New Vice-Chancellor at The City University, London

LONDON, January 15 /PRNewswire/ — The City University, London, famed for its links with the City and for its graduate employability record, has appointed Professor Malcolm Gillies as its new Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Gillies joins from the Australian National University (ANU) where he is currently Vice-President (Development) based principally overseas within Yale University in the US. Malcolm will take up his post at The City University on August 1, 2007 and succeeds Professor David Rhind, who will retire after almost nine years at the helm.

During his five years at ANU, Malcolm held many responsibilities. He is currently responsible for moving it towards more diverse and international income sources. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), a role he held until September 2006, he was responsible for education and research training, internationalisation and the accreditation of all undergraduate and graduate programmes offered across the ANU’s seven colleges.

Malcolm’s appointment comes at a critical time for the University as it seeks to expand its international reach and research capabilities. Part of Professor Gillies’ work will be to develop new international partnerships for City.

Speaking of his appointment, Professor Gillies says: “I’ve long been aware of City’s reputation as a trend-setter in higher education and I am delighted to be taking the helm at such a progressive institution.

“City is a highly international University, and as the university for business and the professions, my new colleagues and I are charged with providing a robust education that meets the ever changing needs of its students and the businesses it serves. City’s research in a growing number of fields is internationally ranked and its ability to link with newly emerging industries is second to none. Who could not be pleased at becoming Vice-Chancellor of such a university?

“I am indebted to David Rhind, who leaves a proud legacy of reformed governance, strong growth and sound administration. In the years to come I hope that legacy can be enriched and deepened, with new programmes, an expansion of external partnerships, and further building of the nexus between education and research.”

Professor Gillies has strong senior management experience having previously held management positions as Dean of the Faculty of Music while at the University of Queensland (1992 – 1999) and as Pro-Vice Chancellor responsible for commercialisation, and for the faculties of humanities, social sciences and the professions, at the University of Adelaide (1999 – 2001).

Over the past decade Professor Gillies has been engaged with most aspects of higher education and research policy. In 2005, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators in recognition of contributions to tertiary education and management. During 1998 – 2001, he was President of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, one of Australia’s four learned societies.

Sir David Howard, Chair of Council, The City University says: “The City University is a world-class institution and as such has to attract the very best to lead it. Malcolm brings strong leadership experience, particularly in the areas of internationalisation and research, and so, is the ideal candidate to build on the great successes achieved by his predecessor David Rhind.”

Note to Editors:

The City University was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and was awarded full university status in 1966. Today the University is renowned for its international focus, the employability of its graduates (5th in The Sunday Times 2006 graduate employability table) and its links with business and professions.

The University is made up of eight schools based in and around the City of London: School of Arts, School of Informatics, School of Social Sciences, School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Cass Business School, The City Law School, School of Allied Health Science and St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery.

During the 2006/07 academic year The City University attracted over 23,000 students from 157 countries, while teaching staff are drawn from 41 international locations, ensuring that the University has a truly international outlook.

http://www.city.ac.uk/

The City University

CONTACT: For further information or to arrange an interview orphotography, please contact: Kerry Jack, Head of Media and Events, The CityUniversity, +44(0)20-7-040-0219, kerry.jack.1@city.ac.uk