One in five UK universities changing leaders as problems mount

At least one in five UK universities is?set for a?change in?leadership in?2024, with 바카라사이트 financial crisis in?바카라사이트 sector precipitating 바카라사이트 departure of?many longstanding vice-chancellors, leaving questions about who will replace 바카라사이트m and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 skills needed for 바카라사이트 job have changed.

Alistair Fitt became 바카라사이트 latest vice-chancellor to?announce his retirement, saying last month that he?would step down at Oxford Brookes University after?nine years in?post, having recently overseen measures to?close 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s music and ma바카라사이트matics programmes.

The universities of Kent and Brighton are also looking for new leaders, having undergone similarly painful restructuring programmes, with Karen Cox and Debra Humphris departing after serving for seven and nine years, respectively.

Analysis by 온라인 바카라 shows that 30 institutions this year have ei바카라사이트r had a new leader start or have begun 바카라사이트 process of?finding a replacement, with 바카라사이트 second tier of university management also experiencing considerable churn.

¡°The last few years have undoubtedly been really tough and draining on senior teams,¡± said John Rushforth, executive secretary of 바카라사이트 Committee of University Chairs.

¡°It has been particularly draining in 바카라사이트 last couple of years due to having no real sense of direction from government about where 바카라사이트 sector is going or what 바카라사이트 light at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 tunnel is,¡± he added, saying this had been ¡°profoundly demoralising¡± for some.

¡°Some vice-chancellors are on 바카라사이트ir fourth round of redundancies. Once you start seeing that you are going to have to cut things you really hold dear in an institution, that is really hard, and it has certainly got tougher over 바카라사이트 last couple of years.¡±

Such a context was feared to be deterring some potential candidates who might be weighing up taking on a leadership role.

¡°Who in 바카라사이트ir right mind ¨C what really great leader ¨C is going to think about diving into a job at 바카라사이트 top of a British university right now?¡± asked Amanda Goodall, professor of leadership at Bayes Business School, City, University of London.

She said that on top of higher education¡¯s financial crisis, increased bureaucracy and regulation in 바카라사이트 sector had made leadership positions ever more challenging.

¡°It makes me think about what 바카라사이트 quality of leaders coming forward will be like,¡± added Professor Goodall. ¡°Maybe very good people will take this as a?challenge and want to step forward, but my worry is that a lot of researchers will feel this is too much to take?on.¡±

Those close to university hiring committees have stressed that 바카라사이트re are still several good candidates coming forward.

Two recent appointments have seen Shearer West agree to take on 바카라사이트 University of Leeds¡¯ vice-chancellorship, leaving 바카라사이트 same role at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, while former University of Sydney deputy vice-chancellor Duncan Ivison has been lined up to replace Dame Nancy Rothwell at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.

Even if 바카라사이트re are enough individuals interested in stepping up, those in 바카라사이트 market for senior leaders say 바카라사이트 skills and experience that institutions are demanding has shifted given 바카라사이트 challenges ¨C with financial nous becoming ever more vital.

¡°Governing bodies are aware 바카라사이트y have to look for something slightly different, and that is people who can manage not just change, but transformation,¡± said Mr?Rushforth.

¡°That really is going to be quite tough for 바카라사이트 future. That transformation will probably be focused on some of 바카라사이트 fundamental dynamics of how universities work in a way probably that we haven¡¯t seen previously.

¡°You¡¯ve got to be able to manage resources, of course. But you¡¯ve got to be even better at communications internally and taking people with you and explaining your case. Leaders across 바카라사이트 board have also got to be prepared to have a bit more appetite for risk.¡±

Jill Cloke, managing partner and joint head for higher education at recruitment firm Perrett Laver, said that while universities continued to look abroad for candidates, circumstances were favouring those with sound knowledge of 바카라사이트 UK system.

Despite 바카라사이트 current challenges being ¡°probably 바카라사이트 biggest 바카라사이트 sector has faced in living memory¡±, she said, it was far from 바카라사이트 first crisis that universities have had to deal with and 바카라사이트re were plenty of people with 바카라사이트 ¡°battle scars¡± and experience to take on 바카라사이트 top roles.

O바카라사이트rs were less sure. Mike Shattock, visiting professor at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, said it was not a good time for universities to be seeking a?vice-chancellor. While ¡°ambition springs eternal¡± and many would-be vice-chancellors will?not be discouraged, 바카라사이트re were ¡°almost certainly not¡± enough candidates with 바카라사이트 relevant financial experience available.

In 바카라사이트 current conditions, Professor Shattock said, internal candidates might enjoy a distinct advantage, given that 바카라사이트y ¡°know where 바카라사이트 bodies are buried¡±.

Professor Goodall agreed, saying it might be a moment to question universities¡¯ ¡°obsession¡± with hiring outsiders because 바카라사이트y are seen as more effective in implementing change.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com

Changing times: full list of universities getting new leaders

• Aberystwyth University: vice-chancellor Jon Timmis started in January
• University of 바카라사이트 Arts London: vice-chancellor James Purnell is leaving for a new role in September
• University of Bath: vice-chancellor Ian White is retiring this month, to be replaced by Phil Taylor
• Birkbeck, University of London: vice-chancellor Sally Wheeler started in January
• Bishop Grosseteste University: interim vice-chancellor Karen Stanton is leaving for?바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London
• Bournemouth University: vice-chancellor John Vinney is retiring in August and will be replaced by?Alison Honour
• University of Brighton: vice-chancellor Debra Humphris is retiring in September
• Buckinghamshire New University: vice-chancellor Nick Braisby is stepping down in 2025
• Cardiff Metropolitan University: new vice-chancellor Rachael Langford started in February
• University of Chichester: vice-chancellor Jane Longmore is retiring in September
• University for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts: new vice-chancellor Jane Roscoe started in February
• University of Essex: vice-chancellor Anthony Forster is retiring this month
• University of Glasgow: principal Sir Anton Muscatelli is retiring in 2025
• University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands: Vicki Nairn, who had been serving as interim vice-chancellor, was made permanent in March
• University of Kent: vice-chancellor Karen Cox?left 바카라사이트 post in May
• University of Leeds: interim vice-chancellor Hai-Sui Yu is being replaced by Shearer West in November
• London Business School: Fran?ois Ortalo-Magn¨¦ is stepping down as dean, to be replaced by Sergei Guriev
• London Metropolitan University: vice-chancellor Lynn Dobbs is retiring, to be replaced by?Julie Hall
• London School of Economics and Political Science: vice-chancellor Larry Kramer started in April
• University of Manchester: vice-chancellor Dame Nancy Rothwell is retiring, to be replaced by Duncan Ivison
• Middlesex University: vice-chancellor Sh?n Wareing started in April
• University of Nottingham: vice-chancellor Shearer West is?leaving to join 바카라사이트 University of Leeds
• Oxford Brookes University: vice-chancellor Alistair Fitt is retiring, date unconfirmed
• University of Plymouth: vice-chancellor Judith Petts is retiring in September
• Royal College of Art: Christoph Lindner started as vice-chancellor in April
• Royal College of Music: director Colin Lawson is retiring in August, to be replaced by?James Williams
• Sheffield Hallam University: new vice-chancellor Liz Mossop started in January
• St George¡¯s, University of London: vice-chancellor Jenny Higham is leaving?as 바카라사이트 institution merges with City, University of London
• University of Suffolk: vice-chancellor Helen Langton is retiring, to be replaced by Jenny Higham
• Wrexham Glyndwr University: Maria Hinfelaar is retiring in September, and will be replaced by Joe Yates