Peter Høj re-endorsed to lead UQ

The Senate of The University of Queensland has extended the contract of its Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj for another five years.

Professor Høj, who has been in the role since October 2012, will now be able to serve until March 2021.

UQ Acting Chancellor Dr Jane Wilson congratulated Professor Høj on his achievements and vision for the University.

“Professor Høj has shown impressive leadership and innovation in guiding the University, helping consolidate UQ’s position as a top-50 global university,” she said.

“Under his leadership, the University has continued to be consistently represented in the top three of all Australian universities, and has improved UQ’s standing in the world ranking tables, including the highly respected Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

“He has grown UQ’s collaborative links with government, industry and non-government partners.

"Professor Høj has demonstrated a strong commitment to research and teaching as well as a strategic approach to international and industry engagement.

“There are many challenges and exciting opportunities facing the University in the coming years and we will benefit from Professor Høj's continued leadership and commitment to meeting these challenges." 

Dr Wilson also praised Professor Høj’s vision for a globally connected university, which he demonstrated by securing UQ’s early membership of edX, the not-for-profit massive open online course provider founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“UQ’s edX courses, branded UQx, have to date attracted approximately 750,000 enrolments and enhanced worldwide recognition of UQ’s learning and research,” she said.

Professor Høj said he was pleased and privileged to be continuing his role at the University.

“It’s a pleasure to lead such a well-respected organisation, and I’ve delighted in working with UQ’s outstanding staff, students and alumni,” he said.

“I hope to continue to build UQ’s momentum as a leader in the higher education sector and as a place where our staff, students and alumni continue to work on solutions to the world’s big issues.”

Professor Høj, who was previously the CEO of the Australian Wine Research Institute, CEO of the Australian Research Council and Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia, has a Master of Science and a PhD from the University of Copenhagen. He has honorary doctorates from both the University of Copenhagen and the University of South Australia.

He previously served on the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council for more than six years and is a past Board member of CSIRO and Universities Australia.

In addition to his Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, he is a Foreign Member of The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Media: UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, 3365 3439.