Governance expert says heads of administration need "close partnership" with heads of universities

An expert on university governance has stressed the necessity of having a close partnership between the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the head of the university (president, vice-chancellor, or rector), as well as the need to provide better recognition for Heads of Administration (HoAs).

Cécile Chicoye, co-author of a report from the Heads of University Management & Administration Network in Europe (HUMANE), said HoAs struggled to manage increasing responsibilities and shrinking resources.

She also noted similar challenges for HoAs in Europe: "It may come as a surprise to note that the challenges are often very similar across countries, including in the UK, even though their model is quite different. There are more similarities than differences, both in terms of roles and approaches," she said in an interview with News Tank on 14/04/2026.

The HUMANE report, about the transformation of the role of the HoA from a traditional "support" function to a central pillar of institutional strategy titled "Behind the Strategy, How Heads of Administration Shape Tomorrow's Universities"…