Professor Edward Sallis OBE appointed Channel Islands consultant for Plymouth University

A respected former college Principal who helped to introduce and establish higher education provision in the Channel Islands for the first time has been appointed as a special advisor to the region by Plymouth University.

Professor Edward Sallis OBE was Principal and Chief Executive of Highlands College in Jersey for 15 years, during which time he established a University Centre with Plymouth, to provide Foundation and Honours degrees on the island.

Professor Sallis now takes up the position of Honorary Consultant in Academic Partnerships to help oversee the University’s strategy in one of its key geographical areas. On average, more than 100 students enrol at Plymouth every year from Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, in addition to the 160 who study for Plymouth degrees delivered through Highlands College on Jersey.

Professor Sallis said: “I am delighted to be working with Plymouth University in this honorary role. They are one of the top modern universities and have always had a special interest in the Channel Islands. My connection with Plymouth brought eight degree programmes to the Island and established the University Centre at Highlands College. This is a University that is dedicated to working in partnership and I believe that this new initiative will lead to an enhancement in the provision of university education in the Islands.”

Professor Sallis has 40 years’ of experience in higher and further education, having worked in colleges in London, Slough, Somerset, Surrey, and Bristol before he took post in Jersey. Under his leadership, Highlands doubled in full-time numbers and became a member of the University’s partner college network, which spans from Bristol to Penzance.

He has also held a number of national positions in organisations such as the Association of Principals of Colleges; the Further Education National Training Organisation; the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examination Board; and The Centre for Excellence in Leadership. Professor Sallis is also the author of six books and a wide range of articles on issues of quality management and education leadership.

Among the things that Professor Sallis will be focusing upon in his new role will be liaising with schools and colleges across the islands, and engaging with thousands of Plymouth alumni in the community. He’ll also be working with the financial services sector to look at higher education support and provision.

Professor Simon Payne, Dean of Academic Partnerships, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Professor Sallis – he brings a lifetime of experience of higher education in the Channel Islands. Through him, we hope to achieve even stronger engagement and partnership with the schools and colleges in the region.”