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BU appoints new Vice-Chancellor

12 July 2010

Professor John Vinney has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University.

Professor Vinney will take up the post at the start of the new academic year as the University’s fourth Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Vinney is currently Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor of BU where he has led many aspects of the institution’s highly successful change agenda over the last four years. Amongst many achievements during this period are BU’s rating as the 4th most improved University for research in the UK and the University’s rise to become the number one new University in the country according to The Guardian University Guide for 2009 and 2010.

An expert in computational mechanics, Professor Vinney joined BU as Dean of the School of Design, Engineering and Computing in 2006 before being promoted to Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Resources) in 2008. A year later, he became Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Professional Practice) and earlier this year became Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor following the resignation of Professor Paul Curran, who departs BU this summer to become Vice-Chancellor at City University, London.

Throughout his career, Professor Vinney has held a number of roles in academia and business with a profile that encompasses research, education, enterprise and professional practice. At the University of the West of England, he was Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences after starting his career in the Shipping Industry as a Special Projects Engineer and as Design Engineer for British Aerospace (Space Systems).

Professor Vinney has a long established relationship with BU, having completed his HND in Mechanical Engineering at the Dorset Institute of Higher Education, a predecessor of the current University. He went on to graduate from Bristol Polytechnic now the University of the West of England where he completed his PhD in 1998.

On accepting his appointment, Professor Vinney said “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead Bournemouth University. It has been my pleasure to experience the University as both a student and as a member of the leadership team which I believe will enhance my ability to lead this institution through the many challenges we face in the years to come. I will continue to develop and improve the student and staff experience at BU and ensuring that the University continues its upwards trajectory, by focusing on quality and academic excellence”.

Alan Frost, Chair of the BU Board said “It is my great pleasure to appoint Professor Vinney as the next Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University. BU has come a long way over the past 5 years under the leadership of Professor Paul Curran. Professor Vinney’s strong academic and managerial background combined with his leadership qualities and great enthusiasm for BU make him an excellent choice for Bournemouth. “

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