Bill has decided after seven years to explore new advisory/consultancy opportunities in the HE sector and beyond.

Bill Rammell joined the University as Vice-Chancellor in September 2012. Prior to that he was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Plymouth University where he was responsible for the student experience and internationalisation.

Bill was MP for Harlow from 1997 to 2010. He was Minister of State for Further and Higher Education in the Labour Government and also served as Minister of State for the Foreign Office and Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

With a commitment to widening access to higher education that is rooted in personal, academic and government experience, Bill led the University's mission to deliver the best possible student experience for an international learning community. He is passionate about the University's record and role in transforming lives, promoting employability and world-leading research.

Tim Sawyer, Chair of the Governing Body said: “We understand Bill’s desire to pursue new challenges. Bill joined the University to enhance the University’s standing, and to prepare the University for a rapidly changing higher education environment. His strategy for widening participation and his international ambitions for the University have ensured its financial stability and recent success. Bill has championed the student experience, and grown partnerships and student recruitment. The University is now in the Global rankings and was awarded a Silver in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF).

“We are thankful to him for his contribution to and passion for the University of Bedfordshire and for developing a network of local and international delivery partners. 

“Our strategy and ambitions are clear, and we will ensure a smooth transition to his successor next year, who will continue our exciting transformation journey.”

In a message to staff and students today, Bill Rammell said: “It has been an honour to work with such gifted and committed staff, whose public impact locally, nationally and internationally increases every year. I am very proud to have served Bedfordshire as the Vice-Chancellor for the last 7 years. This has been a very difficult decision but after seven successful years leading one organisation, I have decided to pursue new opportunities advising and consulting in the HE sector and beyond, which excites me.

“During my tenure the University has become a top 10 university for improving the student experience, we became the 2nd most improved University in research rankings, and we have greatly expanded partnerships and student recruitment at a time when other universities like ours have been cutting back. More than anything we have championed widening access to Higher Education and delivered life changing opportunity. I am extremely proud of this and the superb team of staff I have led in achieving this.”

“It has been an extremely hard decision to leave the staff and students, but the University is now financially sound, the new STEM building and other structural work is complete, and the University has a strong network of international partners which supports and contributes to the home campus. Therefore I do feel that what I wished to achieve has been completed and it now time to hand over to someone else for the next stage of the University journey.”

The formal appointment process for a successor as Vice-Chancellor will commence immediately.