Governor

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IN JOINING THE GOVERNING BODY INVITED

For more than 60 years, Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has been a big part of the Kent community, providing education which makes a real and positive difference to people’s lives, welcoming students from all faiths and none. With 1,800 staff, the University offers a wide range of programmes to its 26,000 students. As well as meeting the business and employment needs of regional employers and beyond, the University is a widening participation institution.

The impact of CCCU’s research and enterprise is felt nationally and internationally as recognised by the recent national Research Excellence Framework and the Knowledge Exchange Framework. We have one of the best employability records for students in the UK and was ranked number one in the 2023 national employability survey. We are also one of the largest providers of education, training and skills to public service in the South East. The University’s largest campus is in the centre of the historic city of Canterbury. The Canterbury campus sits at the heart of a World Heritage site and close to Canterbury Cathedral. In the past decade, the University has invested over £100m in facilities, including opening the Verena Holmes building, an award-winning building for science, technology, engineering, health and medicine, and the Daphne Oram building, a creative arts and cultural hub, on the Canterbury Campus. The award-winning Augustine House, situated close to Canterbury City Centre, provides first class Library and Learning Resources for the academic community. The other campuses, all offering high quality facilities, are located at Medway and Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Following a period of significant growth and diversification through a range of partners, a new medical school (Kent and Medway Medical School), we will now be looking to expand our post-graduate provision as well as our online offering. With an exciting future ahead with our strategy Vision 2030 and a stable financial position (£300m turnover and with a surplus), the University is on a major transformation journey, streamlining its academic structure as well as its corporate services function and reviewing digital systems and processes to enhance impact whilst reducing its costs. Looking ahead, innovation, diversification and cost control will be key priorities for CCCU as it navigates through uncertain times for the higher education sector.
The Role
The University’s Governing Body is responsible for determining the educational character and mission of the University and has oversight of its activities. The University seeks to appoint two Governors to act as a critical friend, bring advice, scrutiny, sound judgement and constructive challenge to the Governing Body and the Executive team. The roles will commence on 1 August 2025 and each will be for an initial term of office of four years, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

Canterbury Christ Church University welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. The University is proud that it already has a diverse Board. To maintain this, we particularly welcome expressions of interest from women, Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic candidates to enhance the Board’s diversity. We would also welcome expressions of interest from members of the Church of England in view of our Anglican Foundation status.

Canterbury Christ Church University is partnering with Nurole, the leading board-level search specialist, to find new Governors.

To apply, please visit our website via the button below.

To arrange an informal conversation or in case of any other queries, please contact Brigitte.Stundner@nurole.com

Deadline for applications: Midnight on 9th January 2025.

Candidates can expect to be contacted by: 23rd January 2025.

Interviews: 26th and 27th February 2025.