Source: Association Of Commonwealth Universities

Atkins: 鈥榮teely calmness in working through the implications of policy change鈥�

The suggestion that Madeleine Atkins鈥� ability to run the 成人VR视频 Funding Council for England will be hampered by her lack of experience of administering large research budgets is 鈥渞idiculous鈥�, a聽senior sector figure has argued.

The Coventry University vice-chancellor was named as successor to Sir Alan Langlands last week. Prior to taking over at Coventry in 2004, Professor Atkins held senior roles at Newcastle University, and has degrees from the universities of Nottingham and Cambridge. She is also a member of Hefce鈥檚 board.

Critics have argued that she lacks the intimate knowledge of the quality-related (QR) research funding stream that is acquired by running a research-intensive institution. However, Steve West, vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England and chair of the University Alliance (of which Coventry is a member), suggested that this 鈥渞idiculous鈥� argument derived from 鈥渁cademic snobbery鈥� about post-1992 universities.

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鈥淭his is about appointing the right person with the leadership skills to help the sector. Any chief executive builds the best team possible to do the job and leads that team. They don鈥檛 have to be an expert in everything,鈥� he said.

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of Million+, which represents a number of post-92s, said that Professor Atkins鈥� appointment was an indication that post-92s were no longer seen as 鈥渟econd best鈥�.

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Professor Atkins had made a 鈥渟ea-change difference鈥� at Coventry, she added, making its courses more 鈥渆ntrepreneurial and employer-focused鈥�, and introducing variable fee levels via its cut-price spin-off, Coventry University College.

Professor West also pointed to Professor Atkins鈥� pioneering international agenda, with Coventry partnering employers outside the UK, such as the Emirates Aviation College in the United Arab Emirates. He said such innovations had arisen out of Professor Atkins鈥� 鈥渟teely calmness in working through the implications of policy change鈥�.

He expected her to show similar 鈥渂ackbone鈥� when dealing with ministers, thus continuing Sir Alan鈥檚 legacy of ensuring that 鈥渨e were not pounded by too much daft thinking鈥� from the government.

Professor West also dismissed suggestions that the role of Hefce chief executive had been diminished 鈥� and potential candidates dissuaded 鈥� by the coalition鈥檚 removal of large amounts of Hefce teaching funding and consequent doubts about how it will wield regulatory power. The current 鈥減eriod of flux鈥� would give Professor Atkins a 鈥渉uge opportunity to influence 鈥� provided ministers are in listening mode鈥�.

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Alex Bols, chief executive of the 1994 Group, also endorsed Professor Atkins鈥� appointment, saying her sector-spanning background would allow her to champion higher education in the 鈥渃orridors of power鈥� ahead of the next spending round (which is widely expected to be very tough).

Roger Brown, co-director of the Centre of 成人VR视频 Research Development at Liverpool Hope University, said Hefce 鈥渃ould have done far worse鈥� than appoint Professor Atkins. 鈥淪he hasn鈥檛 got a鈥ersonal agenda. She is straight and sensible, very hard-working and determined, and is not as egotistical as many of her male colleagues,鈥� he said.

But, he added, she would have a tough job because the government鈥檚 plan for Hefce to wield regulatory power via its remit to 鈥渄esignate鈥� courses for public funding was 鈥渁 ramshackle effort that won鈥檛 work鈥�.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com