Aside from the salary, there are seemingly few other incentives to become a vice-chancellor in the UK in the current climate.
Tasked with balancing an ever-growing list of priorities in the midst of a funding freeze, while weathering increasingly regular attacks from politicians and the media, most would balk at the idea of taking on the high-profile role, let alone doing it more than once.
Some leaders in the sector are, however, on to their third, fourth or even sixth vice-chancellorship; part of a small but growing band of “troubleshooters”, drafted in for a year or two to get institutions back on to a stable footing.
Universities are turning to experienced heads when change is needed and their services are only likely to become more in demand as the difficult funding environment takes its toll on more institutions.
