New talent at University of Cumbria’s top table

Dixon Walter were delighted to assist the University of Cumbria with a new top management appointment at the institution.

This new role has been introduced to strengthen further the university’s leadership in the context of its drive to position itself as a thriving, leading player in professional and vocational higher education.

Professor Sara de Freitas, will be joining the university as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) at the beginning of March 2018 replacing Professor Trish Livsey who will be retiring in June.  Sara will lead on all student-focused activity in the university, including academic quality. Sara is an outstanding academic of international standing with a wealth of expertise in highly respected research and higher education institutions. She comes back to the UK from Murdoch University in Australia where she held the post of PVC in Learning and Teaching.  Professor de Freitas was named most Influential Woman in Technology 2009 and 2010 by the US Fast Company and has published seven books and more than 100 journal articles, conference papers and reports.

Professor de Freitas says: “I’m really excited to be joining the University of Cumbria and look forward to working closely with students and staff to ensure that they have the best experience and set of outcomes. The University of Cumbria has many strengths to build upon, not least its commitment to high-quality education and widening participation, connections to the local area and relationships with external partners.”

Professor Sara de Freitas – Sara has worked as an educator, researcher and senior executive in four universities in Australia and the United Kingdom, most recently as Pro Vice Chancellor at Murdoch University, leading on cross-university curriculum change, blended learning and transnational education. Before working in Australia, Sara was Director of Research at Coventry University, UK, where she founded and developed the Serious Games Institute, bringing together commercial and academic partnerships to fuel regional economic growth. Her research findings are published in seven books and over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, book chapters and technical reports (with over 7,000 citations). Sara is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and sits on over 60 international programme committees and advisory groups, and has undertaken over 120 international keynotes, presentations and public lectures in four continents.

Original article sourced from: https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/about/news/articles/articles/new-talent-at-university-of-cumbrias-top-table-.php