President and vice-chancellor announces retirement

President and vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield, Professor Sir Keith Burnett, has confirmed his retirement after ten years in the role.

Sir Keith became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield in 2007 and was previously the head of the division of maths and physical sciences at the University of Oxford.

Sir Keith said: “I am truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the University of Sheffield over this past decade. During that time, I have met many inspirational staff, students and alumni around the world, and I am proud to have represented them here in the UK and overseas.

“There could be no greater privilege than to help talented young people in our own locality and right across the globe to achieve their own educational potential and to see our scholars do real good across the world. As we enter this period of transition, I am now looking forward to helping secure the opportunities we have begun to develop and to prepare to hand over the responsibility of leadership to whoever is chosen to be the next Vice-Chancellor. That individual will inherit a legacy of public education which began with our University’s founders – the people of Sheffield themselves. I am sure they will find this is a powerful inspiration, just as I have.”

Chair of the University of Sheffield Council Tony Pedder, said:  “The transition to a new leader is a very important time for any organisation. Over the coming months, we will undertake the process of identifying the right person to guide and inspire our great University. I am grateful to Sir Keith for facilitating this process by agreeing to keep his retirement date flexible to enable us to select and recruit the best successor.”

He added: “Over the last decade, the University of Sheffield has grown in standing as a centre of global scholarship committed to making a difference in our own region and around the world. In pursuit of our agreed strategy, Sir Keith has led a focus on the development of international partnerships, which bring opportunities to our students and staff, as well as economic benefits to our region.

“Both in the UK and globally, we are known as a University which speaks fearlessly for the value of international scholarship to do good, willing to work with industry and government in progressive ways and yet still one true to our founding mission of public education.”

 

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