Projects per year
Organisation profile
Organisation profile
The Centre for History is a key component of the University of the Highlands and Islands and is internationally renowned for its teaching and research in Highland, Scottish and wider-world history. In late 2014, it came fifth in Scotland ('a new entry') in The Guardian league table of top UK university departments at which to study History while, in its first entry to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), it was ranked joint eighth of all History submissions across the UK for 'Impact'.
The Centre, a part of the university's Humanities and Gaelic Subject Network and of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, continues to be based at Burghfield House in the cathedral town of Dornoch in Sutherland. Established in 2005, it has attracted external funding of more than £2 million, which has been invested in both teaching and research. UHI’s BA (Hons) Scottish History – launched in 2007 – was an early development, created by a Centre-led team and Centre staff are now in charge of the course’s delivery to a growing body of students.
Joint honours degrees such as History and Politics, launched in September 2009 and Scottish History and Archaeology, launched in September 2011. A BA (Hons) History has been available since September 2013, as are a series of joint degrees with other subject areas, nine in total as of 2014.
In addition to the undergraduate degrees, a fully online MLitt History of the Highlands and Islands was successfully launched in September 2011 and has attracted students in Australia, Canada, Kenya and Romania as well as across the Highlands and Islands, Scotland and the UK. This is one of several taught postgraduate degrees available for part-time and full-time-study by distance learning at the Centre.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Centre for History is active. These topic labels come from the works of this organisation's members. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Collaborations from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Profiles
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Juliette Desportes
- Centre for History - Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Person: Academic - Research and Teaching or Research only
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Resistance to ‘improvement’ in the Highlands and Islands, 1750-c.1820
Robertson, I. J. M. (PI), Desportes, J. (Researcher) & Griffin, C. (CoI)
3/03/25 → 2/03/28
Project: Research
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Rural co-design and collaboration: maximising rural community assets to reduce place-based health inequalities.
Robertson, I. J. M. (CoI) & Taylor, S. (CoI)
1/12/24 → 1/12/27
Project: Research
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UHI HSBI: UHI Hub for the Study of British Identities
MacPherson, J. (CoI) & Lindfield-Ott, K. (CoI)
Project: Research
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An Oral History of Young Families in the Covid-19 Pandemic: Rainbows in the Windows
Chand, A., 3 Jan 2026, Palgrave Macmillan. 230 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Fire and Water on the Seine: The Venetian Ambassador's Fireworks Party (1649)
Woodcock, P., 17 Mar 2026, Potestas Elementorum. L’eau, le feu et le pouvoir en Europe (XVe-XVIIIe siècle). Harai, D. & Lafage, G. (eds.). Paris, p. 225-244 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
Open Access -
Listening for Change: Oral History, Policy, and Professional Practice
Chand, A., 19 Feb 2026, The Bloomsbury Handbook of Oral History. Bloomsbury Visual Arts. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, p. 313-327 15 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Activities
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From Coasts to Witches: A Walking Tour of Historic Dornoch
Worthington, D. (Invited speaker)
14 Apr 2025Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Invited talk
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Oral History Society conference 2025
Chand, A. (Participant)
6 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Student theses
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Inhabited perspectives on the North Coast 500: Re-making local heritage in touristed communities of the Scottish Highlands
Grant, J. M. (Author), Robertson, I. J. M. (Supervisor) & Dean, L. (Supervisor), 8 May 2024Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)
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Shepherd's Wanted: Wester Ross Pioneers to Patagonia, 1880-1930
Forrest, L. (Author), Ritchie, E. (Supervisor) & Harper, M. (Supervisor), 24 Apr 2024Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)
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A Historical Archaeology of Whisky in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. c.1500-1850
Bratt, D. D. M. (Author), Downes, J. (Supervisor) & Ritchie, E. (Supervisor), 20 Feb 2023Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)
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