean ionadail.
Tha am plana a’ taisbeanadh ghealltanasan mionaideach fo gach aon de na h-amasan ro-innleachdail sin.
Thuirt an t-Àrd-Ollamh Seòras Boyne, Prionnsapal agus Iar-Sheansalair Oilthigh Obar Dheathain: Tha Àrd-Sgioba Stiùiridh an Oilthighe agus mi fhìn dealasach a thaobh taic a chur ris an amas nàiseanta de bhith ag àrdachadh na h-àireimh de luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig ann an Alba agus mothachadh is follaiseachadh ar coimhearsnachd do chànan is cultar na Gàidhlig a mheudachadh. Gu dearbh, tha dleastanas reachdail air Oilthigh Obair Dheathain fo Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 a pàirt fhèin a choileanadh ann a bhith a’ cur taic ris a’ chànan. A bharrachd air sin, tha sinn moiteil an t-uallach seo a ghabhail os làimh gu dùrachdach le cuimse shònraichte air ar coimhearsnachd ionadail ann an Ear-Thuath Alba.”
Thuirt an t-Àrd-Ollamh Michelle NicLeòid (Cathraiche Buidheann Comhairleachaidh a’ Phlana Ghàidhlig agus Ceannard na Sgoile Cànain, Litreachais, Ciùil is Cultair Lèirsinnich): “Tha an trìtheamh eagran seo den Phlana Ghàidhlig a’ taisbeanadh doimhneachd ar dealais don Ghàidhlig mar phàirt dheatamach de dhualchas cultarach agus dearbh-aithne cho-aimsireil na h-Alba. Mar luchd-oideachaidh agus luchd-rannsachaidh, tha dleastanas oirnn chan e a-mhàin a’ Ghàidhlig a dhìon ach dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil i a' soirbheachadh ann am beatha nuadh-aimsireil acadaimigeach agus coimhearsnachd le chèile. Le bhith a’ co-thaobhadh ar cinn-uidhe le ro-innleachd nàiseanta agus Obar Dheathain 2040, tha sinn a’ fighe Gàidhlig a-steach do chridhe ar teagaisg, ar rannsachaidh agus ruigsinneachd an Oilthighe – a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil i faicsinneach, luachaichte, agus air a chleachdadh gu gnìomhach air feadh ar n-àrainnean agus nas fhaide a-muigh.”
Thuirt Carola NicChaluim, an t-Oifigear Leasachaidh Gàidhlig aig Oilthigh Obar Dheathain: “Tha an trìtheamh deasachadh de ar Plana Gàidhlig a’ gealltainn barrachd chothroman a mheudachadh air Gàidhlig ionnsachadh agus a chleachdadh air an àrainn agus Gàidhlig fhighe a-steach nas motha do bhun-ghnìomh choitcheann an Oilthighe.
“Tha gnìomhan a’ phlana a’ cuimseachadh gu h-àraid air faicsinneachd is mothachadh don chànan a mheudachadh san Oilthigh agus ar ceanglaichean leis a’ choimhearsnachd ionadail Ghàidhlig a dhoimhneachadh. Tha seo a’ gabhail a-steach aoigheachd do bhuidhnean Gàidhlig ionadail agus tachartasan eagrachadh a bhios a’ tarraing còmhla ar luchd-obrach, oileanaich agus a’ choimhearsnachd ionadail. Tha sinn air leth togte leis a’ phlana ùr againn oir tha e a’ toirt dhuinn mòran farsaingeachd airson tuilleadh iomairtean ùra.”