Role 
The Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Scholarship and Quality is responsible for the strategic development of research and scholarship across the University's faculties and institutes, and the quality assurance and enhancement of the University's taught programmes.
Key responsibilities include:
- Research strategy and governance
- Innovation and enterprise
- Research grants and contracts
- Research degrees
- Affiliated Research Centres
- Quality assurance and enhancement of taught programmes
- Scholarship strategy and development
- Academic career development
- The Knowledge Media Institute
- The Institute of Educational Technology
- Local and regional relationships
Career
Tim Blackman joined the OU from Durham University where he was Dean of the University's campus in Stockton-on-Tees and Director of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing. A Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, he graduated in Geography and studied at Durham for a PhD in Urban Sociology. He was elected to the Academy of Social Sciences in 2004.
Tim was previously Head of the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham (2005-07), Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Law at the University of Teesside (2000-2004), Deputy Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Law at Oxford Brookes University (1995-2000), and Head of Research at Newcastle City Council (1990-95).
Contact
Professor Tim Blackman
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research, Scholarship and Quality)
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
Email: PVC-RS@open.ac.uk
Anne Benka
Personal Assistant
+44(0)1908 655577