Professor Anthony Forster

Biography

In just one sentence 

Anthony Forster is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex and is a Professor of Politics and International Relations.

Full details

Anthony Forster has been the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex since 2012 and is a Professor of Politics and International Relations. He earned his masters degree and doctorate from the University of Oxford. He has a longstanding interest in negotiating behaviour and the contract between governments, their citizens and armed forces. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Leadership Foundation in Higher Education.

Anthony has 20 years of experience in academic leadership positions in five universities. He has a longstanding commitment to ensuring excellence in education and research benefits individuals and communities. During his time at the University of Essex, it has nearly doubled in size and in 2018 won the Times Higher University of the Year Award, widely referred to as the Oscars of UK higher education.

Articles by our Vice-Chancellor

• The Guardian (November 2018): The UK's strength in science is because of the EU – not in spite of it 
• Times Higher Education (November 2018): Three major challenges the University of Essex is confronting
• Times Higher Education (October 2018): Fairness should lie at the heart of any funding reform
• Times Higher Education (June 2018): Young institutions are tailor-made for ambitious projects such as the EU’s plan to create disruptive ‘super-networks’
• Times Higher Education (April 2018): Decisive action is needed to address the gender pay gap
• WONKHE (March 2018): Equally committed to excellence in education and research – “dual intensive” universities
• Times Higher Education (February 2018): Universities must pay more to protect pensions 
• Times Higher Education (September 2016): Postgraduates who teach: an overlooked and undervalued group

The Vice-Chancellor's role

The University Ordinances state that the Vice-Chancellor: ‘shall have a general responsibility to the Council for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of the University.’ He is responsible to the University Council and is an ex officio member of the Council and of the Senate, which he chairs. The Vice-Chancellor also chairs the University Steering Group (USG), the executive leadership team which meets fortnightly during term time and advises the Vice-Chancellor on matters relating to the management of the University.

The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for:

1. Providing academic and administrative leadership and ensuring the good management of the University
2. Developing and evolving the University’s strategy and vision
3. Exercising general oversight of the University’s financial position in order to ensure a sustainable financial base that allows the delivery of the University’s mission, aims and objectives and advising the Resources Committee on the University’s overall financial strategy and its development
4. Playing a leading part in shaping the academic development of the University
5. Promoting and marketing the University locally, nationally and internationally
6. Articulating the University’s needs and interests to government, the funding bodies and research councils
7. Providing leadership and personal commitment to the University’s fundraising activities and fostering strong relationships with alumni
8. Carrying out ceremonial and civic duties

As part of the University’s commitment to equality and diversity within and beyond its community, individual members USG also act as diversity champions in relation to each of the nine protected characteristics. The Vice-Chancellor is one of the University’s sexual orientation diversity champions.