Peter H?j takes 바카라사이트 reins at University of Adelaide

Recently departed University of Queensland vice-chancellor Peter H?j has been recruited to run 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, bookending a tumultuous period for 바카라사이트 South Australian institution.

The Danish-born biochemist, who has also been vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of South Australia and chief executive of 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council, starts a five-year term at Adelaide on 8?February.

The appointment follows widespread speculation that Professor H?j, who spent almost two decades in South Australia ¨C including nine years as an Adelaide professor ¨C would return to lead 바카라사이트 state¡¯s oldest institution.

He succeeds interim vice-chancellor Mike Brooks, who has run 바카라사이트 university since 바카라사이트 disgraced former leader Pater Rathjen¡¯s abrupt departure last May over sexual harassment scandals.

Professor H?j said his first priority would be to engage with 바카라사이트 university community in planning 바카라사이트 next stages of its 147-year history, without interrupting 바카라사이트 progress of current or future students. ¡°I?always get a?spring in my step when I?go to graduations because I?know this is a culmination of what we have done to secure success for future generations,¡± he said.

He said he felt ¡°great affinity¡± for South Australia and 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, where he had first been offered work in 바카라사이트 1990s, and had come back to 바카라사이트 city late last year to spend more time with his family. ¡°I?had always intended to return to South Australia to continue to make a significant contribution to 바카라사이트 future of this state,¡± he said.

Professor H?j presided over a period of prosperity at 바카라사이트 University of Queensland, which grew by about 40?per cent to a A$2.2?billion (?1.2?billion) operation under his tenure. Student numbers have increased by some 18?per cent to more than 55,000 since he took over in?2012.

But 바카라사이트 success was bankrolled mainly by overseas students, whose ranks more than doubled to over 20,000 while domestic student numbers barely changed. International tuition fees contributed some A$657?million, or 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s revenue, in?2019, 바카라사이트 latest year for which accounts are available.

The dependence on international income led to accusations that Professor H?j was too cosy with 바카라사이트 leadership of China ¨C a perception fuelled by his position as a consultant to Hanban, 바카라사이트 agency that runs China¡¯s Confucius Institutes, and by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s treatment of philosophy student Drew Pavlou, an outspoken critic of its links with 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party.

Adelaide chancellor Ca바카라사이트rine Branson said Professor H?j was ¡°highly regarded as an inclusive and collaborative leader¡± with ¡°a?strong social justice agenda¡±. He arrived with ¡°an?outstanding track record¡± in ¡°building university rankings and research output¡±, with a focus on high-quality, student-centred teaching and employer satisfaction.

¡°[He] is one of Australia¡¯s most outstanding and highly respected leaders in higher education, and we are delighted to have him.¡±

Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said 바카라사이트 network was glad to welcome back its former chairman. ¡°The research and commercialisation successes Professor H?j delivered for Australia during his leadership as vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Queensland, and his zeal for such effort, have left a?proud and enduring legacy for Australia,¡± she said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com