The University of Portsmouth is proud to be bold, not old. A top three modern university for research power, it has embraced change to create a new breed of university, where collaboration and partnership underpin the way in which it works. It is based in the centre of Portsmouth, a bustling and diverse city with a strong maritime tradition and an equally strong sense of place and community. In 1992, after a decade as one of the largest and best performing polytechnics in the UK, it out-grew its old name and received university status. With 4000 staff and 28000 students including 5700 international students from around 150 countries, the University has a vibrant community. The University's international profile, presence and reputation is growing all the time and has a network of regional offices in 78 countries, and academic partnerships across Europe, America, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. The University comprises five faculties, each with their own schools and departments: the Faculty of Business and Law, the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Health and the Faculty of Technology.

Across the last decade and a half, the University has been investing in all areas, improving its campus and services along the way. It has invested £400m in its estate masterplan and recently completed its new £57m Ravelin Sports Centre, which has been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating from BREEAM UK, the world’s leading sustainability assessment for buildings. In 2017, it opened a new £12m Future Technology Centre (FTC) and in 2014 a new wing of the Eldon Building officially opened after a £14m investment, bringing new facilities for the creative arts – including a 200-seat cinema-quality screening room and creative studios. The 2022 National Student Survey of final year undergraduates put it in the top 40 for students’ satisfaction with their university experience. It also offers bursaries and hardship funds for students who need financial support to get the best from their university experience and offered £4.3m in student financial support in 2021/2022.

It is one of only four universities in the South East of England to have achieved a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework. As part of its many accolades, the University has been ranked a top 3 university in the UK for research power, which measures the quality and quantity of research submitted into the exercise. QS World University Rankings gave the University 5 stars for teaching, employability, internationalisation, facilities, arts and culture, and inclusiveness. In addition, the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings recognised it as one of the UK’s best universities established during the last 50 years.

One of the University's strategic priorities is to become one of the UK's leading universities in environmental sustainability and it's aiming to become a climate-positive university by 2030. With many projects such as Revolution Plastics and the Centre for Enzyme Innovation as well as the Centre for Blue Governance, the University is leading the path in terms of research in environmental sustainability. As it looks forward, the University of Portsmouth's ambition is to grow its profile as a truly global institution with a diverse international community, and a track record of worldwide collaboration in research, teaching and innovation. It's an incredibly exciting time for the University, as it works towards its strategic aim to be the top modern university in the UK and one of the top 100 young universities in the world by 2030.

Structure and Organisation of the University

University Governance:

The Chair of the Board of Governors is David Willan. The Board of Governors has up to 21 members and meets at least five times each year. In addition there is a strategy day once a year and this meeting follows an informal structure.

The Board of Governors has established the following committees:

• Audit and Quality Committee
• Infrastructure and Finance Committee
• People, Culture and Engagement Committee
• Nominations Committee
• Remuneration Committees

Responsibilities:

• The Board of Governors is responsible for setting the educational character, mission and strategic vision of the University. Governors work with the Vice Chancellor and Executive to ensure the University’s success in a rapidly changing and competitive higher education environment.
• The Board monitors performance against core objectives and oversees the effective and efficient use of resources by providing appropriate support, guidance and constructive challenge to the Vice Chancellor and the Executive.
• Governors are expected to represent and promote the University externally with key stakeholders. The role is voluntary and unpaid, but Governors can reclaim travel and subsistence at University rates.

This is a time of significant change for higher education and the University of Portsmouth is seeking new Governors to join its Board at this exciting time. The new Governors will provide strong governance, advice and act as a critical friend to the Board of Governors and Executive team on various matters relating to their specialism and more widely.

Due to rotation on the Board and end of tenure, the University of Portsmouth is looking for new Governors with significant leadership experience in at least one of the following areas: finance and investments, audit and risk, property and estates, IT, EdTech, social media and / or digital marketing, as well as ESG / sustainability. Individuals will have operated at senior strategic levels in business, the public or voluntary sectors and in organisations of similar sizes (or larger) and complexity. They will bring excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Though non-executive experience can be beneficial, it is not a requirement for these roles but candidates will bring an understanding of the nuances between a governance role and the one of an executive role.

Above all, Governors are expected to have a strong personal commitment to education and the aims and objectives of the University. They will be aligned to the values of the University: to be ambitious, open and responsible. As opportunities to become Chair, Deputy Chair as well as Committee Chair will arise over the coming years, the University is also interested in individuals who would consider taking one of these roles in the future.

To find out more about the Board of Governors, please see here. 

There are five Board meetings per year and two to six Sub-Committee meetings (depending on the Committee you join). There will be one annual strategy day along with ad hoc engagement and events. All new governors are offered the option of a three or four year term of office when they join the Board and Governors can serve for two terms to the maximum total length of service of eight years. There is an expectation that a Governor would serve at least one term of office. The Board meetings will be held in person. The Audit & Quality Committee, Infrastructure & Finance Committee and the People Culture and Engagement Committee are all in person meetings, although occasionally Governors can dial into these meetings virtually. The Nominations and the Remuneration Committees meetings are held virtually. Membership of the Governing Body is not remunerated, but Governors can reclaim travel and subsistence at University rates if they wish.

The University is open to where individuals are based as long as they are in the UK and can come to meetings in person.

The University of Portsmouth is focused on building an inclusive culture: different voices, one community that makes a positive difference to the lives and experiences of its students and staff. As an equal opportunities employer, the University of Portsmouth welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons and all appointments will be made on merit. The University would particularly welcome applications from younger individuals, those from under-represented minority groups and from various socio-economic backgrounds to ensure the Board reflects its community.