Wed 16th November, 2011
University of Bedfordshire Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon CBE DL is to retire next summer.
Professor Ebdon, who was appointed Vice Chancellor in 2003, will leave at the end of the academic year, in September 2012. He will be 65.
He said: “I must admit to many mixed feelings about my decision as I have enjoyed what will be nine years as Vice Chancellor and am immensely proud of what the University has achieved. I am sure that the firm foundations which have been laid, the excellent staff in post and the wisdom of our Board of Governors, which will appoint my successor, will ensure the continued success of this University.”
Chair of the Board of Governors Andrew Bentley said: “We will be very sad to lose such an inspirational leader. Turning the University around from a £30m institution to one which has an annual turnover of some £130m today has been an outstanding achievement.
“When Les was appointed there were fewer than 10,000 students registered. His vision was of a world where all are able to benefit from transformational educational experiences. Today, the University supports more than 23,000 students, 1,000 staff and has an alumni community of many tens of thousands of people whose lives have, indeed, been transformed by their experiences here.
“Les led the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of DMU in 2006 and transformed the new University of Bedfordshire into an award-winning institution with an international reputation for high-quality teaching, excellent graduate employment rates, modern facilities, strong student support and world-leading research.
“In the last 12 months alone, the University has won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, a Gold Standard from Investors in People and a Times Higher Award for Leadership and Management. Only last week, Les received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rising Stars Awards ceremony in Bedford.
“We are immensely grateful for his contribution to the University of Bedfordshire and also for his contribution to higher education at local, regional, national and international levels.”
Latest news» 2011» November» “Inspirational leader” to retire after nine years of “outstanding achievements”
