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Strengthening the University Executive: The Expanding Roles and Remit of Deputy and Pro Vice Chancellors

Shepherd, Sue (2017) Strengthening the University Executive: The Expanding Roles and Remit of Deputy and Pro Vice Chancellors. Higher Education Quarterly, 72 (1). pp. 40-50. ISSN 0951-5224. E-ISSN 1468-2273. (doi:10.1111/hequ.12150) (KAR id:63915)

Abstract

Deputy and pro vice chancellors (DVCs and PVCs) are core members of the executive team and play a pivotal role in university management. Nevertheless, they have rarely been the subject of empirical investigation. This study addresses this research gap, utilising a census to examine the size and remit of the DVC and PVC cohort in English pre-1992 universities and map its evolution since 2005. It shows how these universities have increased the number of DVCs and PVCs, created new more managerial variants of the role and extended their collective remit. These developments evidence the extent to which pre-1992 universities have strengthened their executive and adopted a more corporate post-1992 university management model. Yet, despite the advent of new executive-style roles, the endurance of the traditional ‘floating’ policy PVC testifies to the continued salience of academic leadership - as well as more managerial approaches - in contemporary university management.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/hequ.12150
Projects: PhD studentship
Uncontrolled keywords: Deputy and pro vice chancellor, executive team, university management, managerialism, collegiality, binary divide
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5351 Business
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Funders: Economic and Social Research Council (https://ror.org/03n0ht308)
Society for Research into Higher Education (https://ror.org/02ns75z54)
Depositing User: Sue Shepherd
Date Deposited: 09 Oct 2017 13:10 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 15:29 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/63915 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Shepherd, Sue.

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