From the Oxford Brookes University News Archive
22/01/2015
Oxford Brookes is today pleased to announce that Professor Alistair Fitt is to become the University’s new Vice Chancellor.
Professor Fitt was appointed following a highly competitive recruitment process and will take on the role from 1 February 2015. This is further to the announcement last month that Professor Fitt was due to take on the role in an interim capacity.
Prior to Professor Fitt’s current role at Oxford Brookes as Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, he worked at the University of Southampton for 22 years, latterly as the Head of the School of Mathematics and then Pro Vice Chancellor, International.
I am extremely passionate about Brookes and what it stands for - it is no secret that this University is a very special place.Professor Alistair Fitt
I am extremely passionate about Brookes and what it stands for - it is no secret that this University is a very special place.
In 2014, he was listed in the Science Council’s 100 leading practising scientists.
Geoff Donnelly, Chair of the Board of Governors, who led the process to recruit the next Vice Chancellor, said: “Alistair’s exceptional work in leading the University’s Research and Knowledge Exchange agenda alongside his leadership skills, previous experience and vision for the future of the organisation made him the ideal appointment.
“I am confident that with Alistair at the helm, the University will continue to achieve great things locally, nationally and internationally.”
Professor Alistair Fitt commented, “It is a great honour to be appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University. I am extremely passionate about Brookes and what it stands for - it is no secret that this University is a very special place.
“We have all the key ingredients for continued success - dedicated and talented staff, high calibre, engaged students, and friends and organisational partners who dedicate time and energy to joint endeavours. Janet is leaving the University in great shape and I will dedicate my time as Vice Chancellor to working with staff, students and friends to build on her legacy.
“The University’s 150th anniversary provides the perfect opportunity to look back over our successes, share our excitement and plan for our future. Oxford and the wider region have always been a vital part of our history and I fully appreciate our role in the continued prosperity and vibrancy of the region. In this historic year for the University, it will be a great pleasure to meet with many former students, partners and members of the community.”
“I look forward to leading Oxford Brookes as we embark on the next 150 years of its history.”
The appointment follows last year’s announcement that Professor Janet Beer would be moving on from her role at the end of this month to become Vice Chancellor of the University of Liverpool.
Speaking on the appointment, Professor Beer said: “It has been a pleasure to work alongside Alistair for the last four years and, although I am sad to be leaving, I am delighted to know that the University will be led by such a respected and inspiring individual. It is an honour to serve as Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes and I wish Alistair and everyone at the University every success for the future.”
Brookes Union President, Andy Pederson, said: “Having been involved in the recruitment process throughout, I am confident that the University has appointed the stand out candidate from a very strong field. I believe that Alistair is the right person to lead the University and I look forward to working with him over the coming months.”
In Professor Fitt’s current role as Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, last month saw Oxford Brookes’ successful performance in the Research Excellence Framework 2014. The exercise saw 94% of the University’s research judged to be internationally recognised, while 59% was found to be of ‘world leading’ quality or ‘internationally excellent’.
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