The University of Aberdeen's Department of Celtic is seeking to appoint a Professor and a Lecturer, including a Chair, to mark 2004 as a year of enhanced commitment to a modern Department of Celtic.
The University of Aberdeen's commitment to advancing teaching and research in Celtic, and Scots Gaelic in particular, will be enhanced by these appointments. The University will be recruiting outstanding scholars who have achieved international distinction in their field.
Professor Bryan MacGregor, Head of the College of Arts and Social Sciences said: "The appointment of a new Chair will enhance the status of both Gaelic and Celtic research within the University and is one of a series of developments taking place with the Department of Celtic. We intend to re-establish Aberdeen as a major centre for Gaelic teaching and research. We plan to develop our work in a way that will engage with a modern Scots Gaelic policy agenda in education and development."
Professor Norman N Gillies, Director of Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the national centre for Gaelic language and culture, in welcoming the news said: "We at Sabhal Mor are delighted that the University of Aberdeen has made this commitment and we now look forward to more collaborative working with them. It is very much to the benefit of Gaelic language development to have a network of centres throughout Scotland offering complementary academic provision. We await the filling of these posts with interest and wish the university well."
Allan Campbell, Chief Executive of Gaelic development agency Bòrd na Gàidhlig said, "Aberdeen University has a long and distinguished tradition in Celtic languages teaching and research, and this has been particularly true in relation to Scottish Gaelic. There has been some concern recently that the Department had weakened, and it is very heartening indeed to hear that the University is now to re-establish itself as a major centre for Gaelic. This is particularly important at a time of new optimism, but also major challenge, for the future of Gaelic, and we wish the University success with their recruitment."