GLOBAL: New chair for commonwealth universities body

The Association of Commonwealth Universities has appointed University of the West Indies Vice-chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris (pictured), as its new chair. He succeeds Dr Theuns Eloff, Vice-chancellor of North-West University in South Africa.

Harris, who has served as vice-chair for the past two years, will be at the helm for two years after being elected at the ACU annual general meeting in Hong Kong this month. He will be responsible for encouraging members to work together effectively and to contribute their skills and expertise, while seeking to build consensus.

The ACU is the oldest inter-university network in the world, with more than 500 members on six continents. It provides research and policy analysis and various professional networks, as well as hosting higher education organisations.

During Harris' tenure the ACU will celebrate its centenary. He will lead implementation of the association's strategic plan 2008-13, "Preparing for a Second Century", which was unveiled at the Hong Kong meeting.

The University of West Indies's Campus News quoted Harris as saying that globally governments were providing less funding for universities due to economic problems. The ACU has had to develop novel coping strategies as increased demands for accountability were also calling for research to translate more effectively into tangible societal benefits.

"In the face of these demands, coupled with competition from new types of private universities, the traditional Commonwealth universities represented by the ACU are strategically working towards improving services and meeting new types of needs," he said.

Harris obtained a degree in chemistry from Howard University in 1968, a masters in biochemistry from Yale University in 1973, and a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in1977.

His achievements include devising the anticardiolipin test, which is used widely for diagnosing an auto-immune disorder. Harris has published more than 150 papers.

Since becoming vice-chancellor of the University of The West Indies in 2004, he has been advocating for more science and technology education and research in the Caribbean, and for improved linkages with other institutions in the region and internationally.

In March 2010, Harris was elected president of the Association of Universities and Research Institutions of the Caribbean, a voluntary regional organisation that fosters cooperation among higher education institutions in the region.