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Early reflections from James Dunphy, CUC’s new CEO

29^th October 2025

1. Higher education matters — deeply.  Everyone I’ve met is clear on the value HE brings to individuals, communities, and businesses.  Brilliant higher education transforms lives and unlocks opportunity, and as we drive for better outcomes for individuals and a stronger economy for all, it will really matter into the future.
2. Short-term stability is important, but long-term success should be our goal.  Universities are at the heart of world-class teaching, research, and innovation, and play a crucial role in attracting global talent and investment to the UK.  Creating the right conditions for long-term contribution, success and sustainability in our HE system should be a shared goal and is firmly in the common interest.
3. The funding and regulatory landscape is critical. Whether it’s changing student needs, rising costs or cyber threats, the operating environment for HE is challenging.  We should be confident and clear: a funding and regulatory environment in each of the UK nations that supports success—and, in doing so, unlocks brilliant outcomes—is really important.
4. Governance effectiveness matters.  Governing bodies operate in the public interest and have a critical role in ensuring universities are well-led, financially sustainable, and strategically focused. It is for this reason that CUC is refreshing the Code of HE Governance and wants to hear from everyone with an interest.
5. CUC’s future is member-driven. For CUC, the success of our members, individually in their roles, will be what matters most.  It’s for this reason that I’m particularly looking forward to our Autumn Plenary and to being in conversation with our members about how they want CUC to adapt into the future.

Thanks to everyone I’ve met over the course of this first month—it has been a pleasure to listen, learn, and get a sense of what will really matter as we work together in the months ahead.