Funding for research at UHI will be increased

Higher education institution, UHI, said it had been recommended by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education to be given degree awarding powers.

UHI, which includes Inverness College, conceded there was still a long process to go through before it could do so.

The news comes amid the granting of record levels of funding to the organisation for the coming year.

It remains our ambition to become the University of the Highlands and Islands in the shortest timescale possible UHI statement

The Scottish Funding Council for Further and Higher Education said UHI would receive a total of �27.4m - up 6.1% on the previous year.

It will see an increase in its total funds for teaching and research.

UHI said the agency's recommendation would be passed to the Scottish Government and, if endorsed, to the UK Government's Privy Council for a final decision.

In a statement, the institution said: "The recommendation from QAA is encouraging news.

"However, it is only part of the decision-making process and we do not wish to pre-judge the independent decisions of the Scottish Government and the Privy Council.

"It remains our ambition, however, to become the University of the Highlands and Islands in the shortest timescale possible, consistent with satisfying the necessary expectations of such an institution."

University campus

UHI had hoped to achieve university status in 2007 - Scotland's Year of Highland Culture.

However, the QAA said more time was needed for the institute to become the University of the Highlands and Islands.

The agency said UHI programmes were of a high quality, but it has asked for a stronger university structure.

Two years ago, a preferred location for a university campus was identified at Beechwood Farm in the A96 corridor between Inverness and Nairn.

Included in plans were faculty and research facilities along with student and staff accommodation.