Official inauguration for new Vice-Chancellor

Professor Geoff Layer addressed a packed audience at the city’s Grand Theatre for the event, which took place during graduation.

He said: “It is with a combination of great pride and humility that I stand here today. The appointment of Vice-Chancellor is a great honour and the pinnacle of my professional career.

“I will work hard to ensure that the University continues to grow and deliver the exceptional results demonstrated by our graduates.”

Professor Layer added that he was fully committed to heading a university that would continue to provide opportunities for those who need them and to enhance academic excellence, providing a first-class student and staff experience.

He said he would work with staff, students, alumni and the wider community to place the University at the heart of economic regeneration.

The ceremony was opened by Kathy Gee, Vice-Chair of the University’s Board of Governors, who said: “Geoff’s reputation for promoting life-long learning is to be celebrated and is fully in keeping with the continuing aims and aspirations of our University.”

The University’s Chancellor, The Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone, presented Professor Layer with his parchment and hat to mark, brought to the stage by Macebearer Paul Manford, his inauguration.

Professor Layer, who joined the University last month (AUG), was formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Bradford.

He graduated from Newcastle Polytechnic with a LLB (Hons) and entered a teaching and research career. He joined the Sheffield Business School in 1983 as a Lecturer in Law and became Professor of Lifelong Learning in 1996.

Professor Layer joined the University of Bradford in 1999 as Director of the Centre for Continuing Education, becoming the founding Dean of the School of Lifelong Education and Development in 2001. He held the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) from 2004 until becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) in 2008. In this role, Professor Layer was responsible for the academic development of the University of Bradford across its teaching, research, knowledge transfer and high level skills activity.

Between 2000 and 2006 he was the Director of Action on Access, an agency established to advise HEFCE on its Widening Participation strategy. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was awarded the OBE for services to Higher Education in 2003.

Previous Vice-Chancellor Professor Caroline Gipps retired from the University of Wolverhampton earlier this year.

ENDS

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