Open Forums Announced in Search for new Vice-Chancellor

Liverpool Hope University is about to begin a wide-ranging consultation process on the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor - and here’s how you can get involved. 

At the end of this year, Professor Gerald Pillay, Hope’s Vice-Chancellor and Rector, will retire having led the University in this role for almost two decades. 

And in recent weeks Revd Canon Peter Winn, Chair of University Council at Hope, has revealed how the Hope community will be fully consulted on Professor Pillay’s successor in the spirit of ‘transparency’ and ‘openness’. 

Now details of open forum opportunities for both staff and students have been outlined. 

Hope has appointed a specialist executive search firm - Perrett Laver - to support the recruitment process, with the final appointment decision resting with the University Council. 

Perrett Laver has considerable experience in the field, having previously worked with the likes of the University of Cambridge and University of Liverpool. 

And as part of the recruitment process, all Hope stakeholders will be given the chance to have their say on what sort of Vice-Chancellor the University needs to guide the institution into the future. 

Revd Winn explains: “We very much welcome the input of our communities in the development of the vision and ambitions for the role, among other key considerations.

“There will be various different meetings with key stakeholders, who will be written to shortly with specific invite details.

 “Complimenting this will be a number of open forum opportunities for staff and students to attend.”

Those open forums will take place at the following times: 

Individuals who wish to take part should arrive five minutes before the session, as it will start promptly at the start time. 

Please be aware that this is a drop-in session however, if you could, please complete the session link form to register your attendance to ensure the University has allocated enough space. 

No personal / identifiable information will be collated on this form. 

The Open Forum session will likely last between 30 to 45 minutes.

For those who do not attend either a specific stakeholder meeting, or are unable to attend an Open Forum, there will also be an opportunity for you to submit your thoughts directly to Perrett Laver by emailing liverpoolhope@perrettlaver.com

 The Perrett Laver team will be keen to seek your views on the following points:

• What do we want to celebrate about the University?

• What are the values, qualities and culture that make the University such a special place?

• What challenges does the University face in the short and long terms?

• What should be on the new Vice-Chancellor’s agenda in the short and long term?

• What type of person would be our ideal candidate for the position of Vice-Chancellor?

No views or material will be referenced to individuals or identified as coming from any particular cohort participating in the briefing process. 

The principal themes and any debates will be captured and then considered fully by the Selection Committee, and will be used to inform the shaping of and recruitment of the role of the new Vice-Chancellor.

The University is aiming to make an appointment by October of this year. 

Earlier this month, Revd Winn said:  “While there’s obviously sadness about one era coming to end, there is also great excitement about the new phase that’s about to begin. 

“The Council is really optimistic that because of the stuttering two years we’ve endured thanks to the global pandemic, we’re going to find great candidates who have lots of pent-up energy and enthusiasm, and who are ready to take on new challenges. 

“The new Vice-Chancellor will inherit something very special here at Hope, and will build on the fantastic work and the great platform that Professor Pillay will leave behind.”