Professor Sean Wellington is Interim Vice-Chancellor. Prior to this role, he was Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, having joined Middlesex University in 2019 as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Science and Technology. Previously, Sean worked at Oxford Brookes University where he held senior leadership roles including Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience). He has led on the development of innovative new partnership activity and worked closely with the further education sector. Sean has served as an External Governor of two general Further Education (FE) colleges and is currently a Trustee and Chair of Colindale Communities Trust (CCT) and a Trustee of WorldSkills UK.
Since beginning his career in the engineering industry, initially as an Apprentice, Sean has held teaching, research and leadership positions in three universities and roles with sector bodies including Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Office for Students (OfS). Sean was appointed to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Panel, with responsibility for carrying out the 2023 TEF assessments.
Sean has taught a range of subjects in engineering and computing over more than thirty years. He is a thought leader on engineering education and led a review of the Engineering Council standard used for the accreditation of engineering degree programmes. The standard, AHEP Edition 4, better reflects the crucial role that engineers play in tackling societal concerns such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and there is a new expectation that graduates will adopt an inclusive approach to engineering practice and recognise the importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion.
In his role as the Interim Vice-Chancellor, Sean leads the University's diverse and innovative community, including staff, students and partners in an outstandingly collaborative and inclusive culture.
As the Accountable Officer to the Office for Students, Sean has responsibility for:
Sean is the University's principal representative in articulating the University’s interests and needs to the wider world. He also plays an important role in representing Middlesex University to government, businesses, funders and to national, global and local stakeholders.
An important part of Sean's role is to deliver our University Mission and Strategic Plan to be a global university, operating at new levels of accessibility, working in new forms of partnership and developing new understandings of the world through which our growing community can influence it for the good.
Sean shapes the strategic direction of the University in partnership with the Board of Governors and is accountable to the Chair of the Board of Governors. Sean is also a full member of the Board of Governors.
All members of the University Executive Team report to Sean as the Interim Vice-Chancellor.
