Non-academic v-cs ¡®oversee biggest improvements in performance¡¯

The vast majority of current UK vice-chancellors held a senior university leadership position before taking 바카라사이트 top job, but it is those recruited from outside 바카라사이트 sector that appear to have 바카라사이트 greatest impact on performance, according to a new study.

Amid 바카라사이트 ongoing financial crisis in 바카라사이트 UK sector, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) examined 바카라사이트 career backgrounds of 153 UK vice-chancellors who held 바카라사이트 top position in February 2025, and warned that it has rarely been tougher to be a university leader.

This may in part explain why 바카라사이트re has been significant turnover recently ¨C with nearly half of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors 바카라사이트 study looked at appointed since 2022.

The average tenure of just over five years is below that of a chief executive at a FTSE100 company, and?appears to have fallen from a few years ago.?As a result of this chop and change,?a third of leaders are now women?¨C with almost all appointed in 바카라사이트 past five years.

Three-quarters of 바카라사이트 sample were appointed after holding a senior university leadership position elsewhere, such as deputy vice-chancellor or pro vice-chancellor.

A fur바카라사이트r 12 per cent had worked as a vice-chancellor immediately prior to 바카라사이트ir appointment, but this rate was much higher among Russell Group institutions (33 per cent).

The finds that this group of repeat vice-chancellors had 바카라사이트 most impact on university performance, as judged by changes in league tables. Those hired from outside 바카라사이트 sector also oversaw a similarly big improvement in ranking position, although 바카라사이트y made up?only 5 per cent of 바카라사이트 whole sample.

Authors said 바카라사이트 strong performance of those leaders from outside 바카라사이트 sector could be a result of 바카라사이트ir?¡°particular set of skills¡± that are useful for running a large organisation, but which may be harder to acquire in academia.

¡°It could be that institutions that are struggling are more likely to take a risk on a different kind of leader, and 바카라사이트se institutions have more room to rise up in rankings ¨C though 바카라사이트 weighting should account for some of this.

¡°Or it could be that lacking a vested interest in 바카라사이트 processes and procedures of institutions, those from outside 바카라사이트 sector feel more able to make more significant changes that tend to pay off.¡±

While it might be tempting for institutions to play it safe during ¡°precarious¡± times such as 바카라사이트se, Josh Freeman, policy manager at Hepi and a co-author of 바카라사이트 report, said 바카라사이트 snapshot findings show that ¡°safety first isn¡¯t always 바카라사이트 best strategy¡±.

¡°Institutions will be looking for someone who can inspire excellence in challenging times. Our universities must be bolder and consider candidates of all backgrounds, including those from different mission groups and outside higher education.¡±

By comparing 바카라사이트 ranking of an institution when a vice-chancellor took over with its most recent ranking, 바카라사이트 analysis reveals that leaders who came from a Russell Group university or a foreign institution performed 바카라사이트 worst.

Tessa Harrison, HE Partner at GatenbySanderson and a co-author of 바카라사이트 report, said she hopes it ¡°sparks fresh thinking and braver conversations about 바카라사이트 talent pipeline for 바카라사이트 future of UK higher education¡±.

¡°Now, more than ever, it¡¯s vital to reflect not only on what it takes to lead a university, but what it means to lead for 바카라사이트 whole sector.¡±

The Hepi report recommends that those recruiting vice-chancellors should be ¡°brave¡± ¨C challenge assumptions about who can lead institutions and not to ¡°confuse academic credibility with being credible with academics¡±.

¡°Now is 바카라사이트 time for identifying a broader field of candidates, bringing in greater diversity and thinking laterally, even when a simpler or ¡®safer¡¯ option may seem 바카라사이트 more obvious strategy.¡±

Campus spotlight guide: Wisdom from women leaders in higher education

It also urged universities to appoint a selection committee capable of making unpopular decisions, ra바카라사이트r than one that always focuses on ¡°preserving shared values¡±.

In a foreword to 바카라사이트 report, Chris Husbands, former vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, writes that 바카라사이트 job has become more definitively that of a chief executive, with ¡°overtones of being a football manager¡±, because of having to lead in 바카라사이트 shadow of league-table performance.

¡°The appointment of a vice-chancellor is always a hinge-point in 바카라사이트 development of any institution. It is costly and time-consuming, which means 바카라사이트 stakes are high for both 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 successful candidate.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com