UHI is a unique institution and its vision for leadership, learning, innovation and action on the climate and ecological crisis facing the Highlands and Islands is also unique. The university will put plans in place to become a ‘One Planet’ university aligning itself to actions on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at the earliest opportunity and no later than 2040.
In June 2023 the UHI Court approved a new sustainability strategy 2023-2030 and new Sustainability Policy. In addition to the partnership-wide strategy several academic partners have their own carbon management plans which focus on local work and targets. Policies and regulations - Our climate commitment
More than 80 students, staff and industry professionals from across Scotland, Europe, and North America came together last week in and around Carrbridge for the UHI Integrated Land Use Conference, held from Tuesday 25 to Thursday 27 March 2025.
Organised by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) in collaboration with industry partners, the three-day conference provided a platform for students, researchers, and land managers to explore this year’s theme: ‘the role of land management in tackling the biodiversity crisis.’
The annual conference brings together land use students from across the UHI partnership to collaborate, and learn from one another. It also offers a valuable opportunity for students to engage with industry professionals, discover volunteering and explore potential career paths.
Attendees ranged from National 5 students to PhD candidates, representing a variety of land-based disciplines, including geography, forestry, wildlife and conservation management, gamekeeping, sustainable development, and environmental science. The event featured a mix of field sessions, expert talks, and open discussions, sparking fresh ideas and encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration.
For more information please visit: UHI Integrated Land Use Conference
The Centre for Mountain Studies (CMS) was established at UHI Perth in August 2000, with the objective of creating a centre of excellence for work in mountain areas within the University of the Highlands and Islands.
With a focus on mountain environments and the people who depend on them, both in Scotland and internationally, the CMS has three main aims:
Environmental Research Institute
The ERI is part of North Highland College UHI. and has become a focus for promoting excellence in research in the region, largely due to the ability of its investigators to work with stakeholder, commercial, academic and educational organisations alike.
Research at the ERI currently focuses on three primary themes:
Scottish Association for Marine Science
SAMS is Scotland’s largest and oldest independent marine science organisation, delivering marine science for a productive and sustainably managed marine environment through innovative research, education and engagement with society.
SAMS research areas:
The Centre for Sustainable Seafood builds on UHI Shetland’s 30 years of experience in fisheries, marine spatial planning, and aquaculture, and draws from the wider UHI Partnership via the MESE Cluster, bringing a wealth of knowledge, expertise and connections across the seafood sector.
With a total of twelve 10-credit* short course professional certificates to choose from across the following subjects:
UHI Perth Library Environmental Hub received a commendation from the CDN in the 2023 Sustainability Action Award category.
The Under the Scissors project spearheaded by the Just Transition team at UHI Moray was shortlisted for the 2024 CDN Sustainability in Action award. Funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Engagement Fund and in collaboration with the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban, the project empowers Hair and Beauty students to become climate communicators, using their public-facing roles to spark climate change conversations.
UHI Inverness has secured premises for a new Sustainable Construction Centre as part of ambitious plans to expand its curriculum and campus estate to meet training demands. The training provided at the new centre will have a focus on sustainable construction skills and technology, to help meet net-zero targets and address regional skills needs. It is planned that the structured courses will cover topics such as building design, the use of energy-efficient materials, retrofit and insulation and will provide recognised qualifications and certifications.
More at: New Sustainable Construction Centre
