News

Meet the new VC

Professor Colin Riordan takes over at the helm this month as Essex’s fifth Vice-Chancellor. He tells Wyvern his first impressions and priorities.

Professor Colin Riordan

What do you see as Essex’s strengths?
Its research reputation is outstanding for a University of this size, and perhaps its most precious asset. Essex’s international reputation and diversity are also great strengths, and I am impressed by the developments in Southend and in the region more widely. All these strengths represent great opportunities for us and we need to develop them further in the future.

What are your priorities?
The key challenge is to focus on the facilities students need and have the right to expect. This is an area in which our competitors are moving ahead rapidly, and we have to empower ourselves financially to be able to make appropriate investments.

What will you be doing in your first months?
Lots of listening. I want to get staff and students engaged in a debate about the future direction of the University which will, I hope, involve generating an academic vision to reflect that.

What are you first impressions?
I have been really impressed by the friendliness and sense of community. The Colchester Campus is much greener than I expected from a concrete 1960s university. The new facilities at Southend are superb, and they give us a great chance to develop our academic offering.

Apart from size, how does Essex differ from Newcastle University?
For me the most novel challenge is working in a multi-site University, and this is something the University as a whole needs to think through.

What is your management style?
It’s never as simple as it sounds, but I do believe in trying to engage staff to the widest extent possible, and students on matters that affect them. At the same time there must be clear lines of accountability and timely decision-making. The key is communication, which needs to take place on multiple levels and needs to be a two-way process.

What do you like to do outside work?
I’m keen on running, cycling and swimming, and take part in triathlons. It’s really important to me to maintain a good work-life balance, and I’m determined that my two daughters will not continually have an absentee father because of work commitments.

What’s the worst thing about the University?
I can’t find my way around the Colchester Campus unaided! Anyone who can explain the logic of the room numbering system, please get in touch.

Factfile
Professor Riordan, 48, was Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Provost of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Newcastle University.

Previously he served as the Dean of Postgraduate Studies for the Faculty, and Head of the School of Modern Languages.

After obtaining his PhD from the University of Manchester in 1986, he joined the University of Wales, Swansea, as a Lecturer.

He was appointed Professor of German at Newcastle in 1998. He has published widely on post-war German literature and culture.

Open meetings
Two open meetings have been arranged for members of staff to meet Professor Riordan and ask questions. These will take place on Wednesday 24 October from 1-2pm and 5-6pm. For more information, e-mail events@essex.ac.uk.

Political debate a sell-out success

A sell-out crowd enjoyed a lively debate at the town and gown political question time held at Colchester Town Hall to celebrate the contribution of Professor Sir Ivor Crewe to politics, the local community and higher education.

Hosted by the University and the Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Ray Gamble, the illustrious panel of commentators comprised Professor Crewe, Professor of Government Anthony King, Guardian columnist, broadcaster and Honorary Graduate Polly Toynbee, Steve Bradshaw, Chief Executive of Colchester United Community Sports Trust and prospective Conservative candidate for the new Witham constituency and Essex graduate Priti Patel.

More than 250 people attended the event, chaired by Dr Elizabeth Hall, Chair of Colchester 2020, raising more than £1,000 for the Mayor’s chosen charities for the year.

Questions submitted by the audience covered a wide range of topics, including poor pension rights for non-working women, student politics, the football transfer market and immigration.

(left to right) Professor Sir Ivor Crewe, Priti Patel, Steve Bradshaw, Dr Elizabeth Hall, Professor Anthony King and Polly Toynbee

Also in the printed October edition of Wyvern:

• Way forward for Wyvern
• International and national success
• First Lady on campus