Welcome to Leeds Met leading beyond boundaries
Thank you for your interest in Leeds Met’s search for other leaders to join our university. Whether your future is as a dean, a professor, an associate dean or a super-administrator, we are looking for those who have the commitment, attitude and talent to make a difference as we pursue our governors’ vision of striving to become a world-class regional university. Momentum has been generated by our pioneering regional university network, our partnerships, the way we are transforming the landscape of lifelong learning and the latest news of increasing applications arising from our distinctive 'low-charging, high impact' approach. Please contact us if you wish to join Leeds Met at such an exciting time.
While there will be widespread understanding of the terms ‘dean’ and ‘associate dean’, those who have not been following Leeds Met’s progress might welcome some explanation of 'running streams’ and ‘Met Office’. Both can be found in my inaugural lecture, Beyond Boundaries, which is easily accessed on our website.
In referring to 'running streams', I was adopting and adapting a point made in the nineteenth century inaugural lecture of the first principal of Owens College, the forerunner of some great northern universities. Universities need to be refreshed by running streams. We must not allow stagnation. That is why we have a pan-university approach to staff development and why we also need fresh ideas flowing from the wider world. Much energy comes from our pioneering cultural, sporting and 
educational partnerships. Our running stream professors, appointed following an advertisement two years ago, have been inspirational. We are looking for those who want to have an influence in the whole university and beyond, ranging across research, the curriculum and community engagement.
The Met Office is a term used, for instance, in our governors’ corporate plan for the university, which is also accessible through our website. As the plan indicates, we are taking every opportunity to integrate and streamline our support services. More functions are being taken forward in faculties. Since we are a student-centred university, we do not refer to administrators as ‘the centre’ but rather we regard the student experience in faculties as central. A relatively small team is therefore all we need to help our six faculties but everyone in that team must be adding value by operating at a world-class level. As the appointment of Steve Denton to a pro-vice-chancellorship demonstrates, we will recognise the talents of super-administrators. As the phrase suggests, we are looking for Met Office leaders to make a difference to the ethos, the atmosphere, of our university.
In all cases, we are searching for those who will, in pioneering ways and operating beyond boundaries, help students, colleagues, the university and our partners use our talents to the full.
Professor Simon Lee
Vice-Chancellor
Leeds Metropolitan University