Centre for Nordic Studies
The Orkney and Shetland Islands, along with Caithness on the Scottish mainland, are identified primarily in terms of their Nordic cultural and linguistic heritage. The work of the Centre for Nordic Studies will rediscover, preserve and interpret this local culture for future generations.
Follow us on Facebook 
What's New:
- Viking Culture Summer Schools in Shetland and Orkney 2011 pdf to view or download (1.1Mb)
- Follow the Viking Culture Summer School 2011 on Facebook
- The Inaugural St Magnus Conference Orkney April 2011
- Find out more about our courses
About the Centre:
Created through a partnership between Orkney College UHI and Shetland College UHI, the new Centre for Nordic Studies promotes the following:
- Preservation of organic heritage
- Increased comunity involvement in the generation and study of local heritage in all its forms
- Further development of cultural and academic tourism with its concomitant impact on the community
Employment opportunities are being created in an area hitherto not available in Orkney and Shetland. Partnerships have been forged with a number of universities across the world to explore the history and culture of the North Atlantic Rim.
Our Aims:
- To promote and publicise research in Nordic Studies, focussing on Orkney and Shetland studies.
- To promote Orkney and Shetland culture and stimulate debate. The Centre will provide educational opportunities at secondary and tertiary level for both local and external students.
- To provide an overarching focus for locative research in Orkney and Shetland, including their relationship to the North Atlantic Rim.
- To work in partnership with Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council, the HIE Network, and local bodies such as Shetland Amenity Trust to create a resource which will enhance and benefit local communities
The project meets a range of strategic aims, both regionally and nationally. These include specified UHI objectives; HIE priorities as identified in its Operational Plan; SHEFC's research funding priorities; Orkney College's objective to establish a research profile in UHI in specified subject areas; the Scottish Executive's Cultural Policy and Tourism Framework for Action; the Nordic Council; and priorities from the Shetland Cultural Strategy.
The Centre is currently involved in the following teaching and research:
- PG MLitt Highlands and Islands Literature & PG MLitt Orkney and Shetland Studies
- Summer Schools in both Orkney and in Shetland
- An International HERA research project on Thing sites
- Supervising 10 PhD students
The Centre has organised and hosted the following Conferences:
- Voices of the West I and II Minority Languages Conferences in association with the Minority Languages Song for Europe competition, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
- Rognvald 850: A commemoration of the death of Earl Rognvald, Kirkwall
- Looking at Shetland Outside the Box: The meeting of nations and creation of Shetland culture, Lerwick
- Forum for Study of the Languages of Scotland and Ulster, Kirkwall
Contact:
Centre for Nordic Studies
NAFC Marine Centre
Port Arthur
Scalloway
Shetland
ZE1 0UN
Andrew Jennings
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Tel: 01595 772494
Silke Reeploeg
Staff Researcher
Tel: 01595 772495
Or find us on: www.nordic.uhi.ac.uk
Find out more at: www.uhi.ac.uk/home/research/research-centres/centre-for-nordic/studies
