Welcoming our new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)

As we look forward to the development of our new Education Strategy in 2025, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor John Craig as our new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education).

With over 20 years’ experience in academia and a wealth of expertise in leading national teaching and learning initiatives, John joins us from Kingston University, where he currently serves as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education. During his time at Kingston, John led the submission team that secured a TEF Gold rating, has developed promotional routes around teaching and learning, and modernised quality assurance and enhancement processes. In addition, he was co-lead for Kingston University’s Future Skills curriculum transformation project. 

Building on the success of last year’s TEF Gold Award and our recent National Student Survey results, John will play a fundamental role in developing our new education strategy and seek to further improve student recruitment and retention through the provision of attractive and competitive academic programmes.

Ensuring that our education is research informed, John will also identify key opportunities for strategic development of the education portfolio beyond Hull including the London Study Centre, regional education partnerships and opportunities for transnational education.

A message from Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dave Petley

“The higher education sector continues to be a challenging environment, and it is imperative that student recruitment and retention is a priority over the coming year and beyond.

“With John’s leadership, knowledge and valuable expertise, alongside our already very experienced and knowledgeable colleagues, I’m confident that we’ll be extremely well placed to continue developing our education provision, ensuring we offer students attractive, competitive courses that we know they will want to study.

“I very much look forward to working with John as we develop and enhance our academic provision here at Hull."

A message from Professor John Craig

“As someone who is passionate about providing exceptional educational opportunities, inspiring student experiences and high-quality teaching, I’m extremely pleased to be joining the University of Hull at such a transformational time in its strategic development.

“I am very much looking forward to working with our talented staff and students to build on recent TEF and NSS success and develop future opportunities across the University and beyond.”

About Professor John Craig

During his time at Kingston University, John was lead for the submission team that secured a TEF Gold rating, as well as leading the development of promotional routes around teaching and learning, and modernising quality assurance and enhancement processes. In addition, he was co-lead for Kingston Universities Future Skills curriculum transformation project.

Prior to his role at Kingston University much of John’s working life has been spent in universities in the north of England, most recently at Leeds Beckett, where he served as Dean of Social Sciences for seven years. Having earned his doctorate at the University of Leeds, he went on to enjoy leadership roles at the University of Huddersfield and Teesside University, as well as serving as an Open University tutor for 15 years.

John was a member of the TEF Main and Referral Panels in 2022, chaired the review of the QAA Subject Benchmark for Politics and International Relations in 2021/22 and is currently contributing to the re-drafting of the QAA Quality Code. He has also held key roles at the Higher Education Academy between 2011 and 2014, leading national initiatives to enhance teaching and learning.

A politics academic, Professor Craig has been actively involved in the Political Studies Association for more than 20 years, leading its Teaching and Learning Specialist Group and Network, before being appointed as a trustee of the association and being named as the new Vice-Chair this November.

A warm Hull welcome awaits John, who will take up position on Monday 3 March.