It’s a tall order but St Andrews’ new chief won’t come up short

Principal has what it takes to tackle the tough times ahead

St Andrews Univerity’s new principal and vice-chancellor might be relatively small in stature, but she certainly made her presence felt this week.

I had the privilege of being in attendance for Professor Sally Mapstone’s installation as St Andrews’ 11th principal at the Younger Hall on Tuesday and was greeted with an impressive spectacle and clearly an impressive woman.

Perhaps Ruth Hunt, Stonewall CEO, put it best when, giving the formal congratulatory address, she jokingly remarked upon her former mentor’s height before painting a picture of a woman who has rightly taken her place among intellectual giants.

Cut away all the pomp and pageantry that one has to expect with a university as steeped in history and tradition as St Andrews, and I came away on Tuesday feeling like the 600-year-old institution is in safe hands.

That feeling was enhanced two days later when Fife Council leader David Ross suggested Professor Mapstone has been instrumental in talks about the new Madras College at Langlands.

St Andrews University simply has to be in safe hands at this time.

It’s a hugely uncertain period, with nobody quite knowing what Brexit could mean in terms of funding and international student numbers.

Then there’s St Andrews’ seemingly age-old problem of inclusivity and its need to attract and support more students from disadvantaged and nontraditional university backgrounds.

So it was hugely reassuring to hear Professor Mapstone set out an ambitious vision for the institution on Tuesday, touching on all of the salient points I’ve already mentioned.

She stressed that St Andrews will play a leading role in the Brexit debate, defended the freedom of international students to study here, said she will explore all the “credible” funding avenues available and, in what was clearly a popular move, confirmed investment in the first ever proper university nursery.

When it comes down to openness and diversity, Professor Mapstone described the latter announcement as a “start”.

If she’s started as she means to go on, it seems as if St Andrews has made an inspired choice.

Professor Sally Mapstone was installed as Principal of St Andrews University on Tuesday.