‘Hard to imagine Stromness without Heriot Watt’ - tribute paid by Council Leader on bicentennial

Orkney Islands Council's Leader James Stockan has paid tribute to the special relationship Orkney enjoys with Heriot Watt University as the educational institution celebrates its bicentenary.

Founded in 1821, Heriot-Watt is a leader in ideas and solutions. With campuses and students across the entire globe they span the world, delivering innovation and educational excellence in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences.

Since 1989, the university has based its Orkney campus in the 'Old Academy' in Stromness through the International Centre for Island Technology (ICIT).

ICIT provides a unique teaching and research facility and has been pivotal in the development of the University's ongoing environmental research programme. Issues of sustainability and the use of technologies are critical to much of this research which has focused on areas such as marine resource and coastal zone management, renewable energy and energy planning and biodiversity and marine conservation.

"Having Heriot Watt based in Stromness provides us with an influx of much needed energy and new faces year on year, as we welcome the latest intake of students and staff.  Over the years many of those students and staff have gone on to make Stromness their home and it would be hard to imagine Stromness without ICIT now”, said Councillor Stockan.

"Orkney Islands Council itself has enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the university over the years, not least through the recent development of the  Orkney Research and Innovation Campus. Industry-leading projects that both organisations have been involved in have intertwined on many occasions and as a result we have come together to achieve many great and innovative things.

"I congratulate them on their bicentenary and raise a toast to many more years of Heriot Watt in Orkney."