women in business 19 Championing women in the workplace


As vice chancellor and chief executive of Bucks New University, Professor Ruth Farwell is a role model for future generations of young women. Heading an organisation with a turnover of just over £60 million and around 9,000 students, she is passionate about career opportunities for women in the workplace. The Business Magazine found time in her busy schedule to discover more


What were your own ambitions when you were younger?


I went to an all-girls grammar school and although I was academically successful, I was never encouraged to see myself as a high flier. When I was young, I thought I wanted to be a maths teacher but the careers advice and information was almost non-existent. We were not made aware of the opportunities a university education could bring, in fact fewer than 10 girls in my year went on to higher education, which was outrageous given the potential that many had.


Tell us about your own career path


I chose maths simply because I was good at it; I did a maths degree and was very fortunate because a research grant allowed me to study for my PhD in applied mathematics and then go on to postdoctoral research at Imperial College. I then had to decide between continuing in research or in the teaching side of higher education. I took the lecturing option and then the management route to progress through the ranks.


You joined Bucks New University in 2006, what attracted you to the role?


In my previous roles, I made no secret of the fact I wanted to head my own institution and was encouraged to think that was realistic. When the opportunity at Bucks arose it really appealed, I could see the University had many strengths, it was doing a lot of good work with local employers and had a solid base to build on. There was much potential and the opportunity for a challenge, its heart was in the right place and it still is, with a strong focus on doing a good job for students, which is most important.


Name some of your highlights


Achieving university status in 2007 was hugely important, it was one of the things I was appointed to do.


I’ve managed a


lot of change during my time here, we’ve invested in new buildings, infrastructure and resources, and there have been wide-ranging initiatives for students, all of which have resulted in a significant increase over time in applications. been important for me to give people


It’s THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MARCH 2013


Is there a glass ceiling for women in the workplace?


You generally find that the number of women decreases as seniority rises, and I think in part that’s because when senior appointments are made, people tend to look for others in a similar mould to themselves. Until we have more women at a senior level and on the boards that appoint senior people, it will always be a struggle. I think businesses could do more to encourage women to climb the career ladder by being more flexible in the workplace, perhaps by taking a less rigid and sometimes macho approach to the number of hours they work and recognising broader skills that women can bring.


Can universities do more to encourage women to aspire to senior roles?


different ways to access education and I’ve given a lot of thought to what kind of university I wanted this to be.


What’s a typical day?


Lots of meetings, not just at the University but also through my role with regional business organisations. Reviewing the vision for local economic growth and considering how the University can engage and help businesses through improving employability is key. There’s also a national dimension to my role because I’m involved with a number of higher education organisations on their boards.


You are passionate about women in business, what’s the gender make-up of your own team?


When I joined, I was the only woman on the University’s governing body, the Council, but with my influence that’s changed, and we’ve taken positive action to encourage more women and bring in a wider range of skills. Now half our board is female; two out of five of my senior leadership team are women, 57% of our next tier of management is female and 62% of our middle managers are women. These are encouraging steps with which to move forward.


I’d like to see leadership and management skills embedded in the curriculum for all students, making them more aware of the issues and challenges they are likely to face as they progress their careers. As a woman, you also have a role to play in spotting and encouraging potential, talking to students about what it is like to be a leader, helping them see how they can accentuate the tools in their own personal toolbox to find the right leadership style for them to succeed.


What would you like your legacy to be?


For me it’s about the University being seen as a place where people can thrive.


It’s


creating an environment where everyone, both the students and the staff, are fully engaged and we are meeting the needs of the local community and employers. very special place.


It’s a Details:


Bucks New University 0800-056-5660 www.bucks.ac.uk


www.businessmag.co.uk


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