Professor Tim Blackman steps down as Vice-Chancellor at The Open University

Posted on 29 October 2024 • University news

Professor Tim Blackman has today announced that he is stepping down from his role as Vice-Chancellor at The Open University earlier than planned so that he can focus on his cancer treatment. The decision was confirmed this morning in an email to colleagues at the University from Chair Malcolm Sweeting, who had previously shared news of Professor Blackman’s cancer diagnosis earlier in the year.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Josie Fraser, has agreed to become Interim Vice-Chancellor with immediate effect and with the full support of the Vice Chancellor’s Executive, the Council and the joint appointment committee of Senate and Council. Professor Fraser will hold the interim VC role until the arrival of our next substantive Vice-Chancellor, a period which may extend into the summer of 2025.

Professor Blackman said:

“Serving this extraordinary institution, first as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor and then as Vice-Chancellor, has been one of the greatest honours of my professional life. The Open University’s mission to make education accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance, has always inspired me, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. While my time as Vice Chancellor is coming to an unexpected close, I remain confident that the university will continue to flourish and grow. Thank you for allowing me the privilege to be a part of this remarkable journey.”

Malcolm Sweeting said:

“I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to Tim from everyone at the OU for his dedication and leadership over the last five years. Tim led the University through many complex and challenging developments: the Covid pandemic; ensuring the financial sustainability of the university in a challenging period for the whole sector; prioritising the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion; and the sector-leading transfer of Associate Lecturers to permanent contracts.”

Professor Blackman has also been closely engaged with the UK government, helping to shape thinking around higher education and skills, utilising the OU’s unique ability to support further education and initiating with the other nation governments PolicyWISE, which has built on our unique identity as a four nations university.

At a local level, his engagement with Milton Keynes City Council saw the renewal of MK:Smart, a major programme initiated when he was previously a PVC at the OU, and the exploration of face-to-face teaching in Milton Keynes as part of a broader strategic exercise. Professor Blackman’s term also saw the OU achieve a Gold award in the national Teaching and Excellence Framework, building on excellent National Student Survey results; a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the OpenSTEM Labs; being shortlisted twice for Times Higher University of the Year; and the growth of microcredentials and higher technical qualifications.

The Open University plans to find the right opportunities to celebrate Professor Blackman’s achievements both across his ten years at the OU and throughout his 44-year career in higher education and research, once his treatment has concluded.