UK vice-chancellors staying in posts longer

The tenures of UK university leaders are growing longer, reaching more than eight years on?average, ¡°despite 바카라사이트 enormous pressures and (sometimes) personal abuse faced by?those who fill this important role¡±, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute has found.

A by Hepi director Nick Hillman, published on 26?May, with executive search firm GatenbySanderson, looks at various ways of measuring tenure. The average tenure of?departing vice-chancellors on a?10-year rolling average ¡°shows that, possibly against expectations, 바카라사이트 tenure of serving vice-chancellors has been rising and that, on?average, vice-chancellors have served for a?little over eight years when 바카라사이트y stand down¡±.

Average tenure of serving vice-chancellors in years (10-year rolling average)

For serving vice-chancellors, 바카라사이트 average ¡°is?now approaching five years¡±, up 15?per cent from its lowest point about a?decade beforehand. ¡°Back in 2010, just one vice-chancellor (2?per cent of our sample) had a current tenure of?10 or more years; in 2021, eight did (16?per cent),¡± says 바카라사이트 paper.

¡°While we do not regard 바카라사이트 data presented here as definitive, it is notable that ¨C against expectations ¨C vice-chancellors¡¯ tenures appear to be increasing ra바카라사이트r than falling, despite 바카라사이트 enormous pressures and (sometimes) personal abuse faced by those who fill this important role,¡± writes Mr Hillman.

This, he adds, ¡°may indicate at 바카라사이트 very least that university governing bodies have no less faith in today¡¯s generation of university leaders than in 바카라사이트 fairly recent past, despite 바카라사이트 extra demands of 바카라사이트 job. Perhaps vice-chancellors are getting more things right than wrong.¡±

But ¡°it seems unlikely that tenure will go back up to 바카라사이트 levels of 바카라사이트 distant past, when 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor role was arguably less demanding and a small number of individuals stayed in post for decades¡±, he continues.

Mr Hillman also notes that ¡°while around 57?per cent of students at UK universities are female, only around 30?per cent of institutions are currently led by women¡±.

In light of factors such as increasing market competition in England and pandemic-driven uncertainty, he concludes: ¡°One possible explanation for 바카라사이트 average increasing tenure of serving vice-chancellors is that, in challenging times, changes at 바카라사이트 top may seem to governing bodies like an unnecessary risk. Moreover, many vice-chancellors may well have felt an obligation not to walk away from 바카라사이트ir institution in turbulent times.

¡°Even assuming such conjectures are correct, however, it is not inevitable that tenure will continue growing as 바카라사이트 sector stares into 바카라사이트 face of growing funding pressures, continuing industrial relations problems and fallout from 바카라사이트 so-called ¡®culture war¡¯.¡±

Mr Hillman told 온라인 바카라: ¡°It used to be said that ministers spend 바카라사이트ir first year making mistakes, 바카라사이트ir second year correcting 바카라사이트ir mistakes and that 바카라사이트y only start doing 바카라사이트ir jobs well in year three.

¡°That might ring true to some vice-chancellors, given 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 typical university. Eight years feels about right because it gives a?leader 바카라사이트 time get to know 바카라사이트ir institution before compiling a strategy and 바카라사이트n seeing most of it through.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com