University of Chester - Council Members

The University of Chester seeks new Council Members who are high achieving, strategic individuals from any sector, and who will play a significant and active role in the University’s development.

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About the University of Chester

  • Founded in 1839, the University of Chester is a thriving institution with c. 15,000 students drawn from 130 countries around the world. It is deeply committed to ensuring an outstanding student learning experience, developing the expertise of its staff, providing teaching excellence, and actively growing research and scholarly profiles.

  • The University’s mission is to provide all students and staff with the education, skills, support and motivation to enable them to develop as confident world citizens and then successfully serve and improve the global communities within which they live and work. As part of its mission, the University of Chester has developed extensive international partnerships and exchange arrangements with a wide range of institutions and organisations including in India, Africa, South East Asia, China, Europe, and North America.

  • Rooted in its communities, the University has a proud history of preparing students for successful careers in health, social work and policing in addition to teaching, and its graduates make an important contribution to these professions well beyond the North West of England. Equally, it successfully delivers courses for those seeking employment in business, industry, the sciences, and humanities and creative arts, and there are exciting plans to increase the profile and impact of these disciplines. Since gaining University status in 2005, the institution has seen significant investment and expansion, such as the doubling of student numbers, and the provision of a diverse and innovative curriculum across nine distinctive sites.

  • The University of Chester has a demonstrable commitment to widening participation, development of applied research, and strong international, private and public sector collaborations. Its ambition for the next five years includes a focus on STEM subjects, including the development of the University of Chester Medical School, a new Institute for Sustainability and Food Innovation, and acting as a key component of the North West Net Zero programme. While remaining anchored in and an integral part of the local community, the University also has an eye to its national and international position overseen by a new, ambitious leadership team.

Role specification

  • The Council’s membership is comprised of both Foundation Members (i.e. practising members of a church which is a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland) and Non-Foundation Members. There are seven co-opted Foundation Members and seven co-opted Non-Foundation Members, who are people who have experience in the professions, commercial, industrial or educational life. Foundation and Non-Foundation Members are of equal standing and applications are welcome from candidates who would be Non-Foundation or Foundation members.

  • Council Members share ultimate and collective responsibility for all the transactions of the University, although they are not engaged in its day-to-day management and operation. Members determine the University’s educational character, mission, vision and values, overseeing its activities and contributing to the development and approval of the corporate plan, and other plans and policies deriving from it.

  • New appointments to the University Council are key to the continued success of the University as the governing body plays a significant and active role in the University’s development.

Person specification

  • This is an exciting opportunity to join the Council of the University of Chester and play a significant and important role in ensuring that the University achieves its vision. Candidates should have the ability to challenge and join constructive debates of competing viewpoints. All applicants must have experience of operating at a senior level in their chosen field, and will be able to guide, challenge and influence senior individuals.

  • The University is proud of its richly diverse student community, and wants its Council to represent this. It particularly welcomes applicants from groups currently under-represented on the Board, including ethnic minorities; and individuals from varied socio-economic backgrounds. All Council Members must have a commitment to the University’s mission, vision and foundational values and to observe the highest standards of conduct in corporate governance in exercising their responsibilities in line with the Nolan principles. While applications are welcome from those of all faiths and none, candidates will be comfortable with the University's Christian foundations and principles.

Terms of appointment

  • This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. University Council meetings normally last around three hours while Committee meetings last around two hours. Much of the work of the Council is discharged by its committees, and it is anticipated that members will join one Committee from amongst Planning & Resources; Academic Governance & Student Outcomes; Audit & Risk Management (subject to vacancies and skills etc).

  • The minimum requirement of a Member is to attend the three meetings of the University Council annually (venue may be online or distributed in person between the various university sites), an annual strategic planning conference with senior staff, which allows more time to be devoted to in-depth examination and discussion of relevant strategic issues, and meetings of one or more Committees to which they may be appointed. Including preparation for meetings and University events, the time commitment could amount to 7-10 days per year.