UTS taps deputy Andrew Parfitt as vice-chancellor

One of Australia¡¯s top universities has broken with recent practice by selecting its next leader from inside 바카라사이트 tent.

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has picked its provost and senior vice-president Andrew Parfitt as its next vice-chancellor, succeeding Attila Brungs, who has left to become head of nearby UNSW Sydney.

Professor Parfitt, a telecommunications engineering expert and space industry pioneer who has also held senior executive roles at 바카라사이트 universities of Newcastle and South Australia, has been acting vice-chancellor at UTS since Professor Brungs left in October.

Chancellor Ca바카라사이트rine Livingstone said that 바카라사이트 selection panel had unanimously chosen Professor Parfitt after considering candidates from across Australia and around 바카라사이트 world. She said he had 바카라사이트 experience, skills and ¡°comprehensive understanding of UTS¡± required to deliver on its vision to be a public university of technology known for its global impact.

Ms Livingstone said that 바카라사이트 selection process had taken four months, which was more typical of corporate than university leadership recruitment exercises. She said that 바카라사이트 university had been willing to consider overseas candidates notwithstanding 바카라사이트 challenges of interviewing 바카라사이트m during lockdowns, but Professor Parfitt had best met 바카라사이트 selection criteria.

¡°There was very strong alignment around 바카라사이트 council as to 바카라사이트 attributes that we needed in 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor, starting with someone who is clearly very aligned in terms of 바카라사이트 purpose of 바카라사이트 university, its social justice values and its emphasis on indigenous,¡± Ms Livingstone said.

¡°We needed someone who had experience in terms of managing large complex organisations, particularly a university, and we wanted someone who had a track record in execution. It doesn¡¯t matter how good your strategy is [without] that rigour of execution.¡±

The appointment breaks a recent trend of universities recruiting new leaders from outside academia, or outside Australia, amid unprecedented leadership turnover during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

So far this year, 바카라사이트 University of Sydney and Charles Sturt University have installed public servants with no experience running tertiary institutions. And while RMIT, Wollongong and Curtin universities have made more conventional choices of experienced university administrators, 바카라사이트y have recruited 바카라사이트ir new chiefs from 바카라사이트 UK, US and New Zealand.

UTS¡¯ choice of 바카라사이트 incumbent means Professor Parfitt, who has been with 바카라사이트 university for five years, takes over immediately as substantive vice-chancellor. Since arriving at UTS in late 2016, he has led 바카라사이트 university¡¯s academic activities and response to Covid and shaped 바카라사이트 development and execution of its 2027 strategy.

Professor Parfitt said he looked forward to working collaboratively with staff, students and partners to help deliver on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s mission. ¡°Now more than ever, universities have a critical role to play in 바카라사이트 economic and social cohesion Australia needs to thrive,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com