BCU charts development with appointment of new Vice-Chancellor

Professor Philip Plowden

Birmingham City University has appointed a new Vice-Chancellor as the institution looks to move on to the next stage of its evolution.

Professor Philip Plowden has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby for the last four years, where BCU said he had delivered a step-change in academic quality – with the institution’s league table position rising from 91st to 48th.

Prof Plowden is also a qualified solicitor and barrister, as well as a National Teaching Fellow.

He will take up his new role at BCU on September 1.

He said: “I’m delighted to have the chance to lead Birmingham City University at such an incredibly exciting stage in its history. It is a university that has a world-class campus at the very heart one of the country’s great cities, while its Edgbaston campus is about to open superb new sport and life sciences facilities.

“It is a great privilege to be offered the opportunity to lead an institution at the heart of such a vibrant city. Birmingham is undergoing a massive transformation, with a young and dynamic population attracted by the presence of major global businesses, a burgeoning creative sector, and significant infrastructure developments such as HS2.

“I look forward to helping the university continue to develop its enormous potential, offering students even more opportunities to transform their lives.”

Announcing the appointment, chair of the BCU board of governors, Mark Hopton, said: “I’m delighted to have secured the appointment of Prof Philip Plowden, who headed a strong field of candidates. Philip has a superb track-record of improving the quality of teaching and learning for students, and building a university’s reputation.

“He has overseen an impressive rise in the standings of his current institution and has a strong understanding of Higher Education and the opportunities and challenges presented.”

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