Professor Patrick McGhee is new chair of million+

The university think-tank million+ has elected Professor Patrick McGhee, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London (UEL) as its new chair. Professor McGhee will take up the role from 1 May 2012 and replaces Professor Les Ebdon who stood down in February following his appointment as the next Director of the Office for Fair Access (Offa).

Professor McGhee is a Chartered Psychologist and a graduate of Glasgow and Oxford universities. He is the only Vice-Chancellor in the UK to also be a National Teaching Fellow and is a member of the Hefce Committee on Teaching, Quality and the Student Experience.

Professor McGhee said “I am delighted and honoured to have been elected as the Chair of million+. I would like to pay tribute to the work of Les Ebdon who ensured that million+ is an important and independent voice for higher education with a strong reputation for analysis and advocacy. Governments and politicians need this evidence-base if they are to maximise the potential contribution of all students and universities to society and the economy.

“This role will be particularly important over the next few years as we face the challenges of rising to meet the aspirations of millions of students and their families, the opportunities of the global demand for UK higher education and the impact of funding changes on the sector.”