Leitch main experience as college Principal stems from eight years in the role at Glasgow College of Food Technology (GCFT) between 1997 and 2005,  a year as acting Principal at Inverness College UHI, and undertaking the role of Interim Principal at Perth College UHI.

The main driver for creating the new college has been to provide more opportunities for further and higher education in the West Highlands. Increased access to further and higher education by students who do not have to leave the region is recognised as a way of invigorating the economic, social and cultural prospect of these communities.

Since 2007, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC ) has worked to redress a historical trend of lower participation in tertiary education in this area of Scotland by allocation of increased budget through North Highland College - enabling  further education delivery. West Highland College will build on this work.
 
Professor Norman Gillies(left) chair of the shadow board, believes the new college will deliver significant benefits arising from the merger. “The principal benefit here is the ability to deliver a wider curriculum for more students in more locations.

"We will increase the number of learning centres and upgrade many of those we already have; by doing so, we’ll develop greater access to education and opportunity across our patch.

“Wester Ross will be the focus of particular expansion, with the aim of bringing that area closer to the level of other parts in terms of access and delivery. Through these investments and improvements, we will offer our people more opportunities to participate in lifelong learning.”

SFC is a key partner in supporting the merger and the increased delivery of further education in West Highlands. John McClelland (right) SFC’s Chair, added: “We welcome the development which has resulted in the merger of the two Colleges. This is good news for existing and potential students who will benefit from access to a greater range of further and higher education courses.”

The College will work closely with other partners in the area, including Highland Council as the provider of secondary and community education. 

As part of the UHI network, there are significant opportunities envisaged from this merger for future development.

James Fraser, (left) the Principal of UHI, said: “This will create more access through progression from further education to higher education.  It will also enable West Highland College UHI to develop its highly acclaimed Adventure Tourism Management programme and to increase its research capacity.

We also believe the number of UHI hosted students will increase throughout the area, and the estates developments in Skye and Wester Ross will facilitate this.”