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{{Short description|British professor}}
'''Professor Michael Sterling''' FREng (born [[9 February]] [[1946]])
{{otheruses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2009}}
'''Sir Michael John Howard Sterling''' {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|FREng|size=100%}}<ref name=raeng>{{cite web|title=List of Fellows|url=http://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/people-council-committees/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows|access-date=24 October 2014|archive-date=8 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608094405/http://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/people-council-committees/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows|url-status=dead}}</ref> (born 9 February 1946) is a British [[professor]], and a former [[Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[Brunel University]] (1990 to 2001) and the [[University of Birmingham]] (2001 to 2009).


==Early life==
He began his career as an electrical engineer in 1964 joining AEI (later GEC) as a student apprentice with a scholarship to the [[University of Sheffield]] to read Electronic and Electrical Engineering, graduating with a 1st class Honours degree and subsequently a [[PhD]] in computer control in 1971. He then joined Sheffield as a Lecturer and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1978. He then moved to the [[Durham University|University of Durham]] as Professor of Engineering in 1980, before being appointed as Vice-Chancellor of [[Brunel University]] in 1990. He was [[Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[University of Birmingham]] from October 2001 to April 2009.
In 1964, Sterling joined [[Associated Electrical Industries]] (later [[General Electric Company plc]]) as a [[student]] [[apprentice]]. He was awarded a scholarship to the [[University of Sheffield]] to read electronic and electrical engineering. He graduated with a [[British undergraduate degree classification|1st class]] honours degree and subsequently a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] degree in computer control in 1971.


==Academic career==
He was Chairman of the [[Russell Group]], representing the UK’s 20 leading research-intensiveuniversities at a crucial time in higher education history, when the White Paper on tuition fees was being debated and subsequently passed. He was also a Board Member of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ([[UCAS]]), a Board Member of Advantage West Midlands (the regional RDA), a member of AWM’s Innovation and Technology Council and Chair of AWM’s Information and Communication Technology Steering Group. In addition he is a member of the Prime Minister’s [http://www.cst.gov.uk/ Council for Science and Technology] and Chairman of its Energy Sub-Group.
He joined the Department of Control Engineering at the [[University of Sheffield]] as a lecturer and was promoted to [[senior lecturer]] in 1978. He then moved to the [[Durham University|University of Durham]] as a professor of Engineering in 1980, before being appointed as [[Vice-Chancellor]] of [[Brunel University]] in 1990. He was appointed a [[Fellow]]<ref name=raeng/> of the [[Royal Academy of Engineering]]<ref name=raeng/> in 1991. He was Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of Birmingham]] from October 2001 to April 2009. In July 2009 he was appointed chair of the [[Science and Technology Facilities Council]], the agency responsible for funding [[big science]] in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=STFC |url=http://www.scitech.ac.uk/PMC/PRel/STFC/profsterling.aspx |title=New Chair appointed for the Science and Technology Facilities Council |access-date=4 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802095859/http://www.scitech.ac.uk/PMC/PRel/STFC/profsterling.aspx |archive-date=2 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


He was chairman of the [[Russell Group]], representing the United Kingdom’s twenty leading research-intensive universities at a crucial time in higher education history, when the white paper on tuition fees was being debated and subsequently passed. He was also a board member of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ([[UCAS]]), a board member of Advantage West Midlands (the regional RDA), a member of AWM’s Innovation and Technology Council and chair of AWM’s Information and Communication Technology Steering Group. In addition he is a member of the Prime Minister’s [http://www.cst.gov.uk/ Council for Science and Technology] and chairman of its energy sub-group.
At [[Brunel University|Brunel]], Sterling oversaw the consolidation of the University and a merger with the [[West London Institute of Higher Education]], which produced a multi-sited University with a student body of 12,000. More controversially, he closed the Departments of Physics and Chemistry, and oversaw the award of an honorary doctorate to Dame [[Margaret Thatcher]], against strong union and student resistance.


At [[Brunel University|Brunel]], Sterling oversaw the consolidation of the University and a merger with the [[West London Institute of Higher Education]], which produced a multi-sited university with a student body of 12,000. More controversially, he closed the Departments of Physics and Chemistry, and oversaw the award of an honorary doctorate to Dame [[Margaret Thatcher]], against strong union and student resistance.
On his appointment to Birmingham, Sterling said that he was 'looking forward immensely to the challenge of leading the [[University of Birmingham]] into its second century. It is a great international university which has not forgotten its local roots. There is huge potential in the University, the City of [[Birmingham]] and the West Midlands region'. In addition, he said that he relished 'the opportunity of working with new colleagues to achieve our common purpose of maintaining and improving Birmingham's position in the front rank of universities'.


On his appointment to Birmingham, Sterling said that he was 'looking forward immensely to the challenge of leading the [[University of Birmingham]] into its 2nd century. It is a great international university which has not forgotten its local roots. There is huge potential in the University, the City of [[Birmingham]] and the West Midlands region'. In addition, he said that he relished 'the opportunity of working with new colleagues to achieve our common purpose of maintaining and improving Birmingham's position in the front rank of universities'.
The following table summarising league tables of the University of Birmingham's academic reputation suggests the failure, in academic terms, of Sterling's tenure as Vice-Chancellor (2001-2009):


During his time at [[University of Birmingham|Birmingham]], Sterling was at the forefront of estates developments, creating a new skyline for the campus which includes the Institute for Biomedical Research, the Business School, the Sport and Exercise Sciences building and new halls of residence including Mason Hall and the Shackleton hub. The building stock was significantly improved and the old Muirhead Tower redesigned.
===League table rankings for the University of Birmingham===


Having an engineering background, two initiatives that Sterling is particularly proud to have secured for [[University of Birmingham|Birmingham]], are the HEFCE-funded National Higher Education STEM Programme, to increase the number of graduates with skills in science, technology, engineering and maths disciplines to fulfill the needs of employers and boost the UK economy, and establishing the Energy Technologies Institute alongside Nottingham and Loughborough Universities.
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[League tables of British universities|UK University Rankings]]
|-
!
! 2010
! 2009
! 2008
! 2007
! 2006
! 2005
! 2004
! 2003
! 2002
! 2001
! 2000
! 1999
! 1998
! 1997
! 1996
! 1995
! 1994
! 1993
|-
! Times [[Good University Guide]]
| 22<sup>nd</sup><ref name=Times2010>{{cite web|url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php|title=Good University Guide 2010|work=The Times|accessdate=2009-06-04}}</ref>
| 26<sup>th</sup><ref>{{cite web|url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php|title=Good University Guide 2009|work=The Times|accessdate=2008-08-18}}</ref>
| 26<sup>th</sup><ref>{{cite web |url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/gug/gooduniversityguide.php |title=The Times Good University Guide 2008|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>
| 33<sup>rd</sup><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,102571,00.html |title=The Times Good University Guide 2007 - Top Universities 2007 League Table|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>
| 23<sup>rd</sup>
| 20<sup>th</sup><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,32607,00.html |title=The Times Top Universities |work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>
| 15<sup>th</sup>=
| 17<sup>th</sup>
| 14<sup>th</sup>
| 13<sup>th</sup>
| 13<sup>th</sup>
| 16<sup>th</sup>
| 14<sup>th</sup>
| 18<sup>th</sup>
| 17<sup>th</sup>=
| 10<sup>th</sup>=
| 7<sup>th</sup>
| 16<sup>th</sup>
|-
! Guardian University Guide
| 24<sup>th</sup><ref name=Guardian2010>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2009/may/12/university-league-table|title=Rankings with performance scores|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2009-06-04}}</ref>
| 30<sup>th</sup><ref>{{cite web|url=http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Education/documents/2008/05/08/rankingsrevised.xls|title=Rankings with performance scores|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-18}}</ref>
| 18<sup>th</sup><ref name="Guardian 2008">{{cite web |url=http://browse.guardian.co.uk/education?SearchBySubject=&FirstRow=29&SortOrderDirection=&SortOrderColumn=GuardianTeachingScore&Subject=University+ranking&Institution= |title=University ranking by institution |work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2007-10-29}}</ref>
| 16<sup>th</sup>
| 16<sup>th</sup><ref name="Guardian 2006">{{cite web |url=http://browse.guardian.co.uk/education/2006?SearchBySubject=&FirstRow=20&SortOrderDirection=&SortOrderColumn=GuardianTeachingScore&Subject=Institution-wide&Institution= |title=University ranking by institution |work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2007-10-29}}</ref>
| 29<sup>th</sup><ref name="Guardian 2005">{{cite web |url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2005/table/0,,-5163901,00.html?start=40&index=3&index=3 |title=University ranking by institution |work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2007-10-29}}</ref>
| 22<sup>nd</sup><ref name="Guardian 2004">{{cite web |url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2004/table/0,,1222167,00.html|title=University ranking by institution 2004|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
| 14<sup>th</sup><ref name="Guardian 2003">{{cite web |url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/unitable/0,,-4668575,00.html |title=University ranking by institution |work=[[The Guardian]] 2003 (University Guide 2004)}}</ref>
| 16<sup>th</sup><ref name="FT 2002-war" />
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! Sunday Times University Guide
| 20<sup>th</sup>=<ref>http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug/universityguide.php</ref>
| 24<sup>th</sup>=<ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article2099551.ece</ref>
| 24<sup>th</sup><ref name="Sunday_times 2008">{{cite web |url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug/universityguide.php |title=The Sunday Times Good University Guide League Tables |work=[[The Sunday Times]]|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>
| 23<sup>rd</sup>
| 28<sup>th</sup><ref name="Sunday_times 2006/05">{{cite web |url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug2006/stug2006.pdf |title=The Sunday Times University League Table |work=[[The Sunday Times]]|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>
| 23<sup>rd</sup><ref name="Sunday_times 2006/05"/>
| 25<sup>th</sup><ref name=st10y>{{cite web|url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/univ07ten.pdf|format=PDF|title=University ranking based on performance over 10 years|publisher=[[Times Online]]|year=2007|accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>
| 20<sup>th</sup><ref name=st10y />
| 20<sup>th</sup><ref name=st10y />
| 14<sup>th</sup><ref name=st10y />
| 15<sup>th</sup><ref name=st10y />
| 14<sup>th</sup><ref name=st10y />
| 13<sup>th</sup><ref name=st10y />
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! [[The Independent|Independent]] [[The Complete University Guide|Complete University Guide]]
| 27<sup>th</sup><ref>http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=8726</ref>
| 24<sup>th</sup><ref name="The Independent 2008/09">{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/the-main-league-table-2009-813839.html |title=The Independent University League Table |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>
| 31<sup>st</sup><ref name="The Independent 2008/09" />
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! Daily Telegraph
|
|
|
|31<sup>st</sup><ref name="Telegraph 2006">{{cite web
|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=HXFCSGXMNVABTQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/07/30/ncambs430.xml |title= University league table |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=2007-10-29}}</ref>
|
|
|
| 18<sup>th</sup><ref name="telegraph2003">{{cite web
|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/graphics/2003/06/27/unibigpic.jpg |title= University league table |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! FT
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 16<sup>th</sup><ref name="FT 2003">{{cite web |url=http://www.grb.uk.com/448.0.html?cHash=5015838e9d&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9&tx_ttnews%5Buid%5D=9 |title=The FT 2003 University ranking |work=[[Financial Times]] 2003}}</ref>
| 18<sup>th</sup><ref name="FT 2002-war">{{cite web |url=http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/academicoffice/ourservices/planning/businessinformation/academicstatistics/2002/table_81.xls |title=The 2002 ranking - From Warwick |work=Warwick Uni 2002}}</ref>
| 13<sup>th</sup><ref name="FT2001">{{cite web
|url=http://specials.ft.com/universities2001/FT3HLLAN6LC.html |title= FT league table 2001 |work=[[Financial Times|FT]] league tables 2001 }}</ref>
| 15<sup>th</sup><ref name="FT2000">{{cite web
|url=http://specials.ft.com/ln/ftsurveys/industry/pdf/top100table.pdf |title= FT league table 1999-2000 |work=[[Financial Times|FT]] league tables 1999-2000 }}</ref>
| 15<sup>th</sup><ref name="Guardian 2004"/>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}


Sterling retired in April 2009, following more than 19 years as a Vice-Chancellor, eight of those at [[University of Birmingham|Birmingham]]. His last major act as Vice-Chancellor was to bequeath a restructuring of the University on his successor, [[David Eastwood]].
During his time at [[University of Birmingham |Birmingham]], Sterling had been at the forefront of estates developments, creating a new skyline for the campus which includes the Institute for Biomedical Research, the Business School, the Sport and Exercise Sciences building and new halls of residence including Mason Hall and the Shackleton hub. The building stock was significantly improved and the old Muirhead Tower redesigned.


==Honours==
As an engineer by background, two initiatives that Sterling is particularly proud to have secured for [[University of Birmingham |Birmingham]], are the HEFCE-funded National Higher Education STEM Programme, to increase the number of graduates with skills in science, technology, engineering and maths disciplines to fulfill the needs of employers and boost the UK economy, and establishing the Energy Technologies Institute alongside Nottingham and Loughborough Universities.
Sterling was [[Knight bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2012 Birthday Honours]] for services to higher education, science and engineering.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=60173 |date=16 June 2012 |page=1 |supp=y}}</ref>

Sterling retired in April 2009, following more than 19 years as a Vice-Chancellor, eight of those at [[University of Birmingham |Birmingham]]. His last major act as Vice-Chancellor was to bequeath a retructuring of the University on his successor.

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}


==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{s-start}}
{{s-aca}}
{{succession box|title=Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of Birmingham]] |years= 2001-2009|before=[[Maxwell Irvine]]|after=[[David Eastwood]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterling, Michael}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterling, Michael}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:British academics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People associated with the University of Birmingham]]
[[Category:Academics of Durham University]]
[[Category:Academics of Durham University]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Birmingham]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Birmingham]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Sheffield]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Sheffield]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield]]
[[Category:People associated with Brunel University]]
[[Category:People associated with Brunel University London]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Science and Technology Facilities Council]]
[[Category:Vice-chancellors of the University of Birmingham]]

Latest revision as of 07:51, 17 August 2024

For other uses, see Michael Sterling (disambiguation).

Sir Michael John Howard Sterling FREng[1] (born 9 February 1946) is a British professor, and a former Vice-Chancellor of the Brunel University (1990 to 2001) and the University of Birmingham (2001 to 2009).

Early life

[edit]

In 1964, Sterling joined Associated Electrical Industries (later General Electric Company plc) as a student apprentice. He was awarded a scholarship to the University of Sheffield to read electronic and electrical engineering. He graduated with a 1st class honours degree and subsequently a PhD degree in computer control in 1971.

Academic career

[edit]

He joined the Department of Control Engineering at the University of Sheffield as a lecturer and was promoted to senior lecturer in 1978. He then moved to the University of Durham as a professor of Engineering in 1980, before being appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University in 1990. He was appointed a Fellow[1] of the Royal Academy of Engineering[1] in 1991. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham from October 2001 to April 2009. In July 2009 he was appointed chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the agency responsible for funding big science in the United Kingdom.[2]

He was chairman of the Russell Group, representing the United Kingdom’s twenty leading research-intensive universities at a crucial time in higher education history, when the white paper on tuition fees was being debated and subsequently passed. He was also a board member of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), a board member of Advantage West Midlands (the regional RDA), a member of AWM’s Innovation and Technology Council and chair of AWM’s Information and Communication Technology Steering Group. In addition he is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology and chairman of its energy sub-group.

At Brunel, Sterling oversaw the consolidation of the University and a merger with the West London Institute of Higher Education, which produced a multi-sited university with a student body of 12,000. More controversially, he closed the Departments of Physics and Chemistry, and oversaw the award of an honorary doctorate to Dame Margaret Thatcher, against strong union and student resistance.

On his appointment to Birmingham, Sterling said that he was 'looking forward immensely to the challenge of leading the University of Birmingham into its 2nd century. It is a great international university which has not forgotten its local roots. There is huge potential in the University, the City of Birmingham and the West Midlands region'. In addition, he said that he relished 'the opportunity of working with new colleagues to achieve our common purpose of maintaining and improving Birmingham's position in the front rank of universities'.

During his time at Birmingham, Sterling was at the forefront of estates developments, creating a new skyline for the campus which includes the Institute for Biomedical Research, the Business School, the Sport and Exercise Sciences building and new halls of residence including Mason Hall and the Shackleton hub. The building stock was significantly improved and the old Muirhead Tower redesigned.

Having an engineering background, two initiatives that Sterling is particularly proud to have secured for Birmingham, are the HEFCE-funded National Higher Education STEM Programme, to increase the number of graduates with skills in science, technology, engineering and maths disciplines to fulfill the needs of employers and boost the UK economy, and establishing the Energy Technologies Institute alongside Nottingham and Loughborough Universities.

Sterling retired in April 2009, following more than 19 years as a Vice-Chancellor, eight of those at Birmingham. His last major act as Vice-Chancellor was to bequeath a restructuring of the University on his successor, David Eastwood.

Honours

[edit]

Sterling was knighted in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to higher education, science and engineering.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "List of Fellows". Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  2. ^ "New Chair appointed for the Science and Technology Facilities Council" (Press release). STFC. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  3. ^ "No. 60173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2012. p. 1.
Academic offices
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham
2001-2009 		Succeeded by
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