Uni appoints Lego Professor of Play

THE University of Cambridge has recruited a Lego Professor of Play following widespread interest in what was billed as a dream job.

The successful applicant, Professor Paul Ramchandani, will lead a team examining the importance of play in education globally.

The Lego Foundation, which owns 25% of the Lego business, gave the university a £4m grant to help found its centre for research on Play in Education, Development and Learning (Pedal) in 2015.

Its research aims to ensure that “children are equipped with skills like problem-solving, teamwork and self-control”.

The average salary for a Cambridge University professor is £83,981, according to a Times Higher Education pay survey.