Professor Anthony Forster

Biography

In just one sentence

Anthony Forster is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex and is a Professor of Politics and International Relations.

Full details

Anthony has been the Vice-Chancellor since 2012 and is a Professor of Politics and International Relations. He earned his masters degree and doctorate from the University of Oxford. His research focused on European and British foreign and security policy, and for four years Anthony was the Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union. He also chaired the independent government review of the Defence Advisory Notice (D Notice) System, a voluntary system established to limit the inadvertent media disclosure of information where release would pose a risk to life or to national security (2014-15).

Anthony is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a Fellow of the Leadership Foundation in Higher Education. Anthony is also a qualified executive coach and mentor. He has wide experience of non-executive positions within the Higher Education sector, having served as a board member of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, the Higher Education Academy, the Equality Challenge Unit and the Joint Information Systems Committee. He was a founding board member of the Young European Research Universities Network and is board member of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe alliance. Alongside this service to the Higher Education sector, Anthony has longstanding interests in engaging with business and the charity sector. For three years he was a board member of the Strategic Board of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, promoting public and private sector led growth and job creation. For a number of years Anthony served as a board member and Audit Committee Chair of the Blue Cross, an animal charity which provides nationwide support for pet owners who cannot afford private veterinary treatment, helps to find homes for unwanted animals, and educates the public in the responsibilities of animal ownership.

Anthony has 24 years of experience in academic leadership positions in five universities. Under his leadership, the University has re-positioned itself as a values-led organisation, focused on giving equal priority to excellence in education and excellence in research, benefitting individuals and communities. Under his leadership the University has increased student numbers by 50% and doubled the number of research staff. The achievements of the University have been publicly recognised through the highest rating of Gold for teaching excellence, the award of a Regius Professorship in Political Science in 2014, the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for authoritative social and economic research in 2017 and the Times Higher Education ‘University of the Year’ award in 2018 – the latter widely referred to as the Oscars of UK higher education. Anthony has also championed the creation of a 43 acre business and science innovation park, Knowledge Gateway, which has received prestigious UKRI and government recognition as a University Enterprise Zone, one of only 14 in the UK.

Articles by our Vice-Chancellor

• Times Higher Education (February 2021): An interest waiver on student loans would boost intergenerational justice
• The PIE News (February 2019): Interview
• The Guardian (November 2019): As a University leader, I think we can afford a better pensions deal for striking staff
• The Guardian (November 2018): The UK's strength in science is because of the EU – not in spite of it 
• Times Higher Education (November 2018): Three major challenges the University of Essex is confronting
• Times Higher Education (October 2018): Fairness should lie at the heart of any funding reform
• Times Higher Education (June 2018): Young institutions are tailor-made for ambitious projects such as the EU’s plan to create disruptive ‘super-networks’
• Times Higher Education (April 2018): Decisive action is needed to address the gender pay gap
• WONKHE (March 2018): Equally committed to excellence in education and research – “dual intensive” universities
• Times Higher Education (February 2018): Universities must pay more to protect pensions 
• Times Higher Education (September 2016): Postgraduates who teach: an overlooked and undervalued group

The Vice-Chancellor's role

The University Ordinances state that the Vice-Chancellor: ‘shall have a general responsibility to the Council for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of the University.’ He is responsible to the University Council and is an ex officio member of the Council and of the Senate, which he chairs. The Vice-Chancellor also chairs the University Steering Group (USG), the executive leadership team which meets fortnightly during term time and advises the Vice-Chancellor on matters relating to the management of the University.

The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for:

1. Providing academic and administrative leadership and ensuring the good management of the University
2. Developing and evolving the University’s strategy and vision
3. Exercising general oversight of the University’s financial position in order to ensure a sustainable financial base that allows the delivery of the University’s mission, aims and objectives and advising the Resources Committee on the University’s overall financial strategy and its development
4. Playing a leading part in shaping the academic development of the University
5. Promoting and marketing the University locally, nationally and internationally
6. Articulating the University’s needs and interests to government, the funding bodies and research councils
7. Providing leadership and personal commitment to the University’s fundraising activities and fostering strong relationships with alumni
8. Carrying out ceremonial and civic duties

As part of the University’s commitment to equality and diversity within and beyond its community, individual members USG also act as diversity champions in relation to each of the nine protected characteristics. The Vice-Chancellor is one of the University’s sexual orientation diversity champions.