Ms Cumberford has been Principal and Chief Executive of the College since its formation five years ago, following the merger of Clydebank College, James Watt College (Inverclyde) and Paisley’s Reid Kerr College. Before merger, she had been Principal of Reid Kerr College.

In a message to all College staff, Keith McKellar, who is Chair of the Board of Management, said:

“I want to record our deepest thanks to Audrey for her outstanding leadership of our College.

“Audrey led us through a period of unprecedented change and significant turbulence in the sector. In doing so, she built for the College a reputation as one of Scotland’s most dynamic and highly-regarded educational institutions.

“Whatever challenge Audrey faced over the past five years, she did so with integrity, honesty and openness. These qualities are her hallmark. For me, her greatest achievement has been to ensure those same qualities now define the culture of the organisation which she led so well.”

Ms Cumberford, who is widely regarded as among the most influential and forward-thinking leaders in the sector, commented:

“Having worked at Reid Kerr and then West College Scotland for nearly twenty years, it will be a wrench for me to leave so many wonderful professionals and good friends. Together, we met many challenges and I want to thank them all for the support they have shown me throughout.

“I am confident the ambitious plans we have developed will allow the College to continue to enhance its reputation as a first-class provider of education and training, delivered in state-of-the-art facilities in Clydebank, Greenock and Paisley.

“I am now looking forward to taking up my position at Edinburgh College, which is where I began my career in the sector in the 1990s.

“In the meantime, I wish everyone at West College Scotland the very best for the future.” The Board of Management will now begin the process of appointing a new Principal.