Professor Van Gore, Vice-Chancellor
Van joined Southampton Institute in Summer 2001 as Vice Principal, Academic and was appointed Senior Vice Principal in September 2003. He became the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in July 2005 when Southampton Institute became Southampton Solent University, and was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University with effect from 1 August 2007.
Van is an historian, with a History and Politics first degree and then Masters in Modern British Politics from Sheffield University. He became Head of Humanities and Communication Studies and Special Policy Advisor on Quality and Standards to the Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University. He first moved to Sheffield as a lecturer in modern European political history after postgraduate research in social history at the University of Warwick. He later developed an interest in quality management, working as a consultant and QAA auditor in the HE sector here and overseas.
Van chairs the Solent Skills Development Zone, which he helped create. He is also the Higher Education Member of Southampton Connect, which is a group of leaders of key public, private and voluntary organisations, working collaboratively to further the growth and success of Southampton. He chaired the Hampshire & IOW life long learning network from 2006-2010. He was chair of HE European Funding Service (HEEFS) from 2009-2011 and is currently a director of Laser Learning Awards (the successor to OCNSR, The Open College Network South East Region).