Michael Farthing
Encyclopedia
Professor Michael Farthing is a British academic administrator, physician and medical researcher. He is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex
, having succeeded Professor Alasdair Smith
in September 2007. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor at Sussex, his academic career was in Medicine, specialising in Gastroenterology
. His last post before moving to Sussex was as principal of St George's medical school, University of London
. He is the 2009-10 Chair of the Health and Social Care Policy Committee of Universities UK
.
Since becoming Vice-Chancellor at Sussex, Michael Farthing has led the creation of a new strategic plan for the University - Making the future, which sets out a growth agenda for Sussex, planning to grow its research income, double international student numbers and increase engagement with the business and local community. The plan also puts significant investment into the campus itself, with new academic buildings and residences on campus to support academic growth and to respond to student demand.
The term Making the future draws from a phrase used by the first Vice-Chancellor, Lord Fulton, which said that higher education at Sussex was concerned with making the future.
Michael Farthing has also led a move to greater international activity by the University, personally leading the creation of partnerships with institutions in China. This internationalisation has led to the appointment of a member of the executive specifically to lead this area of University work for the future.
Under his leadership, the University has also been restructured to create 13 schools of studies (beginning in August 2009), including the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. These new schools are headed by leading academics appointed from within the University and from institutions elsewhere.
A regular column in the University's Bulletin sets out his vision for the development of the University. He also holds termly meetings with staff, podcasts of which are available.
Since taking office, Farthing has effectively disbanded the renowned Linguistics Department — a move condemned by Noam Chomsky
as "a serious blow to the intellectual life of the university" — and cut funding to many others. Whilst he is credited for having improved the University's finances, his large-scale culling of academic and other staff initiated in November 2009 has been unpopular, and has provoked strike action
by the UCU
lecturers union and widespread civil disobedience
by students on the campus. In addition to the wide criticism by faculty and students alike of Farthing's proposals, there have also been a number of protests and occupations taking place at the University.
, Cambridge, and St Bartholomew's Hospital
("Barts"), London, specialising in Gastroenterology.
In the early 1980s, Farthing was a Wellcome
Tropical Lecturer and held overseas posts as visiting lecturer and Assistant Professor in India, Boston and Costa Rica, before returning to Barts.
In 1995 he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Barts and The London NHS Trust
. In 2000 he moved to Glasgow before arriving at St George's in 2003.
He has been Honorary Consultant in Gastroenterology
to the British Army
since 1991, and is a member of the Editorial Boards of a number of national and international Gastroenterology journals. He was President of the British Society of Gastroenterology
for 2007-08.
As a member of the Education Committee of the General Medical Council
, Farthing played a part in curriculum planning for the new Medical School
established jointly by the Universities of Hull and York, opened at the same time as the similar establishment
created by Sussex along with the University of Brighton
.
He served as chair of the Committee on Publication Ethics (Cope).
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, having succeeded Professor Alasdair Smith
Alasdair Smith
Alasdair Smith is a professor of economics and former Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sussex and former Chair of the 1994 Group. He is a noted international economist whose studies have been used by the European Union.Smith was born on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland and is married to Sherry...
in September 2007. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor at Sussex, his academic career was in Medicine, specialising in Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster , enteron , and logos...
. His last post before moving to Sussex was as principal of St George's medical school, University of London
St George's, University of London
St George's, University of London is a medical school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He is the 2009-10 Chair of the Health and Social Care Policy Committee of Universities UK
Universities UK
Universities UK began life as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century when there were informal meetings involving Vice-Chancellors of a number of universities and Principals of university colleges...
.
Since becoming Vice-Chancellor at Sussex, Michael Farthing has led the creation of a new strategic plan for the University - Making the future, which sets out a growth agenda for Sussex, planning to grow its research income, double international student numbers and increase engagement with the business and local community. The plan also puts significant investment into the campus itself, with new academic buildings and residences on campus to support academic growth and to respond to student demand.
The term Making the future draws from a phrase used by the first Vice-Chancellor, Lord Fulton, which said that higher education at Sussex was concerned with making the future.
Michael Farthing has also led a move to greater international activity by the University, personally leading the creation of partnerships with institutions in China. This internationalisation has led to the appointment of a member of the executive specifically to lead this area of University work for the future.
Under his leadership, the University has also been restructured to create 13 schools of studies (beginning in August 2009), including the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. These new schools are headed by leading academics appointed from within the University and from institutions elsewhere.
A regular column in the University's Bulletin sets out his vision for the development of the University. He also holds termly meetings with staff, podcasts of which are available.
Since taking office, Farthing has effectively disbanded the renowned Linguistics Department — a move condemned by Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
as "a serious blow to the intellectual life of the university" — and cut funding to many others. Whilst he is credited for having improved the University's finances, his large-scale culling of academic and other staff initiated in November 2009 has been unpopular, and has provoked strike action
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
by the UCU
University and College Union
The University and College Union is a British trade union formed by the merger in 2006 of the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education ....
lecturers union and widespread civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
by students on the campus. In addition to the wide criticism by faculty and students alike of Farthing's proposals, there have also been a number of protests and occupations taking place at the University.
Academic career in medicine
Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor at Sussex, Professor Farthing's academic career was in medicine. A graduate of University College London Medical School, London, he held posts in Addenbrooke's HospitalAddenbrooke's Hospital
Addenbrooke's Hospital is an internationally renowned teaching hospital in Cambridge, England, with strong links to the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1766 on Trumpington Street with £4,500 from the will of Dr John Addenbrooke, a fellow of St Catharine's College...
, Cambridge, and St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
("Barts"), London, specialising in Gastroenterology.
In the early 1980s, Farthing was a Wellcome
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
Tropical Lecturer and held overseas posts as visiting lecturer and Assistant Professor in India, Boston and Costa Rica, before returning to Barts.
In 1995 he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Barts and The London NHS Trust
Barts and The London NHS Trust
Barts and The London NHS Trust is an NHS Trust operating in the City of London and east London.It runs three hospitals:* The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel* St Bartholomew's Hospital in Smithfield in the City...
. In 2000 he moved to Glasgow before arriving at St George's in 2003.
He has been Honorary Consultant in Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster , enteron , and logos...
to the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
since 1991, and is a member of the Editorial Boards of a number of national and international Gastroenterology journals. He was President of the British Society of Gastroenterology
British Society of Gastroenterology
The British Society of Gastroenterology is a British professional organisation of gastroenterologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, scientists, nurses, dietitians and others amongst its members, which number over 3,000. It was founded in 1937, and is a registered charity...
for 2007-08.
As a member of the Education Committee of the General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
, Farthing played a part in curriculum planning for the new Medical School
Hull York Medical School
The Hull York Medical School , is a medical school in England which took its first intake of students in 2003. The school was opened as a part of the British Government's attempts to train more doctors, which also saw Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Peninsula Medical School and University of...
established jointly by the Universities of Hull and York, opened at the same time as the similar establishment
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Brighton and Sussex Medical School is a medical school formed as a partnership of the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex. Like other UK medical schools it is based on the principles and standards of 'Tomorrow's Doctor', an initiative by the General Medical Council outlining the...
created by Sussex along with the University of Brighton
University of Brighton
The University of Brighton is an English university of the United Kingdom, with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which...
.
He served as chair of the Committee on Publication Ethics (Cope).