Professor Simone Buitendijk appointed Imperial's new Vice Provost for education

Professor Simone Buitendijk

Leading educator and physician Professor Simone Buitendijk is to become Imperial College London's new Vice Provost (Education) from 1 August 2016.

Professor Buitendijk will join the College from Leiden University in the Netherlands to lead Imperial’s vision for education and student experience. The College’s Strategy 2015-20 reaffirms Imperial’s mission to achieve enduring excellence in research and education in science, engineering, medicine and business for the benefit of society. Areas of focus include embedding the educational experience in a research-led entrepreneurial environment and enriching the student experience.

Professor Buitendijk is currently Vice-Rector Magnificus at Leiden with responsibility for education and student affairs.  Over her five year tenure she has led university-wide strategies to enhance students’ educational experience, promote innovation in teaching and grow support for students. She has served on League of European Research Universities (LERU) steering groups for teaching and learning and for gender equality.   

She is also an internationally respected expert in maternal and child health. Professor Buitendijk is Professor of Women’s and Family Health at the Leiden University Medical Centre, having held the Netherlands’ first professorial chair for primary care in obstetrics.

Imperial’s Provost Professor James Stirling CBE FRS said: "I am delighted to welcome Professor Buitendijk to Imperial at this very exciting time for us. Both as a scholar and as a champion of educational excellence, Professor Buitendijk brings with her an outstanding record of achievement. Her vision for education and her passion for supporting students stand out, and we are very fortunate that she has agreed to join us.

“Our College Strategy for 2015-20 places excellence at the heart of everything we do, and in Professor Buitendijk we have an inspirational leader who can take our educational offer and quality of student experience to the next level.”

Professor Buitendijk said: “Imperial is among the top universities in the world, drawing an extremely motivated, talented and international group of students. I am very excited about working to support them to fulfil their dreams and their potential."

Congratulating her on the appointment Leiden University’s Board of Governors said: “We very much appreciate the commitment Professor Buitendijk has shown to teaching at Leiden. She has put the issues of quality assurance and diversity firmly on the map at our university. Her achievements have benefited not only Leiden University, but also other Dutch universities and our LERU partners.”

Professor Buitendijk succeeds Professor Debra Humphris as Vice Provost (Education). Professor Humphris became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton in December 2015.