Happily single Abertay names its next principal

A SCOTTISH university which avoided a controversial merger with a neighbouring institution has appointed a new principal.Professor Nigel Seaton, 51, will become the principal and vice-chancellor of Abertay University after plans to merge it with Dundee University were dropped.

Prof Seaton, a chemical engineer and former vice-principal of the University of Edinburgh, will take up his appointment on 20 August.

He said: “I look forward to working with colleagues, and with our students, to build on Abertay’s record of success in education, research and knowledge transfer, and to joining the wider community in the city of Dundee.”

Nigel Hawkins, chairman of university court, added: “Professor Seaton brings a depth and wealth of experience and personal qualities to his new role. The university court is looking forward to working with him as he assumes the leadership of the university.”

Last year, Abertay avoided a “shotgun marriage” with Dundee after the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) called for the two institutions to explore the possibility of a merger.

Concerns about a possible merger emerged after the SFC called for the recruitment of the new principal at Abertay to be delayed. Former principal Professor Bernard King confirmed that he was retiring from Abertay in August after he was suspended by the institution earlier in the year.