Future Campus Decision for UHI Shetland

After much discussion and debate, a decision was made by the UHI Shetland Board of Management who have reconfirmed that the Scalloway Campus will be the site for the future campus for UHI Shetland.

Stephen Leask, Chair of the Board of Management said “The Board of Management has spent considerable time discussing the long‑standing Future Campus decision, recognising how critical it is to the long‑term sustainability and success of UHI Shetland. It was imperative that we reached a clear strategic direction for the organisation, and this is a decision I, as Chair, believed was essential to pursue on behalf of our students, staff, and community.

Following a lengthy and robust process including multiple meetings with the Board and our stakeholders, culminating in an extended meeting last Friday evening, where the Board has reconfirmed that the Scalloway Campus will be the site for UHI Shetland’s future campus.

This marks an important step forward for us as we navigate the significant financial and sectoral challenges facing colleges across Scotland.

This will be a long‑term project, expected to take between three and six years to complete. It aligns closely with the UHI Shetland Strategic Plan 2025–30, which commits us to enhancing the student learning experience, strengthening our research, and responding to the evolving needs of our islands and region.

We recognise the wider pressures facing the tertiary education sector, including rising costs, sustained underinvestment, and the particular challenges of delivering education in island communities. Despite these realities, I am confident that this decision positions UHI Shetland to remain resilient and to continue offering the range of education and training that Shetland needs now and in the future.”