Vice-Chancellor announces retirement

Professor Gipps has led the University for five years during a period of significant development.

Under her leadership, the University has received recognition for its world-leading research activity; re-designed its curriculum; built an increased international presence and enhanced its regional, national and international business links.

Caroline, who will retire at the end of the academic year, said today: “This is great institution and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead it for the past five years.

“I like to think that I have been able to contribute to the University’s development and profile. I could not have achieved as much as I have without the support of staff, particularly my excellent senior team; and, of course, we would be nowhere without our students who, with their energy and enthusiasm, keep reminding me why we work in a university. “

Michael Elliott, Chairman of the University’s Board of Governors, paid tribute to Caroline’s leadership and vision during her time as Vice-Chancellor.

“The University of Wolverhampton has made remarkable advances in the quality of its courses, of the experience it offers its diverse student population, its research capability, and its regional partnerships under the excellent leadership of its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Caroline Gipps. Thanks to her vision, leadership, passion and determination the University is well prepared to meet the future challenges facing higher education.

“Governors, staff and students will receive the news of her planned retirement in the summer of 2011 in this knowledge and with the confidence that the University will build successfully on the firm foundations Caroline and her team have laid in partnership with its many stakeholders.

“Our local and regional partners will know first hand the depth of the commitment and contribution of the University to Wolverhampton and the West Midlands and that Caroline has woven this into the DNA of the University. Similarly, our national partners know of Caroline’s achievements in enhancing quality, widening participation and building the sustainability of the University.

“The Governing Body is looking forward to working closely with Caroline in her final year as Vice-Chancellor in navigating new challenges and to continuing to build on the University’s success. It is also determined to recruit an equally outstanding successor to Caroline as Vice-Chancellor and to ensuring we achieve the fullest possible engagement of our students, staff and partners in achieving this outcome in the next 12 months.”

Professor Caroline Gipps became Vice-Chancellor in October 2005. An international expert in educational assessment and a trained psychometrician, her career has included spells as a junior school teacher and as a graduate assistant at the University of British Colombia. She was Dean of Research at the Institute of Education, London and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Kingston University, London before moving to Wolverhampton.

ENDS

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