New PhD opportunity will examine Gaelic development in Hebrides

The CEARTAS scholarship, funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), will examine the factors which contribute to the social and cultural value of Gaelic in the Hebrides. It is hoped the findings will help to inform minority language policy, particularly in Gaelic contexts.

The scholarship will also provide an opportunity to explore community development, community decision-making and how public policy can deliver local, socioeconomic benefits.

Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, Gaelic Research Professor at UHI, said: "The UHI Language Sciences Institute is delighted to be able to offer this exciting doctoral research opportunity to explore ways in which community development efforts and Gaelic policy initiatives can be of mutual benefit to each other. We are particularly grateful to our research funder, Highlands and Islands Entreprise, for the support and encouragement to develop this much-needed research agenda."

Jacqueline McGuigan, senior development manager at HIE, said: "We're pleased to support this research project as part of efforts, along with our partner organisations, to support the growth of Gaelic usage in Gaelic-speaking island and rural communities. A key element of our Gaelic plan is to build on how the language is being used to add economic and social value in a variety of circumstances. For Gaelic to thrive it needs thriving communities and we want to strengthen collaborative working in key communities, aiming to make those more attractive and resilient in terms of youth/population retention and growth and employment. This research will play an important part in future policy support."

The PhD is fully funded by HIE and a stipend is offered for 42 months. The successful applicant will be supervised by UHI's Language Sciences Institute. The PhD scholarship will be based at a UHI North, West and Hebrides - Stornoway campus location, but flexible, hybrid working arrangements can be considered depending on the applicant's own location. As the focus of the work will be the communities of the Western Isles in which Gaelic remains a strong and important presence, an ability to communicate effectively in Gaelic is desirable.

Initial enquiries or expressions of interest can be made to the project's lead supervisor, Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin (conchur.ogiollagain@uhi.ac.uk). Closing date for applications is Friday 6 October, with a proposed starting date for the PhD of Monday 13 November.

For more information and details of how to apply, visit www.findaphd.com and search for the key word ‘CEARTAS'.

To find out more about Gaelic courses at UHI, visit www.uhi.ac.uk/courses

Nì cothrom PhD ùr sgrùdadh air leasachadh na Gàidhlig ann an Innse Gall

Tha Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean (UHI) a' tabhann cothrom PhD ùr, làn-mhaoinichte a' rannsachadh leasachadh na Gàidhlig ann an Innse Gall.

Nì an sgoilearachas CEARTAS, a tha air a mhaoineachadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean (HIE), sgrùdadh air na nithean a tha a' cur ri luach sòisealta is cultarail na Gàidhlig ann an Innse Gall. Thathas an dòchas gun cuidich na toraidhean a bhith a' treòrachadh poileasaidh a thaobh mhion-chànanan, gu sònraichte ann an co-theacsan Gàidhlig.

Bheir an sgoilearachas cothrom cuideachd sgrùdadh a dhèanamh air leasachadh coimhearsnachd, mar a nithear co-dhùnaidhean ann an coimhearsnachdan agus mar as urrainn do phoileasaidh poblach buannachdan sòisio-eaconamach ionadail a lìbhrigeadh.

Thuirt an t-Àrd-Ollamh Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, Àrd-Ollamh ann an Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig aig UHI: "Tha Institiud Saidheansan Cànain UHI air leth toilichte a bhith air chomas an cothrom rannsachaidh ollamhach togarrach seo a thabhann gus forfhais a dhèanamh air dòighean as urrainn do dh'oidhirpean leasachadh coimhearsnachd agus iomairtean poileasaidh Gàidhlig a bhith a chum leas a chèile. Tha sinn gu sònraichte taingeil don bhuidheann-mhaoineachaidh rannsachaidh againn, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean, airson na taice agus a' bhrosnachaidh gus fàs a thoirt air a' chlàr-ghnothaich rannsachaidh seo air a bheil feum mòr."

Thuirt Jacqueline NicUiginn, àrd-mhanaidsear leasachaidh aig HIE: "Tha sinn toilichte taic a thoirt don phròiseact rannsachaidh seo mar phàirt de dh'oidhirpean, còmhla ris na buidhnean com-pàirteach againn, gus taic a thoirt do fhàs cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an coimhearsnachdan eileanach is dùthchail far a bheil Gàidhlig ga bruidhinn. Tha e na eileamaid chudromach den phlana Ghàidhlig againn a bhith a' togail air mar a thathar a' cleachdadh a' chànain gus luach eaconamach is sòisealta a thoirt a-steach ann an diofar shuidheachaidhean. Cha tig piseach air a' Ghàidhlig ach le coimhearsnachdan piseachail agus tha sinn airson co-obrachadh a neartachadh ann am prìomh choimhearsnachdan, feuch am bi iad nas tarraingiche agus nas seasmhaiche a thaobh gleidheadh òigridh/sluaigh agus fàs is cosnadh. Bidh pàirt chudromach aig an rannsachadh seo ann an taic poileasaidh san àm ri teachd."

Tha am PhD air a mhaoineachadh gu h-iomlan le HIE agus thathas a' tabhann stìpean airson 42 mìos. Bidh an tagraiche soirbheachail fo stiùir Institiud nan Saidheansan Cànain aig UHI. Bidh an sgoilearachas PhD stèidhichte aig UHI A Tuath, An Iar is Innse Gall - làrach àrainn Steòrnabhagh, ach faodar beachdachadh air rèiteachaidhean obrach sùbailte, tar-chinealach a rèir far a bheil an tagraiche fhèin. Leis gum bi fòcas na h-obrach air coimhearsnachdan nan Eilean Siar far a bheil a' Ghàidhlig fhathast gu làidir an làthair agus cudromach, tha e ion-mhiannaichte a bhith air chomas conaltradh gu h-èifeachdach sa Ghàidhlig.

Faodar ceistean tùsail a chur no ùidh a nochdadh le fios a chur gu prìomh neach-stiùiridh a' phròiseict, an t-Àrd-Ollamh Conchúr Ó Giollagáin (conchur.ogiollagain@uhi.ac.uk). 'S e Dihaoine 6 Dàmhair an ceann-latha dùnaidh airson tagraidhean, agus is e an ceann-latha tòiseachaidh a tha san amharc airson a' PhD Diluain 13 Samhain.

Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh agus stiùireadh a thaobh tagradh a dhèanamh, tadhlaibh air www.findaphd.com agus lorgaibh am prìomh fhacal ‘CEARTAS'.

Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu chùrsaichean Gàidhlig aig UHI, tadhlaibh air  www.uhi.ac.uk/courses