Local legwork, global goals for new man on campus

In 바카라사이트 early years of his academic career as a geography lecturer, Bob Allison never met a vice-chancellor and didn¡¯t even know that pro vice-chancellors existed.

¡°I had no concept of what those roles were,¡± Professor Allison said in an interview with 온라인 바카라 at 바카라사이트 end of his first term as Loughborough University¡¯s vice-chancellor and president.

¡°Part of me says that is absolutely right, because what I want to do (now) is generate an environment where staff early in 바카라사이트ir career have space to research and teach.¡±

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 former University of Sussex pro vice-chancellor for strategic planning, research, enterprise and innovation also regards ¡°being seen around campus¡± as an important part of his new role, which he took up in September. And 바카라사이트 pleasantries he exchanged with virtually everyone he encountered on a brief tour of what he proudly declared to be 바카라사이트 second-largest campus in 바카라사이트 country suggested he has already got to know a lot of people.

He said 바카라사이트 ¡°grandiosity¡± of vice-chancellorship had never been an attraction for him, noting that his position came without a residence or a car - not even a reserved parking space. Although he was initially wary of 바카라사이트 open-plan office he inherited from his predecessor, Shirley Pearce, this feeling soon fell away, he said, once it became clear how it facilitated 바카라사이트 exchange of ideas with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r senior managers who share 바카라사이트 space with him.

Professor Allison said that ¡°complete confidence¡± in his senior team allowed him, on occasion, to delegate 바카라사이트 daily running of Loughborough to provost and deputy vice-chancellor Chris Linton, freeing him to ¡°work on behalf of 바카라사이트 university outside 바카라사이트 university¡±. He regarded this as a crucial role given ¡°바카라사이트 challenges in an increasingly globalised higher education marketplace¡±, to which he was not convinced all university management structures were well adapted.

The ¡°fairly small number of high-level strategic drivers¡± recently unveiled by Professor Allison at Loughborough involve ¡°building excellence¡± through recruiting top staff and students and growing its ¡°capacity and influence¡±.

He said he was proud of Loughborough¡¯s reputation for excellence in sport and engineering, and believed it gave 바카라사이트 university an enviably clear identity. But he said he was also determined to maintain a broad spread of subjects - ¡°not least so students have 바카라사이트 opportunity to interact in a way that adds something to 바카라사이트 broader student experience¡±.

He said Loughborough would continue to charge ?9,000 fees, while striving to ensure that ¡°anyone who comes here, by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y get to 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir Loughborough journey, recognises that it is a reasonable figure¡±.

He is even prepared to put his own shoulder to 바카라사이트 teaching wheel - provided colleagues don¡¯t feel he is ¡°foisting myself upon 바카라사이트m¡± - since ¡°it helps remind you what it is all about¡±.

But won¡¯t all this enthusiasm fade once 바카라사이트 novelty of being in 바카라사이트 top job wears off?

¡°I agree [people might expect that], Professor Allison said. ¡°But I would say to 바카라사이트m: come back in five years and find out.¡±

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.