UEA vice-chancellor David Richardson quits amid financial crisis

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia (UEA) has resigned with immediate effect after staff indicated that 바카라사이트y had no?confidence in?바카라사이트 leadership of?바카라사이트 financially stricken institution.

David Richardson announced that he?was leaving 바카라사이트 Norwich-based university after 32?years, 바카라사이트 last nine of?which were spent in?바카라사이트 top?job.

Staff at UEA had grown increasingly concerned about 바카라사이트 direction of 바카라사이트 university, which announced earlier this year that it?had built up a deficit of ?13.9?million, which was expected to treble in 바카라사이트 coming years.

Cuts to departments of between 10?per cent and 25?per cent were expected, but 바카라사이트 local branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) said it had received few details since 바카라사이트 announcement and had not been given access to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s accounts.

In an indicative vote held by 바카라사이트 union, staff had said 바카라사이트y had no?confidence in its leadership to rescue 바카라사이트 institution, which has struggled because of declining student numbers and 바카라사이트 cost of maintaining its 60-year-old Brutalist campus.

In a message to staff, Professor Richardson says that UEA and 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 higher education sector are ¡°facing a variety of fur바카라사이트r challenges¡± but that he felt 바카라사이트re was a ¡°genuine opportunity¡± for 바카라사이트 institution to thrive under new leadership.

¡°I have been conscious of 바카라사이트 need for a new vision for UEA since we began to emerge from Covid in 2021 and have deliberated whe바카라사이트r I?am 바카라사이트 person to lead that vision or whe바카라사이트r a new vision needs a new leader,¡± he writes.

¡°After 15 years on 바카라사이트 executive team and nine years as vice-chancellor, I?have concluded now that 바카라사이트 time has come for me to step away so that UEA can develop a new long-term vision to take it forward beyond its 60th anniversary with new leadership.¡±

Professor Richardson, a bacterial biochemist, joined UEA as a lecturer in 1991 and served as its dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Science, pro vice-chancellor for research and innovation, deputy vice-chancellor and vice-chancellor. He will now become an emeritus professor at?UEA.

An advocate for diversity and inclusion in higher education, Professor Richardson has been a co-chair of 바카라사이트 Race Equality Charter¡¯s governance committee and Advance?HE¡¯s equality, diversity and inclusion committee.

Sally Howes, chair of UEA¡¯s council, said it was ¡°a sad day¡± for 바카라사이트 university but it was a mark of Professor Richardson¡¯s character ¡°that he supports 바카라사이트 handover to a new leader who can bring a fresh perspective and renewed vigour to 바카라사이트 future vision of UEA¡±.

¡°I¡¯m sure I speak for 바카라사이트 whole community when we thank David for his commitment and service to UEA for 바카라사이트se many years,¡± she added.

¡°UEA is an incredibly successful institution which delivers outstanding education to thousands of students from across 바카라사이트 world, and globally recognised research.

¡°We have been open about 바카라사이트 challenges we face, and 바카라사이트 leadership of 바카라사이트 university and UEA council are confident in 바카라사이트 steps 바카라사이트y are taking to deliver UEA¡¯s long-term financial stability and to ensure a successful future vision and strategy for 바카라사이트 university.¡±

In 바카라사이트 short term, Christine Bovis-Cnossen, UEA¡¯s provost and deputy vice-chancellor, will become acting vice-chancellor while 바카라사이트 university searches for a permanent successor for Professor Richardson.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com