Lews Castle College ( gd, Colaisde a' Chaisteil , meaning literally "College of the Castle") is a further and higher education college in the

Western Isles The Outer Hebrides () or Western Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Siar or or ("islands of the strangers"); sco, Waster Isles), sometimes known as the Long Isle/Long Island ( gd, An t-Eilean Fada, links=no), is an island chain off the west coast ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

. The main campus is in the grounds of

Lews Castle Lews Castle ( Scottish Gaelic: ''Caisteal Leòdhais'') is a Victorian era castle located west of the town of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. It was built in the years 1844–51 as a country house for Sir James Matheson who had bought the w ...

Stornoway Stornoway (; gd, Steòrnabhagh; sco, Stornowa) is the main town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland. The town's population is around 6,953, making it by far the largest town in the Outer Hebrides, as well ...

. The College also has two learning centres in

Benbecula Benbecula (; gd, Beinn nam Fadhla or ) is an island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. In the 2011 census, it had a resident population of 1,283 with a sizable percentage of Roman Catholics. It is in a ...

and Barra. The college is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. The college opened in September 1953; its first principal was

Colonel John Macsween Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

. It was originally run by the local authority. It had 83 students and 9 full-time faculty members. In 1993, the College became an independent entity under the

Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank, for example, defines tertiary education as including univer ...

was originally used as accommodation for the students, but it is currently needing renovation. In December 2012, the college had 2,700 students enrolled in 150 full-time, part-time and online courses, representing nine different nationalities, and employed 130 staff. The college has a subsidiary company, Lews Castle College (Trading) Limited, which provides Gaelic translation services.

Merchant navy training

Lews Castle College conducts several courses for the seagoing merchant navy personnel both long and short term:Merchant Navy Programmes
/ref> * Access to Merchant Navy (1 year full-time) * Efficient Deck Hand, GMDSS & STCW Courses (short courses)

Notable alumni

Anne Lundon Anne McAlpine (née Morrison; previously Lundon) is a Scottish journalist, newsreader and weather presenter working for BBC Alba and BBC Scotland. She is best known for presenting ''Reporting Scotland'' and '' Landward'', and narrating '' Scotla ...

, broadcaster

References

External links

* {{Authority control University of the Highlands and Islands Buildings and structures in the Isle of Lewis Further education colleges in Scotland Higher education colleges in Scotland Educational institutions established in 1953 1953 establishments in Scotland Stornoway Education in the Outer Hebrides