Tim Jones, University of Liverpool

Describe yourself in three words or phrases.

Innovative, inclusive and ambitious for the success of the university.

What do you like most about your job?

Working with fabulous people. I mean, universities are full of fabulous, talented people – students and staff – and it’s an honour and a pleasure to work with so many talented individuals. I don’t think there’s any other “business” or sector that has so many talented people and the vibrancy of students. You’ve always got this replenishing flow of young people, and you don’t have that in other organisations. And that’s the joy.

Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.

Our India campus – that’s probably the most exciting thing we’re doing at the moment. I think it’s something of scale, highly ambitious, and in a completely different geography. There are opportunities and challenges, but it’s a really exciting proposition. So yes, it has to be the Indian campus.

What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?

I think there are many things I’m proud of. When I became vice-chancellor nearly three years ago, my aim was to raise the university’s ambition. We launched a new strategy, Liverpool 2031, and I’m particularly proud of how the organisation embraced it. People across the university took that ambition to heart and started doing things differently and more boldly.

It’s not a finished job, there’s still more to do, but seeing widespread support for our direction is encouraging. What this process has reinforced is the importance of communicating, listening, and engaging continuously. There’s always something to learn, and being open to different opinions and adapting as needed is key.

What’s a small daily habit that helps you in your work?

Probably drinking about three cups of coffee quite early in the morning.

What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector over the next few years?

In different parts of the world, the sector is going through different stages of challenge. In India, it’s a time of great excitement because there’s expansion and demand for universities. In some parts of the world, that’s no longer the case. I’d like to see universities respected again, not revered, but respected for what they achieve and the opportunities they provide for students, as well as their economic, social, and cultural impact. There’s been a degradation of that respect over time in many places, and I’d like to see that change.

What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?

We have an annual alumni awards event where we invite nominations from the community and recognise 10–20 award winners. I read out their achievements, and some give speeches. It’s incredibly inspiring to see young people who’ve set up charities or made a real social impact, not just in their careers, but in ways that change lives.

Many come from disadvantaged or modest backgrounds and had mentors early on. Hearing their stories firsthand really reinforces how we do transform students’ lives and reminds me why we do the jobs we do.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?

It’s a fantastic sector. It’s not easy and never will be, and it’s very diverse, but it’s wonderful and precious for countries to have. Be prepared to listen, engage, and do interesting things, and you’ll be overwhelmed by what you see. There are some fantastic things happening, both for students and in research, and it’s a wonderful thing to witness.

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