Remote Gaelic language specialist faces ‘critical’ period

The world’s only Gaelic higher education institution is seeking greater independence, buoyed by rising interest in people learning the language.

Located on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (SMO) is the only higher education centre in the world that provides its programmes entirely in Gaelic, boasting an “immersive, language-rich environment”.

The Scottish Parliament recognised Gaelic as an official language last year, and the most recent census found that the number of people in Scotland with some Gaelic skills rose 50 per cent, to 130,160, between 2011 and 2022. It was added to popular learning app Duolingo in 2019.

But intergenerational transmission of the language has not been increasing, nor has the number of speakers in the heartlands of the Western Isles as older, more fluent speakers have been lost.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time for Gaelic and for the Gaelic community, but at the same time there’s a fragility and a need for increased and sustained support,” said Marsaili MacLeod, vice-principal and director of studies at SMO.

“This time is critical because we have the interest, we still have our native speakers, and we’re trying to regenerate the language and create strong Gaelic language communities before it’s too late.”

Founded in 1973, SMO offers courses for all levels of Gaelic learners, including fluent speakers, both on campus and through distance learning programmes.

SMO has been recognised as the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, and MacLeod said part of its role was to support Gaelic language industries, which are important in aiding the revitalisation of the language.

“There’s a large market for growth should we be able to meet that market through a range of courses, and to support our main mission which is to provide world-class Gaelic immersion learning that takes people to fluency.

“The raison d’etre of SMO is that we operate as a Gaelic language environment, an immersion environment as an institution, and that’s a really precious thing.”

SMO is also central to producing broadcasters and journalists for the Gaelic-language BBC Alba, as well as teachers for the rest of the country.

The Gaelic Language Act 2005 gave Gaelic equal status to English in Scotland. It placed a duty on public sector bodies to produce Gaelic language plans, and helped support its growth in schools.

“There’s a huge interest in nationality in Scotland, in recognising our own history rather than being ashamed of our history, being proud of our culture, being proud of where we’ve come from, [and] of the opportunities that Gaelic gives as well,” MacLeod said.

She added that the attitude in the country had changed significantly from her grandparents’ generation when they were “ashamed” to speak Gaelic, with many seeing it as “retractive bilingualism”.

“But it’s increasingly recognised that monolingualism is extraordinary rather than ordinary, and that bilingualism is the norm and that you can be bilingual in English and Gaelic.”

As part of the Scottish Languages Act 2025, a government review into the funding, structure and status of the institution is due to begin this year.

SMO is part of a federal “polo mint” structure within the University of the Highlands and Islands. But SMO principal Gillian Rothach said it was on a “journey” to greater independence, with hopes that it will be granted degree-awarding powers through partnership with others.

It wants to become a small, specialist institution in the same mould as institutions such as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Rothach said that despite its isolated location, SMO has always been “outward looking”, with international reach – particularly given that there are communities of Gaelic speakers in other parts of the world such as the Atlantic seaboard of Canada.

Its 1,500 on-campus and online enrolments in 2024-25 came from 25 countries and five continents. It also delivered short in-person courses to more than 1,000 students – 22 per cent of whom were international.

“One of the unique and wonderful things about us is we’re based in a traditional area, a beautiful, aesthetic environment to be in, rich in culture and history, which is in a way a beacon for the language and the culture, nationally and internationally,” said Rothach.

“That reflects the dialogue about the Gaelic community today in Scotland. It’s both in traditional heartland areas but it stretches out across the whole country.”

SMO’s location, and limited housing stock in Skye, makes hiring academic and ancillary services staff a challenge. But MacLeod said the institution attracts high-calibre scholars who are attracted to their mission and commitment to the language.

“Not everybody might describe themselves as activists but we’re basically language activists.

“That’s the role we have, and there are so many opportunities, and it’s so rewarding.”

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com