New University of Surrey Vice Chancellor: "The aim is to have a leading international university"
We spoke to the new University of Surrey Vice-Chancellor, Stephen Jarvis at the start of his first academic year
The new Vice Chancellor at the University of Surrey has spoken to us at the start of his first academic year in the role.
Stephen Jarvis has moved to the Guildford campus after spending 5 years in Birmingham under various roles.
Professor Jarvis says that he was delighted to be joining the university
"It's absolutely fabulous. Look, it's great to be here and I am absolutely delighted to join the University of Surrey as its sixth Vice-Chancellor."
He describes the University of Surrey as a 'University of Purpose'.
"Well Surrey of course is a university of purpose, purposeful education, providing students with the right skills they need for the workplace.
But also purposeful research as well, solving some of the most difficult challenges today"
Professor Jarvis trained as a computer scientist and is internationally recognised for his contribution to the related fields of high-performance computing, data science and applied artificial intelligence.
Jarvis says that his experience can help support the University of Surrey in it's ambitions.
"I'm a computer scientist by training, and of course, computer science is an underpinning discipline, supporting areas like the creative arts, engineering, medicine, healthcare.
I've also led initiatives in AI, such as the creation of the Alan Turing Institute, the UK's National Institute for Data Science and AI.
I think for me, this should of course support Surrey in its ambitions to be a leading university in education and research by harnessing emerging technology and innovation."
He says that he wants the strengths of the university to be recognised on an international level.
"If I reflect on the great work in satellite communication or 5 or 6G for which the university is very well known, well of course we know about it but the important thing is that people know about it right across the world."
Jarvis told us about which areas of the university excited him the most.
"Of course obviously I'm interested in the technology aspects of the University but also of course there's a new medical school here, new veterinary science school too which of course are extremely impressive.
There's a new sports centre and of course the development of sports science and healthcare are increasingly important too.
So there's much to go at I think and I think one of the other things that appeals to me too is really the underpinning discipline and skills in the creative industries and creative arts and I know there's ways that we can develop that particularly alongside technology and that's something that I'm looking forward to supporting."