By Callum Faulds
De Montfort University’s interim vice-chancellor, Professor Andy Collop, has addressed the staff union members’ vote of no confidence in the university’s senior leadership.
Dominic Shellard in January 2016 (pic:wikimedia)On Monday, the university announced the resignation of vice-chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard following days of speculation about his future.
The DMU branches of the University and College Union (UCU) and of Unison on Tuesday evening held a joint emergency meeting at which it said more than 120 people packed into a lecture theatre passed a motion of no confidence in the university’s management and governing body.
Prof Collop, who is standing in as interim vice-chancellor until a decision is made about Prof Shellard’s successor, yesterday called for staff members’ voices to be heard and said now is the “time to listen.”
In his first communication to DMU staff since obtaining the interim role, Prof Collop made it clear that the university’s top priorities remain the same, mainly “the outstanding student experience we deliver and our teaching and research excellence.”
Prof Collop said he is aiming to rebuild trust, give more transparency, and use this opportunity to take a fresh look at how the university operates.
He added: “I want us to embrace new opportunities and, in particular, change the way that we engage and listen.
“We also need to ensure greater transparency in our governance through, for example, greater elected staff representation on our Board of Governors.”
