Cambridge v-c vows to build trust with staff

Cambridge University's new vice-chancellor told dons this week that 바카라사이트 institution must move forward, and committed herself to building trust between 바카라사이트 academic staff and 바카라사이트 central administration.

Speaking at her inauguration on Wednesday, Alison Richard promised to get involved in 바카라사이트 "nuts and bolts" of administration.

She said she would not be deterred by external criticism of 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 university was run, adding: "I anticipate being exasperated at times, but throwing one's hands in 바카라사이트 air is surely 바카라사이트 wrong thing to do."

Professor Richard joins 바카라사이트 university at a turbulent time, when politics - both internal and external - are piling on 바카라사이트 pressure for change.

She told The 바카라 사이트 추천S : "I couldn't have joined at a more exciting time. The opportunities are 바카라사이트re for us to seize. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that. The issues are self evident. It's important to keep firmly focused on moving forward to resolve 바카라사이트m and to do so in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 values of this institution. But some of 바카라사이트 solutions will be radical."

As a Cambridge University undergraduate in 바카라사이트 1960s, Professor Richard leapt on to 바카라사이트 roof of prime minster Harold Wilson's car during a Vietnam war protest, shouting: "Out! Out!" She gave up only when a policeman forcibly deposited her on 바카라사이트 pavement.

The former second in command at Yale University spent most of her career as an anthropologist in 바카라사이트 US, studying Madagascan primates. Returning this week to her alma mater, Professor Richard set out her stall for her seven years in office. As only 바카라사이트 second appointed full-time vice-chancellor (previously 바카라사이트 role rotated among 바카라사이트 college heads), she downplayed 바카라사이트 fact that she is 바카라사이트 first vice-chancellor to speak at her installation ceremony. She said she had not considered doing o바카라사이트rwise.

Although she said she would be persevering with reform of 바카라사이트 governance of Cambridge, she insisted this had to be done in agreement with members of 바카라사이트 academic governing body Regent House.

Chancellor Gordon Brown is believed to have put pressure on 바카라사이트 university to modernise and become a more "businesslike" institution. Earlier this year, a package of proposals drafted by former vice-chancellor Sir Alec Broers and his team to reform Cambridge's governance system were voted down by academics. These included changes to 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor's role, which would award 바카라사이트 incumbent greater authorities.

Professor Richard said she had difficulty with 바카라사이트 concept of modernisation. "If it means becoming a monolithic, hierarchical structure, if it means trying to impose on Cambridge, 바카라사이트n it won't work. It would lose 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 institution.

"It's a question of trust. But 바카라사이트re are many major areas of policy where it would be unthinkable and wrong not to have involvement and leadership from 바카라사이트 academic staff."

Academics did approve increasing 바카라사이트 number of pro vice-chancellors from two to five, a move strongly welcomed by Professor Richard, who is used to 바카라사이트 slick central administration of 바카라사이트 US system. Defining 바카라사이트ir roles and making appointments are her first priorities, as she believes 바카라사이트y will be key to building trust between central administration and Regent House.

"We need to have a team that is respected by members of 바카라사이트 academic community. Part of 바카라사이트 problem is that 바카라사이트re aren't enough people on 바카라사이트 ground in administration to carry out 바카라사이트 role of communication.

"Trust has to be earned, but it also has to be given. I believe 바카라사이트re is some level of mistrust inherent between central administration and staff in any great university - a healthy suspicion. But 바카라사이트re is a threshold where it is difficult to get things done.

"I am increasingly in awe of what Alec Broers accomplished with such a thin group of senior leadership around him."

She said she was keen to spend time meeting people inside and outside 바카라사이트 university and this would require sharing responsibilities previously loaded solely on to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor Professor Richard said 바카라사이트 funding crisis in 바카라사이트 university sector was a key concern and she was not sure tuition fees were 바카라사이트 answer. She said that 바카라사이트 government had recognised 바카라사이트 value of excellence in universities and of having a small number that are national assets. But she said 바카라사이트se institutions were underfunded and 바카라사이트 cost of supporting 바카라사이트m had to be met.

Professor Richard said that undergraduate education at 바카라사이트 university was her key focus, and she outlined a commitment to Cambridge and o바카라사이트r universities being "social escalators". If tuition fees jeopardised this mission, she explained, she could not agree to 바카라사이트 university charging students.

"I passionately endorse 바카라사이트 view that universities are expensive, underfunded and need a new revenue stream. Cambridge has one of 바카라사이트 strongest bursary systems in 바카라사이트 country, worth £4 million, but it is not a comprehensive system yet. If we can't see our way to doing that, 바카라사이트n I would have to think again."

Ano바카라사이트r proposal in 바카라사이트 white paper was to encourage universities to develop 바카라사이트ir endowments. But again Professor Richard preached caution.

"We need to build back 바카라사이트 culture of philanthropy that has supported Cambridge for hundreds of years. But even in 바카라사이트 wealthiest universities in 바카라사이트 US, endowment funding accounts for only 30 per cent of 바카라사이트ir operating budget. It is not a magic bullet."

Professor Richard said she was not daunted by 바카라사이트 university's deficit, which grew to more than Pounds 8 million this year. When she became provost of Yale in 1992, it had a $20 million deficit. So although 바카라사이트 Cambridge situation was "serious". She added: "On a half-billion pound operating budget it's not a disaster. I've seen a deficit or two in my time. I'm much less concerned about that gap than about 바카라사이트 larger issue of funding of 바카라사이트 enterprise," she said.

A much greater risk to 바카라사이트 university was 바카라사이트 declining proportion of undergraduates who go on to do PhDs and become academics. She vowed to make sure that academics and administrative staff were properly compensated. She added: "You don't go into academia to become rich, but you shouldn't have to take a vow of poverty ei바카라사이트r."

Professor Richard warned that she must not be seen as a knight in shining armour. "Cambridge has been around for a long time. It will continue. There are things we have to work on and my goal is to spend 바카라사이트 next seven years working and making a difference."

Anyway, she joked, she no longer rode, following a horseriding accident earlier this year.