Solent: New appointments boost leadership team at Bournemouth University

Bournemouth University (BU) has appointed two pro vice-chancellors as senior members of its leadership team.

Professor John Vinney, vice-chancellor, said: “We have ambitious plans for BU to continue to develop. Two vital areas for this will be increasing BU’s impact around the world through global engagement and championing our world-class research and innovation.

“These two new positions will be fundamental in driving these plans and I am very pleased that we have been able to appoint two such qualified academics.”

Dr Sonal Minocha has been appointed pro vice-chancellor for global engagement and Professor John Fletcher as pro vice-chancellor for research & innovation.

Minocha started her career at Newcastle Business School, University of Northumbria, before joining Raffles Education (now Raffles University) in Singapore.

After facilitating the establishment of the first foreign private university in Mongolia and achieving university college status for Raffles University in Malaysia, she returned to the UK in 2008 as head of department at Ashcroft International Business School.

She later joined Sunderland University in 2010 as an associate dean before moving to the University of Bedfordshire in 2012.

She has received, or been shortlisted for, numerous awards including ‘Asian Academic of the Year’ at the Asian Voice and Politics Awards 2012 and ‘Annual Award of Achievement (Education)’ at the Annual India International Foundation Awards 2012.

Minocha said: “I am delighted to be joining BU at such an exciting time in the University's development. I look forward to working with colleagues on a range of projects and initiatives that will help the university maximise the opportunities provided by the 'shifting sands' of global education.

“There is much scope for programme innovation, collaboration, joint research, transnational education and also EU/International student number growth.”

Fletcher’s new role follows his appointment as acting pro vice-chancellor for research and innovation at BU in January.

He began his academic career as a lecturer and director of the Institute of Economic Research at UCNW, Bangor, before becoming head of Surrey Research Group and reader at the University of Surrey in 1990. He joined BU in 1996.

Over recent years, Fletcher has presented evidence to House of Commons Select Committees and the EU as well as leading research projects for a variety of organisations, including the WWF, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Crown Estate.

He has also undertaken work for the local Borough Councils of Poole and Bournemouth, and helped produce BU’s Economic Impact Study, which demonstrated the contribution the university makes to the region.

In addition to holding the posts of director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR) and professor of tourism, Fletcher was responsible for setting up the BU Graduate School in 2002.

He said: “It’s great to be a part of BU’s leadership team at a time when the University is poised for even more success. I am really looking forward to helping to consolidate and accelerate our research and knowledge exchange activities and enhance our engagement with the local and regional communities.”

Fletcher’s appointment is with immediate effect, and Minocha is expected to join BU in May/June.