New Vice-Chancellor joins University

Professor Layer has joined the University following the retirement of Professor Caroline Gipps.

He said: “I’m enjoying getting to know the University and its staff and students. The University has an important role in the city and wider region so I’m looking forward to working with colleagues at other organisations.

“August is a busy time for the University as we prepare for A-Level results day and Clearing, plus we have Graduation and the start of the new academic year in September, so it’s a great time to start here.”

Professor Layer 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 role after six years at the University.

ENDS

Picture: Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Layer pictured at the City Campus of the University of Wolverhampton

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