Professor Paul Wellings to resign end of 2011
Professor Paul Wellings has announced that he will resign from the position of Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University at the end of 2011 in order to take up the role of Vice-Chancellor of Wollongong University, New South Wales.
Professor Paul Wellings is returning to Australia after nine years as Vice-Chancellor at Lancaster University. During this period Lancaster has been ranked in the top 10 UK universities and in the top 125 in the world. The university has enhanced its reputation as a research-led institution with an outstanding student experience. The international profile of the university has been strengthened by important partnerships in China, India, Malaysia and Pakistan.
Under his leadership the university has transformed its estate with an investment of more than £350 million in a large number of facilities; such as InfoLab21, the Lancaster Environment Centre, the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, a new Sports Centre and 4500 new residential rooms on campus. In addition the financial position and credit rating of the university has been greatly enhanced.
“Paul Wellings has been an exceptional leader over nine years at Lancaster. The university has been transformed and its academic reputation greatly enhanced” said Lancaster’s Pro-Chancellor, Bryan Gray.
“Paul has played an important role in many North-West regional bodies and on the national scene, especially with HEFCE and UUK. He has championed the work of the university on the national stage and made the university more outward looking. We are sad to lose such a creative and energetic leader and wish Paul Wellings every success in the future.”
“Lancaster University has begun a global search for a new Vice-Chancellor”, said Mr Gray.
Professor Wellings will be leaving the university in December 2011 and will continue to lead the university throughout this period.
See media release from University of Wollongong: