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Professor Sir Eric Thomas, 1953-2023

Written byPress Office
Published date 20 November 2023

Following the death of Professor Sir Eric Thomas, UAL joins the higher education community and beyond in paying tribute and recognising his profound contributions. Sir Eric was the former Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol from 2001-15 and served as UAL governor from 2015-21.

Sir Eric held various prestigious roles, including President of Universities UK from 2011 to 2013 and four years as President of the Worldwide Universities Network. He received a knighthood in 2013 for services to higher education. His 2014 publication, "The Thomas Robert," prompted UK universities to enhance fundraising efforts by emphasising professional training and encouraging donors to view higher education as a meaningful avenue for philanthropy.

Sir Eric was a passionate advocate for higher education and a visionary leader admired across the sector. A champion for the transformative potential of HE, he leaves a lasting legacy through the community partnerships, philanthropy and international collaboration he helped foster. As a governor of UAL, we are immensely grateful for the role he played in shaping the University's strategic direction. He was a remarkable individual and valued colleague who will be greatly missed. We offer our deepest condolences to Sir Eric's family and friends.

— David Isaac, CBE, UAL Chair of the Governors