Congratulations to Professor Alexander Betts, who has taken on a new role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, Sport and Community within the University.
In the new role, Professor Betts will be responsible for strategic leadership of the University's local, national, and global engagement work, as well as its sports strategy.
The role builds on his work over the last two years as the University's Local and Global Engagement Officer within the Vice-Chancellor's Office, as well as his work as Chair of the University's sport strategy committee. Professor Betts is also Leopold Muller Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs at the RSC.
Professor Betts will be working on implementation of the 'Leading through Partnership' aspect of the University's new 2025-30 strategy.
“I am delighted to take up the new role”, Professor Betts said. “It represents an opportunity to strengthen the many ways in which the University collaborates to address major societal challenges locally, nationally, and globally.
Close to home, we're striving to improve our relationship with communities across the city and the county. We want the University to be an inclusive and welcoming space for local residents, and to share our expertise and facilities wherever possible. Oxfordshire has high levels of inequality, and we're eager to support opportunities for young people across the county, whether through our schools partnerships, building bridges through sport and culture, or through community-engaged research.
At the national and global levels, I will be supporting our colleagues to ensure our research, education, and innovation activities have the greatest possible impact on policy and practice, while continuing to guide our work as a University of Sanctuary and our response to conflict and crisis situations.
I am also thrilled that this will be the first time we have had a PVC for sport, and my main aim will be to support the development of our sports facilities for the benefit of students, staff, and the wider community.”
Professor Betts also oversees the work of the University's international office, major partnerships such as the Oxford-Berlin Research Partnership and collaborates closely with the Policy Engagement, and Public and Community Engagement with Research Teams.
To find out more about the University’s local engagement work, read their new report, Beyond Town and Gown: Towards a More Inclusive Oxford'.