Having been appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor of the College of Physical Sciences & Engineering five years ago, Professor Holford is now undertaking her final week in the role.<\/p>\n
It is \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d, she insists \u2013 her diary includes completing her Performance Development Reviews, interaction with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), a presentation on professorial leadership and a \u201cperk of the job\u201d in the form of a reception for respective football teams of Cardiff University and the University of Leuven.<\/p>\n
She says she will \u201cmiss the leadership role in the College”, which comprises seven Schools \u2013 including the School of Engineering, where she completed her doctorate in 1987 and began her career as a lecturer in 1990.<\/p>\n
However, Professor Holford was keen to stress that she will not sever those links entirely; as part of her portfolio she will remain an active researcher in the field of acoustic emission for damage detection in aircraft and other structures.<\/p>\n
In her wider role as Pro-Vice Chancellor, she says that her proudest achievement is \u201cenabling people to shine\u201d, adding that she is proud of both \u201cthe research we have produced as a College and the students that have gone on to thrive in their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
A passionate advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), Professor Holford also co-authored the Welsh Government\u2019s \u2018Talented Women for a Successful Wales\u2019 report.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a tangible improvement in both perception and situation with regards to gender equality,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s no longer considered unusual for women to study maths or science; in fact it\u2019s now considered to be \u201ccool.\u201d It also represents a tremendous advantage in employability terms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin the College, we\u2019ve seen a better gender balance and have been able to recruit and retain talented female leaders in their fields.\u201d<\/p>\n
She plans to use her new role to champion inclusivity more broadly, stating that \u201cpeople are our strongest asset\u201d and that \u201cthe world is moving on and we have a responsibility to create an inclusive environment for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Holford is also realistic about the challenges that lie ahead, and intends to spend her first year \u201cunderstanding the work in Schools outside of mine\u201d and \u201cidentifying the challenges that we have in common as a University.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of these challenges include addressing the changing way that students learn, the balance to be found between being a local University and maintaining a global outlook and the funding shortfall that exists for higher education in Wales. Professor Holford is, however, adamant that Cardiff University is a great place to work and study and that she will work to ensure that people have opportunities to fulfil their potential.<\/p>\n