Dean of the London Study Centre at University of Hull
The Organisation
In May 2023, the University of Hull engaged Berwick Partners to conduct a Dean search for their London Study Centre. The London Study Centre is a joint venture between the University of Hull and Cambridge Education Group, scheduled to open to postgraduate students in early 2024.
The Role
Reporting to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education), the Dean of the London Study Centre would be responsible for developing and growing a significant enterprise for the University, with ambitious growth targets. Key skills required for this role included partnership management experience, campus operational oversight, budget management, academic portfolio development, quality and assurance experience, and assessment expertise.
The Search
Given the mix of skills required for the role, we argued that there should be a mixed academic and professional candidate profile, assuring the client that candidates without a PhD or research record would only be ruled in where they could demonstrate a genuine understanding of good pedagogy.
Over the course of the search, we identified an initial target pool of 258 potential candidates, ruled in 166 of those individuals, generated 57 candidates, assessed 12 of the strongest candidates and shortlisted 5 candidates for interview with the client. Of the 5 who formed the Shortlist, we had a gender balance of 2f:3m.
The Impact
The successful candidate appointed was Christopher MacAllister, previously Head of the Academic Development Centre for the University of Sunderland in London. Christopher was interviewed and accepted the position in July, took up his appointment in October, and was firmly established in post for the first cohort in January 2024.
Since starting, Christopher has led the growth of the London Study Centre ahead of target, increasing student recruitment and expanding the portfolio. He will next be leading the Centre through a relocation to bigger premises to accommodate the growth in student numbers.