“It is the best location in London. Not just for a university – but the best location in London.”
So says Aldwyn Cooper, vice-chancellor of Regent’s University London, of his institution’s home in Regent’s Park.
That will be one of the attractions for anyone considering applying for the deputy vice-chancellor post at Regent’s, a new position being advertised at a time of exciting change for the non-profit, private institution.
The successful candidate will be the university’s “lead academic”.
The appointment is part of a drive to strengthen the Regent’s senior management team after its success in attaining university title (one of only four non-state funded institutions to do so) and gaining admission to Universities UK. Regent’s aims to follow that by gaining research degree-awarding powers, according to Professor Cooper.
The university is also recruiting a pro vice-chancellor and dean of business and management.
Advertising for a deputy vice-chancellor reflects the fact that Professor Cooper now aims to “spend more time being outward-facing, rather than doing all the stuff internally I’ve been doing” as the institution went through the process of gaining teaching degree-awarding powers and university title.
Some of that time will be invested in helping Regent’s to play “as strong and active a role [in UUK] as an institution like ours can play”, Professor Cooper added.
The deputy vice-chancellor must “have a strong academic background that will be respected by our faculty”, he continued. “They have got to understand what universities are about in terms of academic prowess, quality assurance, research…collaboration – and they have got to be able to lead our academic body here.”
The deputy vice-chancellor must also “play the ambassador’s role” for the institution in Professor Cooper’s absence.
Although it is not guaranteed, there is also the possibility that the deputy vice-chancellor could go on to become vice-chancellor “at such time as I retire or step down”, Professor Cooper said.
Applicants will be likely to “already have some form of pro vice-chancellor or similar role”, and “international experience” will be a plus, he said.
Regent’s has about 700 staff and 5,000 students. Of the students, about 10 per cent are British, 40 per cent are from other European Union countries, and 50 per cent are non-EU students.
Professor Cooper described a “very special pedagogy” at the university, based on face-to-face teaching, “high contact hours” and “intensive problem-solving”.
He added: “We talk about it being the Regent’s family. Students come here because they want to be part of a small institution where people know each other.”
The successful candidate would also “understand that we are not wanting to be another Russell Group university”.
The closing date for applications is 7 April 2014.
Moving up: senior management roles
University of Wolverhampton
The University of Wolverhampton is looking for two deputy vice-chancellors, one with responsibility for academic affairs and another in charge of access and lifelong learning.
Closing date for applications: 14 April 2014
View the full job description and apply for these roles
La Trobe University
La Trobe University in Australia is seeking two pro vice-chancellors: one will lead its College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce, the other its College of Science, Health and Engineering.
Closing date for applications: 17 April 2014
View the full job description and apply for this role
Appointments
The board of directors at Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, which promotes the use of the Welsh language in universities, has named Andrew Green its chairperson. Mr Green, who was librarian of the National Library of Wales until last year, will take up the role on 1 April.
Queen Mary University of London has appointed Sally Burtles director of research services and business development. Dr Burtles’ role will be to help lead and manage the teams within the business development unit and the joint research and management office. She joins from Imperial College London, where she was director of research operations for the department of surgery and cancer.
Veronica Maynard, associate professor in postgraduate clinical education and lead for evidence-based medicine at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, has been awarded a three-year National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Fellowship.
Hilary Carlisle, dean of arts and design at Norwich University of the Arts, has been awarded a chair in design by the university for her innovative and sustained work as a scholar in textile design.
Peter Styles, professor of applied and environmental geophysics in the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences at Keele University, has been awarded the William Smith Medal for 2014 by the Geological Society of London for his outstanding research.
Luke Mason, an associate lecturer at the University of Surrey, has been named Law Teacher of the Year 2014, an award sponsored by Oxford University Press.
