University of St Andrews Principal Professor Dame Sally Mapstone to lead Universities UK as next President

University of St Andrews Principal Professor Dame Sally Mapstone to lead Universities UK as next President

(IN BRIEF) Professor Dame Sally Mapstone has been elected as the next President of Universities UK (UUK). The role will begin on August 1, 2023, and run for two academic years. UUK’s 140 members elect the president through a ballot. Currently, Dame Sally is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, and she will succeed Professor Steve West CBE, the current president, and Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol. Dame Sally has been a board member of UUK since 2016, including serving as the Vice-President for Scotland. She has extensive experience in education and leadership roles, including serving as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Personnel and Equality at the University of Oxford. Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, expressed her excitement about working with Dame Sally and supporting universities’ contribution to society.

(PRESS RELEASE) SCOTLAND, 17-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of St Andrews, has been elected as the next President of Universities UK (UUK). 

The role runs for two academic years from 1 August 2023 and is elected through a ballot of UUK’s 140 members.

Dame Sally will succeed current President, Professor Steve West CBE, Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol.

Before her appointment as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews in 2016, Dame Sally completed her education, lectured and held several leadership roles at the University of Oxford, including Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Personnel and Equality and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education. She has served as a Board Member of UUK since 2016 including currently as Vice-President for Scotland, by virtue of being Convener of Universities Scotland.

Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said: 
“There are challenging but exciting times ahead for the Higher Education sector as we work to maximise our positive impact on society and support the UK’s economic recovery.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Professor Dame Sally Mapstone on supporting and championing the vital contribution of our universities. As an existing UUK Board member and Vice President for Scotland, she has already been a huge support to the organisation and is well-respected within the sector.

“Dame Sally brings a broad range of experience and a particular commitment to widening participation and accessibility in higher education. We look forward to the seeing the progress that Dame Sally will make to the sector throughout her presidency.”

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone said: “I am honoured to be elected as President of UUK. The UK higher education sector is outstanding for its inventiveness and its creativity as well as its resilience, and my job will be to harness those characteristics in representing and advocating for all our universities.

“Universities at their most essential level exist to find and bring out the best in people; representing the sector means representing the remarkable staff and students who make the UK sector the envy of the world.

“Setting and taking forward a compelling agenda for how higher education is seen, overseen, funded, and resourced must dominate UUK’s strategic approach, in parallel with extensive efforts to convey the dynamism and potential of the sector’s extensive contributions to the economy, science, the arts, and entrepreneurialism.”

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE will assume the role of UUK President on 1 August 2023 and her term will run until 31 July 2025.

Current President Professor Steve West CBE remains in position until 31 July 2023.

Further information on Professor Dame Sally Mapstone is available at Universities UK and University of St Andrews

The President is elected from and by the membership of Universities UK for two academic years and is only eligible for re-election by special resolution. The president chairs all Universities UK Members’ Meetings, the UK Board and Board Advisory Committee meetings.

Media Contact:

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2530

SOURCE: University of St Andrews