A principal has apologised for?saying that there would be no?more ¡°vanity courses¡± at?his university.

Todd Walker, who has led Scotland¡¯s University of the Highlands and Islands since February, told a?local newspaper that his?institution was ¡°not?here to?study something for?which there is no?direct employment, growing market or?sector¡±.

The comments, in an interview with , came at the start of a curriculum review at UHI that would, he?said, ¡°examine, among other things, workforce alignment and demand¡±.

¡°One of the biggest focuses over the next five years will be to make sure that courses and training we provide are aligned to growth in the economy,¡± said Professor Walker, who moved to Scotland after serving as deputy vice-chancellor of Australia¡¯s University of New England.

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¡°I¡¯d go on the record as saying the days of having a vanity course, unit or subject are over. We¡¯re not here to study something for which there is no direct employment, growing market or?sector.¡±

The comments provoked a furious backlash on social media. Allan Kennedy, lecturer in early modern Scottish history at the University of Dundee, : ¡°An?incoming VC who uses language like ¡®vanity courses¡¯ and ¡®workforce alignment and demand¡¯ should immediately be dismissed.¡±

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Shirley Curtis-Summers, lecturer in archaeological and forensic sciences at the University of Bradford, : ¡°I?dread to think what [UHI] archaeology and history students, as well as other arts and humanities students, are thinking right now. Time for management to challenge this.¡±

Following the criticism, Professor Walker issued a statement in which he said he was ¡°sorry for any confusion or distress this has caused¡±.

¡°I understand the concerns of some students and staff following the article in today¡¯s Inverness Courier ¨C especially the headline focusing on ¡®no?more vanity courses at?UHI¡¯. The tone of the article is at odds with my thoughts and hopes,¡± he said.

¡°There is no hidden agenda, or message in this article from me that some courses or subject areas are more important than others.¡±

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However, Professor Walker did not suggest that he had been misquoted. He said UHI had ¡°flagship courses in a wide variety of subject areas, including those in arts, humanities, social science as well as engineering and health¡±.

¡°Our curriculum review will examine what our students and communities want and need in the future ¨C that is the mission of our university. It?will be a?transparent process and will take two or three years to complete and will involve staff and students throughout its implementation,¡± Professor Walker added.

¡°Learning in all its forms is transformational, and our university has a responsibility to continue to provide education to our communities.¡±

Speaking to Times ÖйúAƬ earlier this year, Professor Walker said his priority would be to ¡°transform¡± UHI to make it ¡°more connected, streamlined and sustainable¡±.

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UHI is a unique institution with 13 campuses spread across the north of Scotland and more than 70 local learning centres.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com