Vice-Chancellor delighted to be elected as Vice-Chair on Association of Commonwealth Universities Council
The University of Chester’s Vice-Chancellor has been elected to join a renowned council which brings together university leaders from across the Commonwealth.
Professor Eunice Simmons joins The Association of Commonwealth Universities Council as Vice-Chair. The ACU is the world’s longest-established international university network, with a shared commitment to build a better world through international collaboration in higher education.
The Vice-Chancellor will work alongside ACU Council Chair Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, on the Road to 2030 project which aims to strengthen higher education, support sustainable development and connect engaged leaders.
Professor Simmons has, during her time at Chester, initiated the Citizen Student strategy, enabling students to develop well beyond their course expertise, and she is deeply involved in regional and national skills and employability projects to support the ‘good growth agenda’.
She is a founding member of Defra’s Expert Committee on Forest Science and first Chair of the national charity TASO: Transforming Access and Student Outcomes. Since 2020, she has supported the dissemination of its impactful research and knowledge exchange relevant to all universities.
The Vice-Chancellor was also recognised for sector leadership in education for sustainable development by the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges, and is proud to be the current Chair of Mersey Forest Partnership. This outstanding community forest leads on a UK government ‘Trees for Climate’ project and works with regional partners to improve the lives of 2.5 million people.
Professor Simmons said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to support the ACU’s important work in convening global expertise across its membership to address the shared challenges and opportunities that we face in Commonwealth higher education.”
Other new Council members are Professor Emily Achieng Akuno, Vice-Chancellor at Jaramogi Odinga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Kenya; Professor Grant Edwards, Vice-Chancellor at Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University in New Zealand; and Dr Dinesh Surroop, Director-General at the Open University of Mauritius.
Professor Amfo said: “I am pleased to welcome our new Council members, whose skills and experience will support the effective governance of the ACU and help us to deliver our strategic plan, the Road to 2030.”
Professor Colin Riordan CBE, Secretary General and Chief Executive of the ACU, added: “The ACU Council plays an essential role in ensuring that we can continue to make a difference to higher education across the Commonwealth. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that our new Council members will make through their diverse experience, skills and cross-Commonwealth connections.”
The ACU Council is made up of vice-chancellors from across the Commonwealth, each of whom has been nominated and elected by their peers within the ACU membership network. The new members will each serve for a period of three years until July 31, 2029.