A new principal has been appointed at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education.
Geoff Draper will take up the post in January.
Mr Draper joins the College with a wealth of experience which includes Principal at the Royal National College for the Blind, a 30-year career in the British Army, where he achieved the rank of Colonel, and as a consultant to the education sector.
He has been involved in education and training throughout his career and his teaching experience ranges from vocational studies and A levels to postgraduate and Masters-level programmes.
Mr Draper’s military service included serving as Principal of a Joint Service Military College, Deputy Director of Army Education and a secondment to the United Nations as a military observer in the Former Soviet Republic of Georgia.
He said:
‘I am delighted at being appointed Principal of the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education and am very much looking forward to working with the College’s dedicated staff and building upon its excellent reputation in serving the Isle of Man community.’
Mr Draper was educated at Liverpool and Manchester universities and graduated from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on joining the Army. He enjoys sporting activities, including running, skiing and golf, and other interests include music and the theatre.
He will be relocating to the Isle of Man with his wife, Rebecca, and said:
‘We are very much looking forward to working and living in such a friendly, welcoming and beautiful Island.’
He succeeds Professor Ronald Barr, who took up the post of Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Education and Children in September.
The College in Homefield Road, Douglas, offers a dozen degree courses as well as further education, professional, vocational and leisure and recreation courses. It has some 5,000 full and part-time students and a budget of £11 million.
