Foreword

As an international organisation with a uniquely civic history, we recognise the responsibilities we have to promoting the use, learning, and visibility of Gaelic, one of Scotland’s native living languages, locally, nationally, and globally.

I am delighted to present the University of Edinburgh’s Gaelic Plan 2025-2030. While this is only our third Gaelic Plan, Gaelic has long been part of our story at the University of Edinburgh. We established Scotland’s first Chair of Celtic in 1882 and the Highland Society, originally established in 1837, is Edinburgh’s longest running student society. 

We are proud of the progress that we have made over the course of our previous two Gaelic Plans, contributing both to our own Social and Civic Responsibility focus as set out in our Strategy 2030 and to the broader aims of the Scottish Government and civil society to protect and promote the language. 

Kim Graham, University Provost
Professor Kim Graham, University Provost

In this plan, we have included case studies and stories from our community members, highlighting some of the key commitments we have fulfilled over the past ten years as part of our Gaelic strategy. 

While we are proud of our progress to date, we are acutely aware that more work must be done to solidify a future for Gaelic in Scotland. 

As a long-standing contributor to the understanding of Gaelic and its culture, we are fully committed to supporting national efforts in support of Gaelic and believe that the University of Edinburgh can make a unique contribution.

The implementation of this new Gaelic Plan will, therefore, build on our achievements to date with particular attention to: sustaining world-leading research and innovative teaching and learning which supports and promotes the Gaelic language; protecting and making available our internationally significant Gaelic archives and collections; fostering an active community of Gaelic-speakers and learners on and off campus; and, raising the profile and awareness of Gaelic across the University.

This plan is testament to the University’s ongoing contribution to securing the place of Gaelic in Scotland and to enriching the lives of our Gaelic speakers and learners, as well as our many other students and staff, by creating more opportunities for them to use or engage with the language and its culture. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this plan, and we look forward to working with you. 

Professor Kim Graham, University Provost