Professor Graham Baldwin re-elected as MillionPlus Chair

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (12 June) announced that Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lancashire, has been elected to serve a second two-year term as the organisation's Chair.

Professor Baldwin’s re-election was ratified yesterday at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting.

Professor Baldwin became Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lancashire in 2019. Prior to this, he spent five years as the Vice-Chancellor of Solent University in Southampton, and earlier in his career he worked as Deputy Vice-Chancellor also at the University of Lancashire (when the institution was known as the University of Central Lancashire). He joined the Senior Management Team in 2003 and held posts as Dean of Academic Development and Director for Cumbria.

Professor Baldwin is a Board member of Universities UK, a Non-Executive Director of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Chair of Lancashire Innovation Board, Chair of the Maritime Skills Commission, Chair of MillionPlus and Chair of the University Vocational Awards Council.

Professor Baldwin said:

“I have considered it a great privilege to be able to Chair MillionPlus and have very much enjoyed my engagement with colleagues in the role.

“These are trying times for higher education. A combination of internal and external pressures continue to impact on university running costs, forcing many universities to make difficult decisions. Meanwhile, important debates around higher education reform, regulation, international students, immigration and free speech continue to rage. It is my belief that the modern university voice must be heard across all those national conversations and I will strive during my second term to ensure this is so.

“Those financial concerns, and the inevitable need for universities to deliver more with a constantly eroding unit of resource, make it harder for our institutions to help the Government meet its aims, particularly its key missions around skills and opportunity.

“With our focus on applied research, close links with local businesses and degree programmes informed and shaped by industry, modern universities must play a vital part in all these agendas.”

In addition, it was confirmed at the AGM that Professor Mark Power, Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University and Professor Julie Hall, Vice-Chancellor of London Metropolitan University have been elected to serve on the MillionPlus Executive Committee effective from 1 August; with Professor Liz Bacon, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Abertay University re-elected for a second term. 

Completing the Executive Committee are Professor James Knowles, Vice-Chancellor of Solent University, Professor Charles Egbu, Vice Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University and Professor Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University, who also serves as MillionPlus Treasurer.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Rachel Hewitt on 07795645241 or email ceo@millionplus.ac.uk
2. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities in the UK, and the voice of 21st century higher education. We champion, promote and raise awareness of the essential role and impact of modern universities in the UK’s world-leading higher education sector. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
3. What are modern universities? Modern universities are long established centres of higher education in their communities with roots that stretch back decades, if not centuries. Many gained university title following legislation agreed by parliament in 1992. They make up almost half of the UK university sector with over a million students studying at modern universities every year.
4. Think Modern: Innovation, ingenuity and inclusion from Britain's modern universities - FACTS AND STATS