Dear colleagues,
It gives me great pleasure to have this opportunity to write to you following my appointment as the seventh Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath. Over the past week, I have been particularly grateful for the messages of welcome that I have received from members of the University; please accept my most sincere thanks for your kindness.
I am extremely honoured to have been appointed as your next Vice-Chancellor, as I hold the University in the highest regard. For as long as I have known the University of Bath, I have been impressed by the commitment, expertise and innovation of its members, the quality and standards that it has worked hard to demonstrate, and the way in which it has been sought-after by students. In recent years, I have been greatly impressed by how the University has continued to excel in its original vision of providing a rigorous and relevant education, with research of the highest quality, and major initiatives in innovation. I look forward very much to seeing this work first hand and learning more about it.
I recognise that such success has been the result of major commitment by members of the University, and by the clear sense of purpose, vision and ambition which was evident in the consultation process relating to my appointment. I support these aspirations fully, while also believing that they need to be built on stable foundations provided by strong values of inclusivity, respect and transparency.
I look forward very much to rejoining the University. I value greatly the happy years we spent as a family living in the city of Bath, and my wife Margaret, and I, look forward very much to returning. It will be a great pleasure to get to know the University community, as well as renewing links with the city and region. I fully recognise the important role that the University plays and the significant impact it will continue to have at local, regional, national and international levels.
In the meantime, I am delighted that the University will benefit from the experience and leadership of Professor Bernie Morley, in his role as Acting Vice-Chancellor, and of other senior colleagues. I look forward to learning from them and others in the coming weeks as I prepare for my arrival.
Finally, may I wish those of you involved in the Undergraduate Open Day on Saturday every success.
Kind regards,
Professor Ian White FREng