Professors Jane Falkingham and Andrew Atherton have been appointed as a job share to the new role of Vice-President International & Engagement.
Jane requires little introduction; she has been a Professor at Southampton since September 2002 and stepped down as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences in January this year. Over the last two years Jane has also been successfully leading the university’s International portfolio as Interim Vice-President. The new job share arrangement for this role will enable Jane to dedicate more time to her research including her role as Director of the ESRC Centre for Population Change and PI of the new ESRC Connecting Generations research programme.
Professor Falkingham commented,
“I am honoured to be offered this opportunity to continue to contribute to the leadership team of the University. The new role of Vice-President International & Engagement provides an exciting opportunity to renew and strengthen our partnerships – locally, nationally and globally – supporting the University’s mission to solve the most complex societal challenges, achieve the remarkable and transform lives. I am looking forward to continuing to work with our wonderful colleagues in the international and civic engagement communities to drive forward the new Strategy.”
Over the past 25 years Andrew Atherton has been Director of the Management and Policy Research Unit at Durham University, Acting Dean of the Business School and later Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University of Lincoln, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University and Vice-Chancellor at University of Dundee. Since leaving Dundee in 2019 Andrew has continued to provide strategic advice to other UK universities and joined Navitas as Global Director for Transnational Education in February 2020.
Andrew’s extensive experience brings insights that will help our University drive forward its strategic objectives particularly in the area of international growth.
Andrew will continue in a part-time capacity as a Director at Navitas, ensuring that this does not conflict with his new role at Southampton. He will also dedicate time to his academic research area of entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on China and on enterprise policy.
Professor Atherton responded to his appointment,
“I am delighted to be joining the University of Southampton. The University is at an exciting time in its development, with a new and ambitious strategy to be a leading university globally. I am looking forward to the job share with Jane, where we can work together and bring our complementary strengths to the role. I will be focusing on ensuring this arrangement works to the best advantage for the University and that my ongoing engagement with Navitas is kept separate to my work at Southampton. A job share at executive level in a University is a progressive approach to a key appointment that opens up opportunities to apply my skills and knowledge to this exciting role.”
Jane will continue with her current portfolio of international responsibilities until Andrew joins us in September 2022. Over the coming weeks Jane and Andrew will discuss how they will bring their knowledge and skills to best effect in leading and sharing this portfolio. It is expected that either one or both of them will represent their role as a member of responsible committees such as the University Executive Board.
Professor Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton welcomed the appointments.
“After an extensive search which brought forward a highly competitive field, I am delighted we have arrived at the first formal job share on the University Executive at Southampton.
Both Jane and Andrew’s track records of achievement and their highly complementary skills will provide a great basis for developing and delivering the very important international and engagement elements of our new Strategy.”
