Professor Sir Graham Hills

We were sad to hear about the death of Professor Sir Graham Hills, who died peacefully in his sleep at the weekend.

Professor Hills, a former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, was instrumental in the foundation of the University of the Highlands and Islands. In 1991 he was commissioned by the Highlands and Islands Development Board to report on the best way forward for a University of the Highlands and Islands.

His report was published the following year confirming the scope for a federal, collegiate university based on existing further education colleges. Following this, the University of the Highlands and Islands Project was born. He continued as academic adviser to the project in its early years.

He received one of our first Honorary Fellowships at our Annual Lecture in 2002 in recognition of his services to education.

He maintained his interest in the university as a trustee of the University of the Highlands and Islands Development Trust and, latterly, its honorary President.

“He was quite a character,” said Martin Wright, Director of Marketing, Communications and Planning. “He had no problem throwing a pebble in the pond. He was always keen to embrace new ideas and had little time for convention.”