David Maguire gets UEA vice-chancellor job on permanent basis

The University of East Anglia has confirmed David Maguire as its vice-chancellor on a permanent basis, halfway through his term as interim leader of the crisis-hit institution.

Professor Maguire, the former vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich, joined UEA in May 2023 after it emerged that the institution needed to cut £45 million from its budget to stay afloat. UEA’s former head, David Richardson, resigned with immediate effect in February last year after union members passed a vote of no confidence.

Professor Maguire’s term was initially for two years, and he moved swiftly to stabilise UEA’s finances – notably by cutting about 400 jobs via voluntary departures and resignations, equivalent to 10 per cent of the workforce. Professor Maguire has also targeted increasing international student recruitment, but has warned that government help on reforming the English funding model – including the tuition fee freeze – is unlikely to be forthcoming.

Now UEA’s council has confirmed Professor Maguire’s appointment as substantive vice-chancellor, said Sally Howes, its chair.

“Stability and consistency, together with outstanding research and teaching leadership, are key to securing UEA’s long-term sustainability and academic success. Professor Maguire will ensure recovery and change continue at pace, and that UEA’s mission to provide outstanding education and research for the public benefit is realised,” Dr Howes said.

“I am confident that he is the best person to provide the focus needed to guide UEA into a sustainable and positive future.”

UEA has blamed its woes on falling student numbers, the tuition fee freeze, a higher-than-average dropout rate and the rise in energy costs.

But staff have complained of funds being wasted on failed projects and questioned why UEA seemed to be suffering more than other similar institutions.

They have also raised concerns about arts and humanities departments bearing the brunt of cost-cutting.

Dr Howes said Professor Maguire had “expressed his commitment to delivering the leadership UEA needs to navigate the many challenges facing the higher education sector”.

“UEA is an incredibly successful global institution which delivers outstanding education to thousands of students from across the world, and world-leading research across a wide portfolio of disciplines. I am pleased that he will be here to lead the delivery of UEA’s long-term vision and strategy,” she said.

Professor Maguire has also held interim vice-chancellor appointments at the universities of Dundee and Sussex, and was interim principal of the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Speaking at Times Higher Education’s THE Campus Live event in December, he warned that many UK universities had only another two to three years until their business models would become unsustainable.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com