Building the university’s research profile and enhancing international links are two of the goals identified by the new Deputy Vice Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University.

Professor Jayne Mitchell last week took up the new role of Deputy Vice Chancellor with responsibility for academic affairs.

She was formerly Director of Research, Development and Partnerships at the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and before that Associate Dean at Staffordshire University.

“My role at BGU is a completely new one and my remit is to focus on three areas: teaching and learning, research and international activity,” she said.

“One of our long-term aims is to grow the university’s research capacity and capability and to raise the profile of the research work being undertaken by staff.

“We also want to enhance the internationalisation of the BGU experience both for UK students and students coming to BGU from overseas.”

Professor Mitchell is no stranger to Lincolnshire, having grown up near Cleethorpes, but it was the heritage and growing reputation of Bishop Grosseteste University that appealed to her.

“I was attracted by the job and the institution – where it is now and where it’s going in the future,” Professor Mitchell explained.

“This is a really exciting time for BGU. The university has a strong heritage and firm foundations, but there are also plans for development and expansion in a controlled way and scope to move to even bigger and better things.

“That was really attractive and something I wanted to contribute to.”

The Vice Chancellor of BGU, the Reverend Professor Peter Neil, welcomed Professor Mitchell to the university.

“We are sure that Jayne will make a valuable contribution to the strategic direction of BGU and we are extremely pleased to welcome her as part of the senior leadership team,” he said.

Professor Mitchell completed her PhD in Physical Activity Epidemiology at the University of Exeter and holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of Birmingham.  She has previously held a number of posts in higher education institutions that reflect her commitment to quality assurance and academic and research interests in physical activity and health.

She will work at BGU alongside Haf Merrifield, Deputy Vice Chancellor for strategy and performance.

Notes to editors

Bishop Grosseteste University was established in uphill Lincoln in January 1862 and celebrated its 150^th anniversary in 2012.

It is an independent higher education institution which awards its own degrees at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level.

It changed its name from Bishop Grosseteste University College to Bishop Grosseteste University in November 2012.

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