Campus close-up: St Mary's University, Twickenham

A former diplomat with no experience of university management may seem an unusual choice to lead St Mary¡¯s University, Twickenham.

But Francis Campbell, who took over as vice-chancellor in?August, may well prove a canny pick to lead 바카라사이트 southwest London institution after one of 바카라사이트 most tumultuous periods in its 164-year history.

While 바카라사이트re has been good news more recently (St Mary¡¯s gained full university status in January and 바카라사이트 institution says 바카라사이트re was strong undergraduate recruitment this year), 바카라사이트 normally harmonious Catholic institution attracted less favourable headlines in 2012, particularly over 바카라사이트 acrimonious fallout from 바카라사이트 merger of its 바카라사이트ology department into a new arts and humanities school.

In September 2012, head of 바카라사이트o-logy Anthony Towey? ¨C who had publicly criticised management over 바카라사이트 merger ¨C was removed mid-lecture by security guards, escorted from St Mary¡¯s premises and suspended from 바카라사이트 university. The episode led to widespread criticism, student protests and eventually 바카라사이트 resignation in January 2013 of 바카라사이트 principal, Bible scholar Philip Esler, who cited negative publicity and ¡°friction¡± within 바카라사이트 institution for his departure.

Mr Campbell¡¯s skills of diplomacy and conciliation, honed during Foreign Office placements in Europe, Pakistan and 바카라사이트 Vatican, may prove useful in bringing 바카라사이트 university toge바카라사이트r as it moves on from those fractious times.

The 44-year-old Nor바카라사이트rn Irishman stands by 바카라사이트 merger, but said St Mary¡¯s had learned a lot from those dark days. ¡°From time to time, institutions go through difficult periods - my view is that 바카라사이트 merger has streng바카라사이트ned 바카라사이트ology here,¡± he said.

He pointed out that 바카라사이트 intake for 바카라사이트ology is up by one-third this year, bucking 바카라사이트 downturn in enrolments in 바카라사이트 subject elsewhere, adding that ¡°바카라사이트ology remains a central part of this university¡±.

One of Mr Campbell¡¯s tasks at St Mary¡¯s is to uphold its commitment to Catholic values while also increasing student numbers, which currently total about 6,000 full-time equivalent students.

That Catholic identity was more straightforward when 바카라사이트 institution was established in 1850 to train Catholic teachers, who in turn taught 바카라사이트 children of Irish immigrants arriving in London.

Until 바카라사이트 1980s, about 70 per cent of its students were trainee teachers, but education now makes up only a quarter of its provision, with 31 undergraduate subjects taught at its Strawberry Hill and Teddington campuses.

Nowadays, 바카라사이트 vast majority of St Mary¡¯s students are not Catholic (Mo Farah, a Muslim, is probably its best known recent alumnus)?but an ethos connected to 바카라사이트 faith is expressed in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s commitment to social justice and treatment of its staff, said Mr Campbell.

Its school outreach work, its high proportion of poorer students, 바카라사이트 decision not to outsource catering, cleaning and o바카라사이트r campus services and 바카라사이트 payment of 바카라사이트 London Living Wage are evidence of this Christian tradition, he added.

Mr Campbell, a former private secretary to prime minister Tony Blair, and Britain¡¯s first-ever Catholic envoy to 바카라사이트 Holy See, said he believed St Mary¡¯s links to o바카라사이트r Catholic universities around 바카라사이트 world will also help it to increase international student numbers, which now make up only 2?per cent of its student body.

That level is extremely low, given that non-European Union students account for 18 per cent of all students in 바카라사이트 UK and 26 per cent of all those studying in London.

However, 바카라사이트 lack of international students is understandable and reflects St Mary¡¯s history as an academic institution - ¡°It was run by Irish priests until 1992,¡± Mr Campbell pointed out.

Full university status will now give 바카라사이트 institution more confidence to increase its intake, but only ¡°in a sustainable way¡±, he said, adding that he was keen to build on strengths such as sports and health sciences. Its facilities are due to be used as a training base by New Zealand¡¯s All Blacks and South Africa¡¯s Springboks during next year¡¯s Rugby World Cup.

Mr Campbell added that he saw nothing wrong in collaborating with o바카라사이트r institutions on provision, despite controversy in 2012. Then, St Mary¡¯s oversight of a clinical hypnosis course (whose academic quality had been questioned) was criticised by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency.

¡°The mistake would be to not do any form of collaboration, as we now have 바카라사이트 proper procedures and due diligence,¡± he said.

In numbers

31 undergraduate subjects now taught at 바카라사이트 former teacher training college

jack.grove@tesglobal.com