Sir Anthony Seldon to leave the University of Buckingham

Anthony Seldon says: ‘I’m incredibly proud to have led the University for the five years with its really remarkable staff, students and Council.

"Being Vice-Chancellor has been a privilege as well as being a filial piety; 45 years ago, my father, Arthur Seldon was one of those who, along with Margaret Thatcher and Max Beloff, its first Vice-Chancellor, proposed the creation of Buckingham as Britain’s first independent university.

"It has been so stimulating to work with such inspiring and committed colleagues, and the future for the University looks bright indeed. I am delighted that I am leaving behind such an outstanding senior leadership team to help transition the University into its next exciting phase after Covid-19’.

‘I have done much of what I wanted to do at Buckingham, and it is the time for a successor with a fresh vision to take it forward beyond Covid-19 over the next five years. I will be taking a few months off to have a rest after I leave – something I haven’t done since I began my first job - before returning to work at the end of the year, refreshed and reinvigorated’.

The University claims that Sir Anthony oversaw an unprecidented period of success.

They say during his time, the University has expanded its numbers by over 30%.

They also said the univesity had:

- raised more money in donations than in the previous 40 years;

-it has erected major new buildings in Buckingham and at Milton Keynes Hospital;

-it has brought in an entirely new senior leadership team and a new team of academic deans

-it has seen its image and profile transformed;

-it has forged close links with government and stakeholders at local, regional and national levels;

-it has set up the UN Institute, and has been a national pioneer in student wellbeing and positive psychology; and its new Medical School has graduated its first two cohorts of doctors.