New college principal takes to the hot seat
NICOLA FINDLAY
An East Kilbride college has welcomed a new Principal to the fold.
Aileen McKechnie MA (Hons) MBA also takes on the role of Chief Executive and said it is “an honour” to lead South Lanarkshire College.
She took up the appointment this month folowing the retiral of Stewart McKillop as Principal.
Ms McKechnie’s role includes responsibility to the Board of Management for the financial health, internal organisation, management and discipline of the College and is accountable for managing the finances of the College.
She takes over in the East Kilbride college with three decades of public service in both local and national government.
Previously she was Director of Advanced Learning and Science, where she was responsible for £3 billion of public funds to secure tertiary level teaching, learning and good governance and to support research, innovation and science.
On her appointment Ms McKechnie said: “What a privilege it is to lead South Lanarkshire College, a college that prides itself on delivering excellence, a college with a great track record in ensuring that our students grow and develop, and ultimately progress positively to the next stage of their lives.
“We are the best performing college in Scotland for overall student achievement and I am keen to ensure that we maintain that positive position.
She went on: “South Lanarkshire College is proud to put our students first.
“We want to create the best possible learning environment and we want to help all our learners achieve their full potential.
“South Lanarkshire College is committed to working collectively with the wider community to create sustainable success for East Kilbride and the wider region.”
Previous roles also include Director of Culture and Heritage, providing lead support to Scottish Ministers on culture and heritage policy and supporting legislative requirements.
She was also Head of the Scottish Government’s Innovation, Investment and Industries Division; and Head of Further and Adult Education Division and Head of Higher Education
Ms McKechnie added: “This is a truly exciting time to take on such an important role.
“The pace of change today is unheard of. “And, in such an increasingly complex and volatile environment, there is a real opportunity for my college to lead and shape transformative change.
“Whether that’s in response to Brexit, demographic change, climate change, different requirements for skills provision or indeed the pace and impact of technological change.
“Our ambition is for South Lanarkshire College to become Scotland’s leading college.”