New Principal starts at Fife College

Jim Metcalfe officially took up his new position as Principal of Fife College on Monday, following the announcement of his appointment last December.

The former Chief Executive at College Development Network (CDN) succeeds Dr Hugh Hall who stepped down as Fife College Principal after six years in the job.

Jim joins Fife College at an exciting time, with a new ground-breaking, net zero campus being built in Dunfermline and the College reporting the best ‘positive destination’ figures (those full-time successful students progressing to employment or further study) of any college in Scotland.

Jim Metcalfe said:

“I have been looking forward to starting my new role as Principal at Fife College and I’m delighted that I’m now here and excited about the future. I’m very honoured to join a fantastic team.”

“As the new Principal, my focus over the coming months will be to meet and listen to as many of our staff, students and stakeholders as possible, to hear their views on how we can drive achievement for our students and economic growth and opportunity for the Fife economy.”

The new Principal will be responsible for around 21,000 students and nearly 1,000 staff across five main campuses throughout Fife as well as prison learning centres across the country, and will also oversee a successful commercial operation, conference and events centre and university hub within an overall turnover of over £61 million.

Jim’s focus will be raising the College’s profile in terms of education provision, skills training, community benefit and economic growth across the region. As a new Principal with a longstanding affinity with and knowledge of Fife and its communities, he is ready to hit the ground running and build on the great work currently undertaken by the College throughout the region.

Contact Information

Stewart Ross
Communications Officer
Fife College
01383 845007
[email protected]

Notes to editors

Jim Metcalfe has a wealth of experience across the skills and regional economic development landscape. He is a Trustee of the UK Energy Saving Trust (EST) and Chair of the EST Foundation - a nationwide investor in young people tackling the climate emergency. Jim has served as a Director of the SCQF Partnership, and the Scottish Government Curriculum Assessment Board, and as convener of the college sector’s national group on Net Zero. Before becoming Chief Executive at CDN, Jim was Head of Development and Practice at the Carnegie UK Trust, based in Fife.

ABOUT FIFE COLLEGE

Fife College is one of the largest colleges of higher and further education in Scotland with five main campuses located in Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Leven, and Rosyth. The College offers over 400 courses, from essential skills to graduate degree programmes, in more than 40 different subject areas, with 93% of Fife College students progressing in to either employment or further studies after completing their courses. Over 21,000 students currently study either full-time or part-time at the College, which also hosts the Carnegie Conference Centre, a University Hub, and the Andrew Carnegie Business School.