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View from the Top: Prof. Michael Farthing, vice chancellor, University of Sussex
The University of Sussex had a very good 2008. One of the UK’s leading research universities, Sussex enjoyed an excellent end of year report, with significant performances in a number of rankings, including the Sunday Times University Guide, the UK’s National Student Survey, the Research Assessment Exercise and the Times Higher - QS World University Rankings, where it was placed among the top 20 universities in the UK, the top 50 in Europe and the top 150 in the world.
2008 also marked the first year anniversary of the appointment of new Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, under whose guidance the University has embarked on an ambitious program of change that brings together Sussex’s unique interdisciplinary approach to the world with an eye on international developments in higher education. Professor Farthing says the University already has over 2,000 international students from 120 countries and many of their academics are engaged with international projects. “We believe it is important that we offer prospective international students programs and support that is relevant for their careers. The establishment of our School of Business, Management and Economics, for example, will bring together academics from a range of disciplines to offer new programs in international business and business and law, as well as graduate initiatives in the management of knowledge and innovation, entrepreneurship, financial marketing and intellectual property.”
Particularly known for its work in the fields of development studies, law, physics and, most recently, biological sciences and medicine, Sussex is truly one of the UK’s leading multi-faculty universities.
The University of Sussex was the first of the new wave of UK universities founded in the 1960’s, receiving its Royal Charter in 1961. From its inception, Sussex set out to be different from other universities, with pioneering academic work being undertaken in a range of faculties and a student-centred approach to teaching and research that many alumni recall as both unique and exciting. Particularly known for its work in the fields of development studies, law, physics and, most recently, biological sciences and medicine, Sussex is truly one of the UK’s leading multi-faculty universities.
A distinguished physician and academic, Professor Farthing, is currently the president of the British Society of Gastroenterology and formerly Principal of St George's, University of London and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Medicine for the University of London. He arrived at Sussex with an enviable reputation for leading institutional change and believes that this is a significant part of his role at Sussex. “By their very nature, universities need to change and adapt to the environment in which they operate to meet the needs of their students, their academic and other members of staff, employers, sponsors and governments. As Sussex is focused on the global dimension it means that we perhaps need to be more open to international influences and changes than those in our immediate community, although both are important.”
Developments currently underway at the University of Sussex include a review of internationalisation, with the support and recruitment of international students a particular focus, a campus building initiative that will result in state-of-the-art accommodation being available for international graduate students in 2009/10 and the launch of a range of new masters programs, specifically intended to support international students in their future career paths. Such an atmosphere of change on campus makes Sussex an exciting place to be an international student in 2009.
"The campus is frequently regarded as one of the most beautiful in the UK"
Professor Farthing, whose international experience includes periods in India, Boston and Costa Rica, believes Sussex is an excellent destination for international graduate students. “The campus is frequently regarded as one of the most beautiful in the UK and, being just a short bus ride from Brighton and less than an hour from London on the south coast, adds a dimension to a student’s life that very few other universities can offer. It’s no coincidence that our results from the International Student Barometer consistently rate us as the ‘best place to be’ an international student in the UK.”
