Bath-based former BBC News anchor Sharanjit Leyl has been appointed as Bath Spa University’s first female chancellor and only the second in its near 20-year history.
Sharanjit, pictured, who was officially ‘installed’ at a celebration event in the grounds of the university’s Newton Park Campus, will act as an ambassador for it on the local, national and global stage.
The former BBC World News anchor and leading business and politics reporter’s career has taken her all over the world for almost a quarter of a century, bringing a global perspective to her work.
She now regularly moderates high-level debates for the United Nations, multilateral and financial institutions and advises companies and educational institutions on media strategy and diversity.
Educated in North America, with an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a Master’s in English, Sharanjit understands what a privilege it is to study, have an education and to be curious about the world in which we live.
Now living between Bath and her native Singapore, Sharanjit – who takes over as Chancellor from actor Jeremy Irons, who was appointed as the university's first chancellor in 2016 – is also a trustee of the Bath Fashion Museum and a board member at the Holburne Museum.
She said she was delighted to become part of the Bath Spa University community to represent the values of students and staff worldwide.
“I stand here because of the socially uplifting power of education that has transformed my life.,” she told the ceremony.
“My late father Kernail Singh Leyl was born in Singapore to a poor immigrant family and was one of eight children. He excelled academically and made it to the country's most prestigious school.
“He did it through sheer grit and hard work. So determined was he to be educated, that he studied by streetlamp at a time when Singapore was a developing country and didn’t have reliable electricity coverage.
“Through all his efforts, he won scholarships and became the first person to go to university in my family, which has led to a completely different life for my brothers and me. It’s a story that truly exemplifies the transformative power of education.”
She said her father’s story was not a far cry from many of the students at Bath Spa – more than 40% of its 10,000-strong student population are among the first in their family to go to university, just like her father.
“About a quarter of our students are from ethnic minorities, like me, and many more are working their way through university, holding down one or more jobs so they can afford to have an education,” she added.
“It shows the sheer grit and determination of the students here, who are so much like my father, students whom I’m inspired by and so proud to represent and truly embodying the spirit of Bath Spa University – the Sunday Times University of the year for Social Inclusion.”
Bath Spa University is only one of 12 UK universities which has both a female chancellor and vice-chancellor.
Bath Spa vice-chancellor, Prof Sue Rigby welcomed Sharanjit to the university’s community during the ceremony with pledges, music and performances from students and staff.
She said: “Sharanjit will be the honorary head of the youngest and most vibrant university in the West of England.
“A university is a community of learners, we live by the certainty that we can make and think the world better, one act at a time, taking on the impossible problems of the age.
“We are so delighted and honoured that Sharanjit has accepted this role, will take us forward and be an important part of our brilliant and thriving community.”
Bath Spa’s chancellor is appointed by its board of governors and chosen based on their alignment with the university’s values and purpose.
It is an unpaid, advisory role and does not have the power to make university decisions.
The ceremony included poetry from Bath Spa student Manganaro and music performed by the university’s MA Music Performance students Natalie Mills and James MacDowall-Scott.
Natalie is a Zimbabwean-born cellist, pianist and music teacher and James is the director of music at Pershore Abbey.
After the ceremony, guests were treated to crispy brie wontons with pineapple chilli sauce and pickled chillies as an homage to British and Asian culture designed especially for the event by 2014 Masterchef winner and Bath resident Ping Coombes.
Pictured below, from left: University chaplain Katy Garner, Students’ Union president Jas Raymond-Barker, vice-chancellor Prof Sue Rigby, Chancellor Sharanjit Leyl, university chair Jonathan Glasspool, university secretary David Newman, executive dean and vice provost Kyriaki Anagnostopoulou, and deputy vice-chancellor and provost Prof Georgina Andrews
