The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
New principal says he is ‘delighted’ to take up college role
Dundee & Angus College has appointed a new principal to replace the outgoing Grant Ritchie.
Current vice-president of curriculum and attainment Simon Hewitt, who said he is “delighted” to push the college forward, will take up the reins in August 2020.
Mr Ritchie, who had been the head for five years, announced his retirement earlier this year.
Angela Mccusker, chairwoman of the college board, said: “Following completion of a series of challenging recruitment and selection activities, I am delighted to announce that Simon Hewitt has been appointed to the role of principal.
“Throughout the selection activities it was clear that Simon was the strongest overall candidate and demonstrated the vision, drive, passion and values that the appointments panel were seeking in a new principal.”
Mr Hewitt said: “I am honoured and privileged to be appointed the principal of this amazing institution.
“I am proud of the difference we make to so many across the region and beyond. I am even prouder to be the person who will lead this great institution on to the next chapter of its journey.”
After announcing his retirement, Mr Ritchie spoke positively about the future of colleges after years of being seen as an easy target for cuts.
He said: “I think colleges were a soft touch, a slightly easy target for government. But it is coming back, funding is improving, and this budget looks like it is better.
“The government has released us a bit on that complete concentration on 17 to 19-year-olds’ full-time education.”
It comes just a few months after the college was hit by a catastrophic cyber attack, wiping out many of its IT systems and causing classes to be cancelled for three days.
Some students reportedly lost course work which had been kept on a shared drive. Mr Ritchie said at the time the perpetrators wanted money in return for releasing encrypted computer files.