Fresh look for UHI signals shift to where learning means more

29th March 2022

The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) partnership has revealed a new visual identity to strengthen engagement with communities and market its offerings more effectively through a connected and recognisable brand family.

As well as new approaches to photography and design, the change features a new logo across campuses, based on the letters UHI, and an embedded plus sign and strapline: ‘where learning means more'.

Ten years on from establishing university status, UHI has built a strong foundation to move into a new strategic chapter founded on a ‘Daring to be different' ethos, affirming its role as a regionally focused partnership of independent colleges and research institutions covering the largest geographical area of any campus-based facility in the UK.

The new identity represents the first step towards the partnership being more engaged, connected and enterprising in its activity.

"We're writing a new chapter for UHI with a shift in thinking and an ambition to be more engaged with our communities and enterprising in our activity," explained Professor Todd Walker, UHI Principal and Vice-Chancellor. "Our new visual identity will help position the UHI partnership in a highly competitive local, national and international market."

The new logo will have an added emphasis of place and location as we celebrate the geographical spread of UHI: UHI Shetland, UHI Moray, UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides, UHI Inverness, UHI Argyll, UHI West Highland and specialist partners HTC, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and SAMS identified as ‘a partner of UHI'.

"UHI is the collective identity of our partnership," added Professor Walker. "We're more than a college and more than a university. We offer many more options to our students than any single college or university can. We want to build pride in UHI because being part of it means we are all much more than we are individually."

The new identity has been developed in consultation with senior teams and governors across the partnership. Social media sites and web pages will feature a launch film introducing the new look from today, with all UHI systems moving over ready for the new academic year in the early autumn.

Perth College UHI and Orkney College UHI are not currently adopting the new visual identity, but we are working together to ensure mutual benefit from UHI repositioning and messaging.

Ìomhaigh ùr air UHI a' comharrachadh gluasad gu far a bheil ionnsachadh a' ciallachadh barrachd

Tha com-pàirteachas Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean (UHI) air ìomhaigh lèirsinneach ùr fhoillseachadh an-diugh (Diluain) gus conaltradh le coimhearsnachdan a neartachadh agus margaidheachd a thabhartasan nas èifeachdaiche tro theaghlach brannd ceangailte agus aithnichte.

A bharrachd air dòighean-obrach ùra a thaobh togail dhealbhan agus deilbh, tha an t-atharrachadh a' nochdadh suaicheantas ùr air feadh nan àrainnean, stèidhichte air na litrichean UHI, agus soidhne plus agus loidhne-ainm freumhaichte: ‘far a bheil ionnsachadh a' ciallachadh barrachd'.

Deich bliadhna air adhart bho stèidheachadh inbhe oilthigh, tha UHI air bunait làidir a thogail gus gluasad a-steach gu caibideil ro-innleachdail ùr stèidhichte air feallsanachd ‘' Dùraigeadh a bhith diofraichte, a' daingneachadh a dhleastanas mar chom-pàirteachas chuimsichte roinneil de cholaistean neo-eisimeileach agus institiùdan rannsachaidh, a' còmhdach nan raointean cruinn-eòlais as motha de ghoireas sam bith stèidhichte air àrainn san RA.

Tha an dearbh-aithne ùr a' riochdachadh a' chiad cheum a dh'ionnsaigh com-pàirteachas a bhith nas fheàrr, ceangailte agus iomairteach na ghnìomhachd.

"Tha sinn a' sgrìobhadh caibideil ùr dha UHI le gluasad ann an smaoineachadh agus mòr-mhiann a bhith an sàs nas motha le ar coimhearsnachdan agus iomairteach nar gnìomhachd," mhìnich an t-Ollamh Todd Walker, Prionnsapal agus Iar-Sheansalair UHI. "Cuidichidh ar dearbh-aithne lèirsinneach ùr le com-pàirteachas UHI a shuidheachadh ann am margaidh ionadail, nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta a tha air leth farpaiseach."

Bidh cuideam a bharrachd aig an t-suaicheantas ùr air àite agus àite agus sinn a' comharrachadh sgaoileadh cruinn-eòlasach UHI: UHI Sealtainn, UHI Moireibh, UHI Ceann a Tuath na Gàidhealtachd, UHI Innse Gall, UHI Inbhir Nis, UHI Earra-Ghàidheal, UHI Taobh Siar na Gàidhealtachd agus com-pàirtichean sònraichte HTC, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus SAMS air a chomharrachadh mar 'com-pàirtiche de UHI'.

"Is e UHI dearbh-aithne coitcheann ar com-pàirteachais," thuirt an t-Ollamh Walker. "Tha sinn nas motha na colaiste agus nas motha na oilthigh. Bidh sinn a' tabhann tòrr a bharrachd roghainnean dha na h-oileanaich againn na as urrainn dha colaiste no oilthigh sam bith. Tha sinn airson moit a thogail ann an UHI oir tha a bhith mar phàirt dheth a' ciallachadh gu bheil sinn uile tòrr a bharrachd na tha sinn nar n-aonar."

Chaidh an dearbh-aithne ùr a leasachadh ann an co-chomhairle ri àrd-sgiobaidhean agus riaghladairean air feadh a' chom-pàirteachais. Bidh film foillseachaidh a' nochdadh na h-ìomhaigh ùir bhon latha an-diugh air làraichean mheadhanan sòisealta agus duilleagan-lìn, le siostaman UHI air fad a' gluasad a-rithist, deiseil airson na bliadhna acadaimigich ùr tràth san Fhoghar.

UHI web site