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Robert Gordon University appoints former Dublin City University President as new Principal
23 September 2010
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, has appointed Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski as its new Principal and Vice-Chancellor. Professor von Prondzynski succeeds Professor Mike Pittilo MBE, who passed away in February.
In June of this year Professor von Prondzynski completed a 10-year term as President of Dublin City University (DCU).
Professor von Prondzynski graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, with a BA and an LLB in 1978, and attained a PhD in Law at the University of Cambridge in 1983.
He began his academic career in 1980 as a Lecturer in the School of Business Studies at Trinity College, Dublin, becoming a Fellow in 1987. A move to the University of Hull in 1991 saw Professor von Prondzynski take up posts as Professor of Law, Dean of the Law School, the Jean Monnet Professor of European Social Law and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He left Hull in 2000 to take up the Presidency of DCU.
During his time at DCU, Professor von Prondzynski led a number of strategic developments including a significant growth in research income (from about £3 million in 2000 to nearly £40 million in 2009), major campus investment and development, and positioning DCU as a major contributor to Ireland’s global knowledge economy and society. He initiated a number of major partnership projects with industry, and also the establishment of the DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship (funded by the late Ryanair founder, Dr Tony Ryan). As a result, DCU rose 21 places in the /Times Higher Education/ World Rankings in two years (from 300 in 2007, to 279 in 2009).
He is an international authority on employment and commercial law, and is an active commentator on academic and social issues through the media and his blog (universitydiary.wordpress.com), now Ireland’s most widely read blog.
Professor von Prondzynski has published widely in the field of industrial relations and employment law, co-authoring the first academic textbook on Irish employment law.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor von Prondzynski said, “I am delighted to be taking up this exciting appointment. Robert Gordon University has been one of higher education’s major success stories and is widely recognised for the excellence of its programmes and for its capacity to respond to the needs of students and of the wider society.
“It is an ambitious university with a desire to make a significant contribution to regional and national needs. We intend to lead the way during the current period of change in higher education.”
The Chairman of Robert Gordon University’s Board of Governors, Dr Melfort Campbell, said, “The Board of the University is delighted to have appointed a new Principal and Vice-Chancellor with an outstanding reputation and record for strategic leadership and success. Professor von Prondzynski’s leadership, combined with the accolade of Sunday Times ‘Best Scottish University 2010’ which we have recently received, will enable us to strengthen our position further as one of the best Universities in the UK – ‘the Professional University’ – thus building on our continuing reputation for teaching and learning excellence, graduate-type employability, applied research and business engagement.”
It is expected that Professor von Prondzynski will take up his post in March 2011.