The University of the West of England’s vice chancellor Professor Steve West has been named among the 50 top movers and shakers in higher education in the UK and the 10th most influential vice chancellor.
Prof West, pictured, who is also president of Business West and chair of the South West CBI, appears in the first Higher Education Power List as the 45th most influential person in the sector. 
Compiled by an independent panel of HE experts, the list reveals the individuals who are setting the agenda and shaping the future – whether behind the scenes, in full view, inside and outside of universities or across the world of politics and policy making.
The list was compiled by the HE website Wonkhe, whose founder and editor Mark Leach said: “Putting this together has been a fascinating process. There is of course no scientific way to measure power, so the best we could do was assemble an excellent collection of HE observers and thrash it out – both a framework for decision-making as well as the names and their placement.
“Policy influence has been the overriding theme through the process and given that is our main concern as a community concerned with higher education policy, it felt like the best place to start.”
Professor Steve West, who chairs the University Alliance – a group of 20 universities which together educate around a fifth of all UK students – added: “It is critical for vice chancellors to be visible and active taking up key posts on lobbying groups and engaging with the wider community.
“My role at the University Alliance has placed me on the national stage and provided me with access to the top decision makers in the land. I believe that it is crucial that universities are seen to be connecting and influencing businesses as well as communities and politicians. It’s about bridge building and creating new opportunities for growth.”
