Improved research vision for university
Oct 28 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal
IMPROVING research and developing stronger regional partnerships is the vision of Northumbria University’s new vice-chancellor.
Prof Andrew Wathey outlined his plans to recruit more top-class staff and invest in those already teaching more than 32,000 students.
Speaking ahead of his official inauguration ceremony today, he said he wanted the university to be further embedded into the heart of the North East economy and a strategy will be developed to enable it to make a “powerful” contribution to Newcastle.
Prof Wathey, previously senior vice-principal at Royal Holloway College, University of London, takes over the position from outgoing Prof Kel Fidler, who retired in August.
He said: “In the coming months and years, there will be a significant investment in research at Northumbria, focused on building areas of strength, which will feed the broad range of our activities, from innovation and knowledge transfer, to learning and teaching, to workforce development.
“Over the past five years the university has deepened and broadened its strengths in teaching and learning, and strengthened its commitment to excellence. It has made itself attractive to highly-qualified students, greatly improved its built estate, with new landmark buildings symbolic of the university’s rising capability and confidence.”
Prof Wathey was previously head of music at Royal Holloway and successfully led it to become a top university research performer.
Born in Plymouth where he attended school until 18, he is a first-class honours graduate of St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, where he read music.
Prof Wathey commended Northumbria University for building a strong position for recruiting a diverse intake of international students from more than 140 countries.
The institution, with more than 32,000 students and 3,000 staff, is the largest university in the North East.
He said: “Research is fundamental to the sustainability of any university’s intellectual capital.
“At Northumbria, we have areas of real research excellence and we must continue to build capacity in focused areas, cementing a strategic understanding of the purpose of research, not just as an activity in its own right, but as a structural thread which informs learning, enterprise, innovation and knowledge exchange.
“I want to attract the best staff to Northumbria University, and for the university to be an employer of choice.”
