New regime initiates a shake-up at Imperial College

Staff at Imperial College, London, are facing up to the sweeping changes being made by new rector Sir Richard Sykes.

The reforms are being spearheaded by a college infrastructure and executive committee established by Sir Richard. It comprises the rector, deputy rector, principal of the medical school, college secretary and the directors of finance, personnel, estates and strategy development.

Sir Richard told staff in a newsletter: "If we are to fulfil our mission, we have got to make sure people can do their jobs effectively and have a professional, quality infrastructure supporting the core basis of this college.

"To be a good manager, you have got to be tough when you need to be tough, sensitive when you need to be sensitive and kind when you need to be kind."

Senior staff are being invited to a series of weekend meetings to discuss strategies, goals and values. Sir Richard said that all staff would be kept informed of strategic developments. The weekend meetings are due to conclude by the end of March.

Key staff are losing their influence - and, in some cases, their jobs - as a result of the changes.

Last week, the head of biochemistry, Anne Dell, lost her post when the department was subsumed by the department of biology, headed by Michael Hassell. Professor Dell remains head of a research group at the college.

Biochemistry, a department with 37 research staff and 90 postgraduate students, was absorbed by the biology department, which has 112 academic and research staff and 160 postgraduates. Both were rated five in the 1996 research assessment exercise.

The merger was "in line with a strategy for developing a Faculty of Life Sciences", according to a letter from Sir Richard to biochemistry staff, seen by The THES .

The high-profile artificial intelligence expert Igor Aleksander is another casualty of the changes. He has been relieved of his post as pro-rector with responsibility for external affairs.

An Imperial College spokesman said: "The rector has taken personal charge of external relations. Professor Aleksander remains as a professor with a research group at the college."

Former director of finance Beryl Castle resigned on the day that Sir Richard became rector, January 3. She has been replaced by Tony Cannon. Seven earth sciences staff have been asked to take early retirement.