Dear candidate,
Thank you for your interest in becoming the next Vice-Chancellor of Edge Hill University.
Many senior leadership opportunities in higher education arise from the need for recovery or reinvention. This appointment offers something different: the opportunity to lead a successful university with a strong identity, sound foundations and a community that cares deeply about its future. The challenge is to build confidently from that position of strength, preserving the qualities that make Edge Hill distinctive while extending its influence and ambition.
Edge Hill has a particular character. It is large enough to make a significant contribution to higher education and to the economic, social and cultural life of the North West, yet sufficiently connected for individual leadership to be visible and consequential. Colleagues and students feel a genuine sense of ownership in the University, and relationships, accessibility and mutual respect remain central to how we work.
Our commitment to widening opportunity is rooted in our history and evident in the lives of our students. Academic ambition and student success are not competing priorities here; they reinforce one another. We want Edge Hill to be recognised for excellent education, impactful research and partnerships that translate knowledge into practical benefit. We also want to retain the warmth, humanity and strong sense of belonging that define the experience of studying and working here.
The next Vice-Chancellor will have considerable scope to shape the University’s future. You will bring clear strategic thinking, sound judgement and a willingness to explore new ideas. You will help Edge Hill make bold choices about where it can achieve the greatest impact, respond creatively to a changing educational and technological landscape, and ensure that its achievements are understood far beyond the campus.
This will require a leader who wants to be part of the University rather than simply to lead it from a distance: someone visible, curious and generous with their time, who listens carefully and can convert insight into action. You will bring people together around shared ambitions while being prepared to challenge established thinking and take well-judged decisions.
The Board recognises both the responsibility and the privilege involved in leading Edge Hill. We are looking for someone who will value what has been built, see the possibilities ahead and bring the energy, judgement and personal commitment to realise them.
If that opportunity speaks to you, we would be delighted to receive your application.
Mark Wilkinson
Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Governors Edge Hill University
