Robin Middlehurst
Professor
Vice-Chancellor's Office
r.middlehurst@kingston.ac.uk
Robin Middlehurst was appointed as Professor of Higher Education at Kingston University in July 2007. From May 1st 2004, she has also been on half-time secondment to the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE) as Director of Strategy, Research and International. In the LFHE, she has commissioned a large-scale programme of research for the higher education sector on aspects of leadership, management and governance in higher education. She is also leading the development and implementation of the Foundation's international strategy which supports the internationalisation agenda of the UK higher education sector.
Robin's personal areas of research, teaching and consultancy are concerned with the nature and impact of change in higher education policy and practice with a particular focus on:
- leadership and leadership development
- governance and management
- quality assurance and enhancement at national and international levels
- ‘borderless higher education' and international HE strategy
Robin's career has spanned research and teaching contracts at the University of Surrey and the Institute of Education, University of London. Her research at this time focused on leadership and leadership development in universities and subsequently, quality in higher education.
Building on her research track record, she joined the national policy agency for quality in higher education, the Higher Education Quality Council (now QAA), first as Assistant Director and subsequently Director of the Quality Enhancement Group from 1994-1998. Here she directed a major national research and development programme on academic standards in the UK. She returned to the University of Surrey as Director of the Centre for Continuing Education in 1998 where she was awarded a personal Chair in higher education.
In 2000, she led a significant research project on Borderless Higher Education and on the basis of the report's recommendations, UniversitiesUK and the Association of Commonwealth Universities' jointly established the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, a global strategic information service for higher education leaders. Robin was invited to join their Advisory Board in 2005.
Research work undertaken at the University of Surrey on leadership and leadership development in the higher education sector has ultimately contributed to the establishment of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. Robin's research has also led to her direct engagement in leadership development work: she co-directs the successful Top Management Programme for Higher Education and contributes to leadership development programmes for a number of UK universities. She is invited to undertake consultancy and research work for national and international organisations including UNESCO, OECD, UUK, SCOP and the UK funding bodies.
Robin has taught at all levels of education from primary to adult and higher education; she also has a background in social and youth work.
View a list of Robin's recent publications.
