Cambridge University names Canadian academic as next vice-chancellor
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Version 0 of 1. A Canadian expert in international law has been chosen as the next vice-chancellor of Cambridge university following a global search for a leader to navigate the Brexit-related challenges facing higher education. Prof Stephen Toope, who is director of the University of Toronto’s Munk school of global affairs, will replace Sir Leszek Borysiewicz in October next year, following formal approval by the university’s governing body. He takes over one of the biggest jobs in higher education at a time when UK universities are facing unprecedented uncertainty in the wake of the referendum vote to leave the EU, as well as wide-ranging changes to funding and regulation. Toope will be required to build on Cambridge’s international reputation amid fierce competition in the global higher education market, particularly from established universities in the US and emerging institutions in Asia. Earlier this month, the QS world university rankings were published in which Cambridge fell out of the top three for the first time in 12 years, as other UK institutions slightly deteriorated in performance. Last week, arch rival Oxford was named the best university in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) world university rankings – the first time an institution from the UK has topped the THE rankings. Cambridge came fourth. The new vice-chancellor’s brief is demanding. As well as advancing the university’s profile on the international stage, he will have to modernise an ageing estate, some of which has been reportedly described as “historic sites barely fit for purpose”. Borysiewicz recently outlined the challenge facing Cambridge post-Brexit when he told MPs that the university had the largest number of awards from the EU of any institution in Europe, let alone the UK. “The total financial sum is in the order of £100m, so the impact is quite significant in financial terms.” While the government has provided some reassurance in the short term, Borysiewicz expressed concern about future EU students coming to the UK and the disquiet among the 19% of staff at Cambridge who are EU nationals and still do not know what the future holds. Toope, a scholar specialising in human rights, international dispute resolution, environmental law and the use of force, was previously vice-chancellor of the University of British Columbia. He graduated from Harvard in 1979 and completed his PhD at Trinity College Cambridge. He was also on the UN working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances from 2002 to 2007. He said: “I am thrilled to be returning to this great university. I look forward to working with staff and students in the pursuit of academic excellence and tremendous international engagement – the very mark of Cambridge.” Borysiewicz said: “We are delighted to be welcoming a distinguished leader with such an outstanding record as a scholar and educator to lead Cambridge.” |