UHI Innovative Islands Work-Based Learning

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Our Innovative Islands Work-Based Learning programme connects island learners with industry-led education and training – enabling people to gain qualifications, develop specialist skills, and build careers without leaving their communities.

Delivered across the UHI partnership, this work package focuses on sectors critical to island resilience and growth: hydrogen and renewables, sustainable development, and allied health professions. By working closely with employers, public bodies and community organisations, we design flexible, demand-led pathways that respond directly to workforce needs across island economies.

The project team comprises a range of workstreams led by interdisciplinary staff based across the University of the Highlands and Highlands partnership:

University of the Highlands and Islands content

University of the Highlands and Islands

University of the Highlands and Islands

  • Claire Thomson, TalEntEd Programme Manager (0.3FTE) / Work-Based Learning Project Manager (0.5FTE)
  • Clara Hickey, Work-Based Learning Manager
  • Matt Tyrer, Head of Further Education, Work-Based Learning Work Package Lead

Education, training and skills development opportunities

We will develop a comprehensive portfolio of work-based learning opportunities that support career progression and skills development across the renewable energy sector, sustainable development, and allied health professions. This will span national qualifications (NQs) and apprenticeships, through to continuing professional development (CPD) modules, and on to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes – all closely aligned with and informed by our research and innovation activity.

UHI North, West and Hebrides content

UHI North, West and Hebrides

UHI North, West and Hebrides

Allied health professions

Workstream leads:

  • Claire Pardoe, Curriculum Manager
  • TBC, Curriculum and Projects Developer

This workstream will scope and plan new demand-led curriculum in the allied health professions sector. Bridging or articulation routes progressing from further to higher education to boost undergraduate recruitment (university intensity) in the existing subject field of allied health professions within the islands will be a dual project focus, depending on industry/business feedback.

Sustainable development

Workstream leads:

  • Michael Smith, Curriculum Manager
  • Roy Bartle, Curriculum Development and Projects Developer
  • Tina Nicholson, Curriculum Development and Projects Developer

This workstream will lead on sustainable development initiatives by strengthening and expanding existing higher education curricula, delivering practical, solutions-focused learning tailored to the diverse needs of island stakeholders – from large public sector organisations to micro-businesses and community groups – including:

  • Understanding net zero and sustainable development
  • Climate change
  • Consumerism and the circular economy
  • Sustainable food systems
  • Sustainable energy
  • Sustainable tourism
  • Communities, land and sustainable development
UHI Orkney content

UHI Orkney

UHI Orkney

Hydrogen

Workstream leads:

  • Adele Lidderdale, Lecturer
  • Mark Shiner, Curriculum Leader

This workstream builds on existing and emerging expertise and provision in this area for both the maritime and aviation sectors, this theme focusses on development of (initially) technician level work-based learning provision across a wide variety of sectors to meet the expected significant increase in demand for skills related to the installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair of hydrogen installations and technologies.

A team delivery approach will be fostered between island academic partners to enable delivery across the breadth of provision and island geographies (for example, incorporating and adapting new hydrogen qualifications and staff resource in the Outer Hebrides through UHI North, West and Hebrides).

Examples of areas of provision that may be explored and further developed through this pilot include:

  • Work-based learning models to increase access to existing curriculum (e.g. PDA Hydrogen and seafarer training)
  • Incorporation of new hydrogen training into existing work-based learning qualifications and pathways, including school programmes
  • End-user training (e.g. for drivers, hydrogen refuelling station operators, property maintenance, technicians, research and development projects)
  • Conversion training for heating engineers
  • Ancillary safety and awareness training
  • Firefighting training
  • Management and supervisory training
UHI Shetland content

UHI Shetland

UHI Shetland

Wind turbines and electrical for renewables

Workstream lead:

  • Anthony McLeod, Head of Section

This workstream theme involves the development of (initially) technician level training to support both existing and emerging skills needs in on and offshore wind turbine installation, maintenance and repair, with a particular focus on electrical/electronic aspects of turbine installation, and potential extension into other renewable applications (e.g. electrical applications within air source heat pumps). This will include exploration of potential adaptations/enhancements to existing provision and apprenticeships around engineering maintenance to ensure people are able to diversify and adapt to changing industry requirements.