University to take on new chief for £200k-a-year role

aclaridge@thekmgroup.co.uk CHRIST Church University says it hopes to have a new permanent vicechancellor in place by the start of the next academic year.

He or she will replace professor Robin Baker, who was forced to quit in October after less than two years in the job and amid speculation he had been romantically involved with women at the university.

The university, whose chancellor is the Archbishop of Canterbury, requires that the holder of the post is a “practising Christian”.

Adverts for the post will soon be appearing in education publications, inviting people to apply for the post, which earned Mr Baker £203,000 a year.

Peter Hermitage, the chairman of the university’s governors, said: “We are seeking an individual who will lead and set the future direction for the university in an environment of significant change for the higher education sector.

“The recruitment process will take some time given the seniority and importance of this role.

“However, we hope the next vicechancellor will be in place by the next academic year.”

The university has consistently refused to admit why it forced Mr Baker to quit, how much it paid him as a “golden goodbye” and even how much tax payers’ and students’ money it spent on legal advice to negotiate his departure.

A Freedom of Information Act request submitted by the Kentish Gazette last month revealed that one male employee made a formal complaint about Mr Baker in January 2011.

The university has refused to reveal what the nature of the complaint was, claiming it is against data protection laws.

Professor Robin Baker, the former vice-chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, was forced to quit in October