'People ought to be proud of Keele'

New boss keen to 'strengthen links'

- Phil Corrigan

KEELE'S new boss says the university remains a 'really attractive' destination for students - despite the challenges currently facing higher education.

Professor Kevin Shakesheff, who has started work as Keele University's new vice-chancellor last week, believes local people ought to be proud of the institution even if they never study there, and he is keen to strengthen links with Newcastle and Staffordshire as a whole.

He arrives at Keele at a difficult time for the university and the higher education sector as a whole, with declining tuition fee income and falling international student recruitment putting a strain on finances. This year members of the University and College Union went on strike as part of a dispute with Keele's management over job cuts aimed at making the university more sustainable.

But Professor Shakesheff, while acknowledging the financial challenges, is optimistic for Keele's future and says the university has a lot going for it, including its 'stunning' campus, high student satisfaction levels and an international reputation for excellence. He is keen for Keele to become more embedded in Staffordshire life, building on its existing links with the local NHS and other employers, and for local people to see how it can benefit them.