Falmouth University is a specialist university for the creative industries based in Falmouth and Penryn, Cornwall, England. Founded as Falmouth School of Art in 1902, it was later known as Falmouth College of Art and Design and then Falmouth College of Arts until 2012, when the college was officially granted full university status. 

The University's mission is to deliver exceptional higher education and research, harnessing the fusion of creativity and technology as foundations of the future economy, and to use knowledge and expertise in these disciplines to generate positive and sustainable opportunities for all. 

More than 5000 students from across the globe study on Falmouth’s two campuses, with access to professional standard environments including state-of-the-art photography facilities and performance and recording studios, cutting edge digital manufacturing technology, a TV studio and gallery spaces. 

Today, its portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses represents the breadth of the creative industries, from art, design, photography, music and performance to games, computing, writing, business and marketing. As well as the courses that are delivered on-campus in Cornwall, Falmouth also provides ground-breaking online distance learning, through its Falmouth Online portfolio, and has validation and franchise partnerships with industry-leading bodies including the Fashion Retail Academy, Eden Project, and WaterBear. For more than 120 years, Falmouth University has been a hub of creative thinking and design innovation, producing headline grabbing journalists, award-winning artists, ground-breaking product designers, agenda-setting film makers, dynamic entrepreneurs and digital pioneers. Falmouth’s research programmes are built on the principle of open innovation - the idea that the grand challenges of our age can be addressed most effectively when tackled collaboratively across disciplinary boundaries. 

Falmouth University takes a multi-disciplinary approach, ensuring its students have the skills they need to excel in a fast-changing world. Putting real world, real market challenges and hands-on experience at the heart of the learning experience also means that Falmouth’s graduates leave as experienced professionals, accomplished complex problem solvers and strong team players. Falmouth plays a key role in the economic regeneration of Cornwall. It is building a pipeline of talent, retaining skills in the region and leveraging its capital, network and academic knowledge to foster the next generation of creative leaders and explorers. 

The main duties of the Board of Governors are:  

• the determination of the educational character and mission of the University and for oversight of its activities;
•  the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the University and the Corporation and for safeguarding their assets;
• approving annual estimates of income and expenditure;
• the appointment, performance, suspension, dismissal, and pay and conditions of service arrangements for the Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive; and
• approving the framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff.

The Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive is accountable to the Board of Governors for the strategic leadership and executive management of the University. The Board is relatively small, with no more than ten Independent Governors. This means that each Governor is empowered to make a valuable contribution, and to apply their experience and insights to the University’s challenges and opportunities. A distinctive feature of Higher Education Boards is their dual responsibility for both corporate and academic governance. This requires Boards to maintain a membership with a broad range of complementary skillsets.

Falmouth University is looking to appoint up to four new Governors who will be responsible for ensuring the effective management of the institution and approving its future strategic development. The University is particularly interested in individuals bringing fresh perspectives with strategic expertise across one or more of the following areas:

• Capital projects - major estates and infrastructure, project financing and/or delivery
• Corporate finance, business financing and/or capital markets, 
• Law, in particular corporate or employment law, but other specialisms are welcome
• Mental health and/or healthcare services
• Government and policy development - local or national

In addition to the above skillsets, individuals will bring an ability to analyse complex issues and contribute at a strategic level along with strong interpersonal, communication and listening skills. Substantial experience of the creative and/or technology industries, or experience of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria for businesses and investments would be highly desirable. Individuals will ideally bring a strong empathy with the creative outputs of Falmouth University and an understanding of the socio-economic context and potential of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The University welcomes and encourages applications from people of all identities and backgrounds, particularly those under-represented and/or marginalised. There is one vacancy on the Board, and the University is seeking to appoint up to three further individuals for succession planning purposes. The date of the commencement of the term of office is negotiable, and will be between March 2023 and September 2024.

For further information on the Board of Governors, please see here.

There are six Board meetings per year. The usual expectation is that a minimum of three of the six meetings per year must be attended face-to-face, the remaining three meetings may be attended via videoconference. Independent Members may be required to provide additional contribution through membership of one or more of the Board’s four sub-committees. Sub-committee meetings and University events are generally scheduled adjacent to Board meetings for the convenience of Members. From time-to-time, Independent Members with specific expertise may be asked to contribute to University projects or initiatives. This is entirely voluntary and based on Members’ availability. This is an unpaid position but the University will meet all reasonable expenses incurred by Members of the Board undertaking Board business, for example travel to meetings and development events.