The University of Birmingham’s provost is set to become the next vice-chancellor of the University of Surrey.

Stephen Jarvis has been appointed to lead the institution, replacing Max Lu, who has returned to Australia to take over at the University of Wollongong.

Jarvis, a computer scientist who helped found the Alan Turing Institute, has served as provost and vice-principal at Birmingham since 2023 after joining the university in 2020 as its pro vice-chancellor and head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

He previously worked at the University of Warwick as deputy pro vice-chancellor with responsibility for research.

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Announcing the new job, Jarvis said he was “deeply honoured” to accept the role. “Although the sector faces significant challenges, Surrey, with its triple excellence in research, teaching and student experience, coupled with a strong international outlook, is especially well placed to play a key role in developing and implementing solutions to global challenges, while equipping its students to be the leaders of the future.”

Jarvis will seek to build on the work of Lu, who oversaw a tumultuous eight years at Surrey including the Brexit negotiations, Covid pandemic and current financial crisis in the English sector. 

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The Chinese-born chemical engineer launched Innovate Surrey, a business focused on commercialising academic research through licensing and spin-outs.

He also expanded the university’s presence abroad, initiating plans to open an Indian campus in Gift City in additional to its long-established joint campus in China. 

Speaking to ̽����Ƶ before his departure, Lu said Surrey was considering opening another joint campus in China, as well as mulling other options in Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

Tim Dunne, who has served as Surrey’s interim vice-chancellor since Lu left in May, offered his congratulations to Jarvis and said his “reputation as a thoughtful and strategic leader is well established across the sector”.

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Charlie Geffen, the chair of Surrey’s council, said they had been impressed “not only by his scholarly distinction and ability to unite academic excellence with real-world impact but also by his deep understanding of Surrey’s culture and potential”. 

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com