Last month the entire University community - staff, students and alumni - were invited to help determine the kind of candidates we want to attract as our next permanent Vice-Chancellor and to understand what colleagues think are the important characteristics required.
All staff and students were given the opportunity to complete an online feedback form, attend a number of drop-in sessions and a number of bespoke sessions were held with various University committees and groups including Senate, Council, UCU, Unite, Unison and the Students' Union amongst others.
There was engagement with around 500 of our staff, students, alumni and council members. In addition, discussions took place within Schools and PS Divisions, where feedback was also captured.
The engagement showed some commonly held views, for example that our next Vice Chancellor should be visible and engaged with the community, committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to widening participation. Sustainability was high on your list, whilst many of you recognised the need for resilience. But whilst many hoped the new Vice Chancellor would be present on campus, others highlighted Sussex’s strong international profile, and put emphasis on the need to travel and engage both international and national stakeholders.
Odgers and Berndtson, the recruitment agency leading the recruitment process will be producing the candidate briefing pack incorporating this feedback, which will be available online for candidates and anyone else who wants to see it from Monday 18 October.
Further information is also available on our VC recruitment webpage.
David Maguire will be joining Sussex as interim Vice-Chancellor whilst we appoint a permanent successor. We are all working hard to ensure a seamless transition.