Leeds vice-chancellor Simone Buitendijk to step down

The vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds has announced that she will step down at the end of 2023, after just three years in the post.

Simone Buitendijk, who joined Leeds in September 2020, said she would leave at the end of December, with the university saying that she would “seek new leadership opportunities” in higher education.

Leeds’ provost, Hai-Sui Yu, will serve as interim vice-chancellor until a permanent successor is appointed.

Professor Buitendijk, previously vice-provost of Imperial College London and vice-rector magnificus at Leiden University, oversaw a period of significant change at Leeds, promising to abolish traditional lectures and replace them with a blended learning approach.

It has also been a period of significant industrial unrest, with, most recently, support staff staging more than 50 days of strikes in a dispute over pay.

Professor Buitendijk said she had “truly enjoyed” her time at Leeds and that the institution’s new strategy put it on “an ambitious course as a world-leading institution with a unique emphasis on collaboration rather than competition”.

“Together we have achieved so much over the past three years and, with the conditions for the university’s future success now in place, I feel the time is right for me to start the next chapter of my career in leadership in UK and international higher education,” she said.

Alastair da Costa, chair of Leeds’ council, said that Professor Buitendijk had “introduced major reform programmes to improve research, teaching and the student experience at Leeds”.

“I would like to thank Simone for her dedication, work and contribution as vice-chancellor and president and to wish her further success in her continuing career,” he said.

But Leonie Sharp, head of education in Yorkshire and Humberside for the Unison union, welcomed Professor Buitendijk’s departure. Cleaners, administrators, IT technicians and library staff are among the employees who have been on strike.

“Staff have been asking for an improved wage to help them cope as food and fuel prices continue to rise – and the vice-chancellor has been unwilling to engage,” Ms Sharp said.

“She’s presided over the most fractious dispute at the university for decades, and when Unison called for her to get round the table to negotiate, she’s left the building.

“Hopefully this decision will result in more productive talks between the union and university.”

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com