Professor Paul Boyle starts as the new chair of Jisc

Professor Paul Boyle, vice-chancellor @SwanseaUni took up chairmanship @Jisc on 21 May, 2021  

Professor Paul Boyle, vice-chancellor (VC) of Swansea University, has taken over as the new chair of the UK’s technology body for tertiary education, Jisc.   

With a strong background in social science and research, Boyle has been VC at Swansea since 2019 and prior to this was president and VC of the University of Leicester. 

Previously, Boyle was chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council, the international champion of Research Councils UK, and president of Science Europe. 

Prof Boyle says: 

“I am very pleased to be joining Jisc at this critical time for the higher and further education sectors. 

“The digital platforms that underpin our educational and research needs have never been more important, and the opportunity for Jisc to build upon its longstanding reputation is clear.  

“The breadth of expertise at Jisc is impressive, including the provision of cloud services, cyber security protection, student analytics, championing open access, and much more. 

“I am looking forward to seeing how the vision for Jisc will be shaped, as the reality of more blended virtual learning and research environments will become the new norm.” 

Boyle’s appointment was confirmed in December 2020 and, following an induction programme, officially took the reins as chair on 21 May, 2021.  

Boyle, who has been a Jisc trustee since January 2021, succeeds Professor David Maguire as Jisc chair. Maguire, who is a higher education consultant following several university leadership roles, has helped steer Jisc through a period of great change during his six-year tenure. 

Prof Maguire says: 

“Paul Boyle inherits a robust, forward-thinking organisation of which I am extraordinarily proud. 

“I have great admiration for the skilled and hard-working staff at Jisc and it has been rewarding to work with a succession of very able and committed trustees. 

“Together, they have moved decisively to support the sector with a number of major developments over recent years. Among them is the upgrading of the Janet Network and extra cyber security measures to protect its users, an expansion of digital resources provision and the creation of the world’s first national learning analytics shared service. 

“In parallel, Jisc has broadened its offering through mergers with Eduserv, HECSU/Graduate Prospects and the business development function in HESA. 

“During 2020, Jisc led from the front with research projects for higher and further education, which have helped members through the pandemic and will help steer them towards profound digital transformation.”