Geoffrey Holland

Sir Geoffrey Holland
Born(1938-05-09)9 May 1938
North Surrey, England
Died20 April 2017(2017-04-20) (aged 78)
Occupation(s)Civil servant, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 1994-2002
TitleKCB
SpouseCarol Challen
ParentFrank Holland

Sir Geoffrey Holland, KCB (9 May 1938 – 20 April 2017) was an English career civil servant who became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 1994 to 2002, when he was succeeded by Professor Steve Smith. Holland Hall, a large student hall of residence which opened in 2004 on the Exeter campus is named after him.

Early life

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Holland was born on 9 May 1938 to Frank Holland CBE and his wife, Elsie Freda Holland.[1] His father was a civil servant for London County Council. Both parents came from the Potteries in north Staffordshire.

He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood on a scholarship and spent two years in the Royal Tank Regiment for National Service, becoming a Second Lieutenant. He received a first class BA honours degree in Modern Languages from St John's College, Oxford.

Career

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He joined the Ministry of Labour in 1961, working as a civil servant until the 1990s in the Department of Employment, becoming the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education (DFE) from 1993-4. He was knighted in 1989. In 1994 he became VC of the University of Exeter. He was a member of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education that published an influential report in 1997.[2]

In August 2003, he was appointed Chair of the Learning and Skills Development Agency. In 2006, he was appointed Chair of the Quality Improvement Agency.

From 1998-2000 he was President of the IPD. In 2008 he became President of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

Personal life

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In 1964 he married Carol Challen.

He died on 20 April 2017 at the age of 78.[3]

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References

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  1. ^ "HOLLAND, Sir Geoffrey". Who's Who 2015. A & C Black. November 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Higher Education in the learning society: Main Report". Education England. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  3. ^ Sir Geoffrey Holland KCB
Government offices
Preceded by
none
Second Permanent Secretary of the
Department of Employment

1986–1988
Succeeded by
none
Preceded by Permanent Secretary of the
Department of Employment

1988–1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Permanent Secretary of the
Department for Education

1993–1994
Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Exeter

1994–2002
Succeeded by