Changing The World

University of Leeds Vice-Chancellor Professor Simone Buitendijk sits down with Dr Cheryl Hurst, a research fellow who specialises in gender and inequality, leadership and organisational change.

Recorded in March 2021, their wide-reaching conversation looks at Simone’s journey to becoming the University of Leeds’ first female Vice-Chancellor, leading the organisation during the Covid crisis, the experiences of younger academics.

They ask what is the true goal of universities - and should it be measured solely by academic output?

 Follow Professor Simone Buitendijk on Twitter here, and follow University of Leeds by clicking here.

To read more from the University of Leeds, visit its Medium publication here, and the University's website here.

In the latest episode of the 'Changing the World' series, University of Leeds Vice-Chancellor Professor Simone Buitendijk and Deputy Director of Communications Fridey Cordingley discuss conflict. 

We all experience conflict in many areas of our lives - and at universities, debate and disagreements are part of the academic experience. Simone and Fridey discuss their personal responses to conflict - and how it's possible to embrace conflict to make sure it ultimately resolves problems in a constructive and collaborative way.

Follow Professor Simone Buitendijk on Twitter here, and follow University of Leeds by clicking here.

To read more voices from the University of Leeds, visit our Medium publication here, and the University's website here.

What is wrong with wanting to deliver perfect work, with wanting to be flawless at what we do?

The short answer is: a lot. In this podcast from the University of Leeds, Vice-Chancellor Professor Simone Buitendijk discusses perfectionism with Alexandra Holloway, a Teaching Fellow in the Language Centre and Dr Alex Ding, an Associate Professor in English for Academic Purposes. Each discusses their own experiences with perfectionism, and the impact the concept has had on their careers, personal life and mental health.

In the second episode of this new series from the University of Leeds, Vice-Chancellor Professor Simone Buitendijk is joined by Fridey Cordingley, Deputy Director of Communications, to discuss her blog – ‘ Confessions of a leader in a time of crisis’. You can read the blog in full here.

Much has been written in recent years about values-based organisations, and the potential they have of uniting and motivating employees. But what about a University? What are the implications for staff, students - and importantly the work we do, through research, to make the world a better place? We’ll be discussing all of this with Simone. 

Follow Professor Simone Buitendijk on Twitter here, and follow University of Leeds by clicking here.

To read more voices from the University of Leeds, visit our Medium publication here, and the University's website here.

In the first episode of this new series from the University of Leeds, Vice-Chancellor Professor Simone Buitendijk is joined by Fridey Cordingley, Deputy Director of Communications, to discuss her latest blog all around the theme of listening. You can read the blog in full here.

In this episode, we'll hear the thoughts and questions from readers since the blog was first published, and delve deeper into why Simone was keen to raise this topic now.

Follow Professor Simone Buitendijk on Twitter here, and follow University of Leeds by clicking here.

To read more voices from the University of Leeds, visit our Medium publication here, and the University's website here.