Sunderland v-c to become university’s president

Peter Fidler, who has been vice-chancellor of Sunderland for 15 years, will become president this September until January 2016, after which he will retire from the university.

According to a statement from the university, as president, “Professor Fidler will give senior and strategic focus to the university’s key strategic and civic partnerships, the international portfolio, its London Campus, and to high level ambassadorial work”.

Shirley Atkinson, currently Sunderland’s deputy vice-chancellor, will become interim vice-chancellor when Professor Fidler steps down. The university will start looking for a permanent vice-chancellor in 2015 to take up the role at the beginning of 2016.

In the statement, Professor Fidler said that Sunderland was now a “truly international university which provides huge economic value and impact to our City and region…in this context I am delighted to be asked to take up this new role of president”.

The chairman of Sunderland’s board of governors, Paul Callaghan, said that the board “has asked Peter to take the role of president to enable the university to develop our international and civic partnerships in line with our ambitious plans”.

“Peter’s expertise, experience and reputation will continue to be a significant asset to our university.  He has great respect with our partners and with civic, business and education leaders, both at home and overseas,” he said. “I am delighted to secure Peter’s ongoing commitment to the university for this next exciting phase of our development.”

david.matthews@tsleducation.com