Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive

Professor Rebecca Bunting took office as Vice Chancellor at the University of Bedfordshire in October 2020, following her position as Interim Vice Chancellor since January 2020. Prior to that she was formerly the Vice Chancellor at Bucks New University.

Professor Bunting is a founding director of the Higher Education Academy and of its successor organisation, Advance HE. She is also the Chair of a number of national HE committees for learning and teaching, and widening participation.

She has conducted research and published in the field of children’s language and literacy development, educational linguistics and pedagogy.

She graduated from Girton College, University of Cambridge with a degree in English Literature and took postgraduate qualifications at London University. She began her career teaching in London comprehensive schools, moving into higher education as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Roehampton.

She later became Dean of Education at Anglia Ruskin University and Pro-Rector at the University of Northampton. From there she moved to the University of Portsmouth in 2004 as Pro Vice Chancellor and from 2007 as Deputy Vice Chancellor.