Visit from Vice-Chancellors Envoy (Europe) from The University of Tasmania paves the way for future collaborations

Orkney College UHI welcomed Professor of Law, Margaret Otlowski all the way from the University of Tasmania last week.

Prof. Otlowski joined us in her position of Vice-Chancellor's Envoy (Europe) to talk about shared priorities and identify areas of collaboration with Orkney College and the wider UHI partnership. Over two days, Prof. Otlowski visited our campuses where she was given tours of each building and met with our staff, to learn more about our UHI partnership and hear about the world-class research carried out at our Institute for Northern Studies and our Archaeology Institute. 

The University of Tasmania, which is rated #1 in Climate Action globally, is similar in nature to Orkney College UHI; Both Universities are situated in an isolated island location with a small population, which requires different and creative ways of working to providing learning opportunities for our students, locally and further afield. They also share common strengths in providing excellent education, offering an internationalised curriculum with broad access to a diverse range of degrees, world leading research and innovation, attracting students from all over the world.

Professor Edward Abbott-Halpin, Orkney College UHI Principal, said: The College was delighted to host Professor Otlowski, and we will look forward to developing partnership work with her and the University of Tasmania over the coming years. 

Professor Donna Heddle, Director of the Institute for Northern Studies and Head of Cultural Heritage said: “ It was lovely to welcome Professor Otlowski to the Institute for Northern Studies where, through the miracle of technology, she was also able to meet our staff at our other campuses. There are lots of areas we have in common to take forward -  Orkney and Tasmania have so many cultural and historical links to explore’’ 

Professor Jane Downes, Director of UHI Archaeology Institute said: “Professor Otlowski was interested in the potential development of archaeology in the University of Tasmania and we were delighted to share our experiences with her, and look forward to maintaining the connection with so many aspects in common between our universities.”