Professor Manuel Barcia Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement)
Professor Barcia is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement)
Role
Manuel was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) with effect from 1 May 2025. He is responsible for developing and leading the university’s international engagement, working closely with colleagues in the Faculties and School as well as in professional services.
Related posts
Chair of the Universities UK (UUKi) Africa and Middle East network
Career
He joined Bath from the University of Leeds, where he was Dean for Global Engagement and Chair of Global History in the School of History.
Professor Barcia specialises in the history of slavery and the slave trade in the 19th century Atlantic world. Alongside his academic career he has held several international leadership roles over the last decade. He has a successful track record developing transnational education partnerships and leading international recruitment strategies, as well as experience building global research partnerships, representing his university at major international events as well as showing sector-level leadership.
Education
Professor Barcia studied History at undergraduate level at the University of Havana in Cuba, then went onto experience life as an international student in the UK when he took a Masters in Comparative History (as a Chevening scholar) and a PhD in History at the University of Essex. After concluding his PhD, he taught at the universities of Essex and Nottingham before going to Leeds in 2006.