Shirley Atkinson, the interim vice-chancellor of the University of Sunderland, has been handed the job on a permanent basis.

Ms Atkinson, Sunderland¡¯s former deputy vice-chancellor, had been running the institution since Peter Fidler took on the newly created role of president in September. She joined Sunderland in 2008 after a career in the public and private sectors, most recently as a director of North East transport provider Nexus.

She said it was an ¡°honour¡± to be appointed vice-chancellor and will take on her new post with immediate effect.

¡°Our academic community, alongside their research and practice, work closely with students and industry partners to ensure programmes are relevant and current and our students enjoy excellent teaching,¡± Ms Atkinson said. ¡°Our aim is for graduates to have the confidence, thinking capability, creativity, curiosity and adaptability to become the leaders of tomorrow.¡±

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Paul Callaghan, chair of the board of governors at Sunderland, said Ms Atkinson was ¡°without doubt the right person to lead the university¡±.

¡°Since taking up the interim vice-chancellor post last September, Shirley has shown all the qualities demanded of someone in this role,¡± Mr Callaghan said. ¡°The board has no doubt whatsoever that the future of this excellent university is in the best possible hands.¡±

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Several other UK higher education institutions have announced female leaders in recent months. These include Soas, University of London (Baroness Amos); the University of Derby (Kathryn Mitchell); the University of Salford (Helen Marshall); the University of Brighton (Debra Humphris); and the University of Oxford (Louise Richardson).

Professor Fidler will serve as Sunderland¡¯s president until next January, when he will retire from the university.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com