Swansea University begins its hunt for a new vice-chancellor
ONE of the biggest jobs in the Welsh education sector is up for grabs.
Vice-chancellor of Swansea University, Richard B Davies, is retiring at the end of the current academic year next summer – and a search is now under way to appoint his successor.
Mr Davies, whose salary is £252,000 a year, took up the role in 2003.
Under his leadership the university has expanded significantly, including delivery of its £450m innovation-focused Bay Campus. The university currently has 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and has a direct workforce of 4,800.
Mr Davies said: “It has been an immense privilege to be the vicechancellor of such a remarkable university. However, I am not getting any younger and, after 15 years in post, I have decided to retire at the end of this 2018-19 academic year. The process to recruit a new vice-chancellor for the university is now under way.
“This is not the time to reflect on the past. There are more successes and exciting opportunities in the pipeline and, in the fast-changing environment of higher education, including Brexit, 12 months is a long period. My focus will be on business as usual, which includes, of course, helping to maintain the upward trajectory of the university.
“And adapting the closing words of our degree congregations – Hir oes i’n prifysgol! Long may our university prosper!”
The university said it was too early to say when Mr Davies’ successor will be announced.