Middlesex University London
Thank you for expressing an interest in joining Middlesex University in one of two Pro Vice-Chancellor roles.
Middlesex is an ambitious global university with campuses in London, Dubai and Mauritius, where our students learn for life, and we are proud to be practical, forward-thinking and inclusive in everything we do. Our personalised and action-centred approach to learning and research is what sets us apart from other institutions, and our students gain crucial skills for life to stay ahead in an ever-changing world.
We are passionate about making high quality education accessible to all through flexibility in learning modes. We apply knowledge and skills to create impact through our distinctive practice-orientated education, research and engagement. We empower our students to shape their own lives and the world around them and support them to becoming distinctive graduates who have benefitted from work centred learning. Our teaching is technologically enhanced across all courses and is focused on influencing and impacting on local, national and global challenges.
We also believe that research should have a positive impact on the public realm, improving equality, diversity and inclusion in an authentic way and reaching disadvantaged or excluded groups. Our global research and knowledge exchange network works towards a brighter future for people around the world. Through our collaborative, creative and inclusive approach, we are helping to shape the changing global research landscape.
We are now seeking to appoint the Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience and the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research & Knowledge Exchange. Both roles will report to me and will be members of the University Executive Team, tasked with delivering key elements of our Strategy 2031.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of the University’s high-level strategy for education. The postholder has direct line management responsibility for Library and Student Support, Careers and Employability and the Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement (CAPE), will work collaboratively with the Academic Deans at the London campus and senior colleagues from the University’s overseas campuses, and will lead on the University’s relationship with the students’ union, MDXSU. The PVC Education and Student Experience will support the implementation of Strategy 2031 through collaborative working across internal and external networks and communities of practice.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor Research & Knowledge Exchange is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of the University’s strategies for research and knowledge exchange. The postholder has direct line management responsibility for senior staff in the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) and will work collaboratively with the Academic Deans at the London campus and senior colleagues from the University’s overseas campuses. The PVC Research & Knowledge Exchange will provide strategic leadership and be responsible for developing a positive and sustainable research, impact and knowledge exchange culture, and for increasing income, academic and public engagement.
Both post holders will be expected to uphold the values of the University and in particular to actively support equality, diversity and inclusion.
At a time of great change in our sector, these roles offer the opportunity for the successful candidates to make a major, lasting contribution the success of the University and all those it serves.
Our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley would be pleased to discuss the roles with you. Their details can be found on this website.
I do hope you will express an interest in joining us.
At Middlesex we bring ambitious minds from all over the world into one community and we help them towards their own unique success. We are confident of our role in an ever-changing world.
We are proud of our history, which goes back to the specialist London colleges and institutions that became a successful polytechnic and our elite modern university of today. This heritage has laid the foundations for who we are now – a global institution with an international outlook that works to make a positive difference to the world through our practical approach to teaching, cutting-edge research, and creative innovation.
At a time of significant change, agility has become normal for all universities. The strengths of the Middlesex culture which have enabled us to react effectively to the recent challenges are also the attributes that mean we will be able to adapt for the future.
Our legacy of innovation includes the UK’s first Business degree and professional doctorate, and our sector-leading work-based learning and transnational education. 145 years on from the opening of our founding institution, St Katherine’s College, we continue to take a distinctive approach to teaching with practice at the heart of everything we do. Our students experience education, research and the world of work side-by-side, and they develop the confidence and future-ready skills sought by top employers. For instance, teaching in our augmented reality midwifery, neonatal and anatomy equipment, and our cyber factory – the first in the UK – prepares our students to step into the workplace of the future.
With 165 nationalities on campus, studying and working here means getting to know people from different cultures and to understand different perspectives. This gives our people an edge and gives our campus a special energy.
The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2022 ranked us as a top 2 university in the UK, top 3 for international outlook in the UK and top 7 for research in the UK. We welcome enterprising and mindful students, staff, professionals and businesses into our active, global network. We have overseas campuses in Dubai and Mauritius which use their educational and research outputs to effect personal and social change across the world, and our international reputation and global connections enhance our global community.
In our outlook, Middlesex reflects the determined and multicultural spirit of London. We take our commitment to our local London Borough of Barnet seriously, where we contribute £289 million annually through employment and reach into local businesses. As an institution we are seeking to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in an authentic way and reach disadvantaged or excluded groups, and our students and staff regularly volunteer their time, knowledge and skills to support community projects.
You can read more about the University here.
Our academic structure
The University’s academic provision is delivered by its four academic faculties. Furthers details of our Faculties can be found here.
Our executive team
The University Executive Team (UET) advises the Board of Governors on the strategic direction of the University and ensures delivery of the Institute’s mission and values. Each member individually carries out specific responsibilities determined by the Vice-Chancellor.
More information on our Executive Team can be found here.
Our strategy to 2031: Knowledge into action
Our strategy is focused on creating knowledge and putting it into action to develop fairer, healthier, more prosperous and sustainable societies,
Our vision is to transform outcomes for individuals, communities and organisations and to empower people to change their lives. Our learning community has practice at the heart of what we do across education, research and knowledge exchange, and engagement.
We work in partnership and bring people together to create solutions to complex problems.
The integrating themes of our strategy are:
We have identified three shared priorities as pillars for strategic implementation to achieve our purpose by 2031:
The Middlesex approach to achieving our strategy is centred on:
You can read more about Strategy 2031 here.
Learning through doing
Our students learn through doing, making and through experience. They apply their advanced knowledge and skills to real-life and work-based problems that benefit society, the professions and business. Learning this way our students develop the skills, behaviours and attitudes that employers want.
We have industry and professional standard facilities throughout our campuses. That means our students learn in the best equipped labs, studios and workshops. Our hands-on approach to teaching gives our students the confidence they need to be innovative. This empowers them to make and create fantastic work.
Many of our students study in professional settings. They’re out in the workplace – on placements, projects and internships – gaining invaluable skills and putting them into practice.
Learning from research
Our staff bring their industry and professional expertise and their connections to the learning environment and their research. Our students engage with research to understand what’s happening at the cutting edge of industry and professional practice.
Learning throughout life
Our students receive an ‘education for life’ so they’re able to adapt to fast evolving industry and professional environments. Our graduates are active life-long learners with advanced knowledge and skills for jobs and business opportunities that don’t exist yet.
Learning through personalised support
Our approach is different for every individual student so that all students are supported to succeed. Undergraduate and foundation year students have a Personal Tutor for tailored support related to their course as well as one-to-one help with academic writing and numeracy if it’s needed. Our Student Learning Assistants and Graduate Academic Assistants provide support based on their own experiences of studying a subject.
Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement
We work with the Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement (CAPE) to develop excellent academic practice for our students. We do this through monitoring student retention and progression while also improving teaching through comprehensive development activities for staff.
Our research
Our global research and knowledge exchange network works towards a brighter future for people around the world. Through our collaborative, creative and inclusive approach, we are helping to shape the changing global research landscape.
Our research is aligned to three integrating themes to focus our work on a world that’s fairer, healthier and more sustainable.
Our results in REF 2021 show that we have strong foundations on which to build as we make high quality, impactful research a shared priority for our community. Since REF 2014, our research has grown in overall quality of outputs and impact and in the range of subjects covered.
We achieved our results while balancing resources across all three areas of academic excellence – research and knowledge exchange, education and engagement.
Our global impact
100% of the work submitted for five disciplines had outstanding (4-star) or very considerable (3-star) impact, aligned to three strategic themes in our Strategy for 2031.
Our future outlook
As a community, our collaborative, creative and inclusive approach is helping to shape the future of research. We promote excellence in research and knowledge exchange by:
You can read more about our REF 2021 results here.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Purpose
Our ambition, set out our Strategy 2031, is to implement a creative model of high-quality global education that makes a transformative difference to learners, inspiring and equipping them to shape a better world. The Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience is responsible and accountable to the Provost | Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the development, implementation and monitoring of the University’s high-level strategies for education and student experience. The post-holder will also lead on the University’s relationship with the students’ union (MDXSU).
A member of the University Executive Team, the PVC Education and Student Experience has direct line management responsibility for Library and Student Support, Careers and Employability and the Centre for Academic Practice Enhancement (CAPE) and will work collaboratively with the Academic Deans at the London campus and senior colleagues from the University’s overseas campuses.
Working closely with the Provost | DVC, the PVC Education and Student Experience will support the implementation of Strategy 2031 through collaborative working across internal and external networks and communities of practice.
Ways of working
All members of the University Executive Team will make a strong personal contribution to a collaborative leadership approach and operate as a coach for the staff that report to them. University Leadership Board members will be expected to uphold and role-model our values and to work for the good of the community and to have a demonstrable commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Main duties and responsibilities
PERSON SPECIFICATION
All of the following criteria are essential.
Qualification and achievements
Experience/knowledge
Skills and attributes
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job purpose
A core element of our Strategy 2031 is to create new knowledge which we and others put into action to create impact on global challenges. The impact and significance of our research and knowledge exchange will be recognised globally as transforming professions and practices beyond the University. The Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Knowledge Exchange is responsible and accountable to the Provost | Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the University’s strategies for research and knowledge exchange.
A key member of the University Executive Team, the PVC RKE has direct line management responsibility for senior staff in the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) and will work collaboratively with the Academic Deans at the London campus and senior colleagues from the University’s overseas campuses.
Working closely with the Provost | DVC, the PVC RKE will provide strategic leadership and be responsible for developing a positive and sustainable research, impact, and knowledge exchange culture and for increasing income, academic and public engagement. The PVC RKE will also be accountable for enhancing the University’s positioning, reputation, and research performance and for engaging with and contributing to national and international research and knowledge exchange debates.
Ways of working
All members of the University Executive Team will make a strong personal contribution to a collaborative leadership approach and operate as a coach for the staff that report to them. University Executive Team members will be expected to uphold and role-model our values and to work for the good of the community and to have a demonstrable commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Main duties and responsibilities
PERSON SPECIFICATION
All of the following criteria are essential unless otherwise noted.
Qualifications and achievements
Experience/knowledge
Skills and attributes
Competitive six figure salaries will be agreed with the successful candidates.
Annual leave is 35 days per annum. In addition, the University offers the usual 8 Public Holidays plus 7 University Days which are taken at Christmas.
The successful candidates will be eligible to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
The University offers a wide range of additional benefits. Details can be found here.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the University. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 13th March 2023. Please apply using the ‘Apply’ button in the roles section above.
AQ Reference:
AQ1731 (Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience)
AQ1733 (Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Knowledge Exchange)
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss the role(s) in strict confidence, please contact Elliott Rae on +44 (0)7584 078 534, elliott@andersonquigley.com or Imogen Wilde on +44 (0)7864 652 633, imogen@andersonquigley.com.
Closing date: | Monday 13th March 2023 |
Longlisting: | Monday 20th March 2023 |
Preliminary interviews: | late March/early April 2023 |
Shortlisting: | Monday 17th April 2023 |
Final interviews: | Early May 2023 dates TBC |