Dr Michael Foxley praised after 25 years’ UHI service
Three senior governors of the University of the Highlands and Islands' (UHI) governing body, who are standing down this month after almost 50 years' service, have been praised.
Alastair MacColl, the new chairman of the UHI court, has praised the trio for their work with the tertiary partnership, which covers the largest geographical area of any campus-based university or college in the UK.
Alastair took over the role of chairman on August 1 from Garry Coutts, also the current chairman of Children's Hearings Scotland, who lives in Beauly, and has held the post for seven years following a six-year stint as rector. The same date also saw the departure of the university's first regional lead for further education, Dr Michael Foxley, a retired Lochaber-based GP and former Highland councillor, who stood down from the university court after 25 years' service to both the court and as chairman of the board at university partner West Highland College UHI and one of its predecessors Lochaber College.
Anton Edwards, from Caputh in Perthshire, was elected as the fifth rector of the university in 2014, taking over from Garry Coutts.
Paying tribute to them, Mr MacColl, said: ‘Each of these governors has made a major contribution to developing the strength and vitality of our university during a critically important period. They have been selfless, wise and committed in their service.
‘They have helped us to lay the foundations we'll require to turn the ambitions of our staff, students and partners into results and build an institution that transforms lives, communities and economies across our region, giving every one of our students the opportunities they deserve.'
Dr Foxley said: ‘It has been hard work being the further education regional lead for the past eight years but there is now an increasingly effective working partnership across our colleges for further education.
‘Externally, working with the vice principal [further education], we have made sure the particular issues across our region have been understood by Colleges Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government.
‘We have ensured our full needs for national bargaining and rural funding have been provided – £16m per annum.'