Koen Lamberts

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Professor

Koen Lamberts
President & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield
Assumed office
November 2018
Preceded byKeith Burnett
6th Vice-Chancellor of the University of York
In office
January 2014 – 2018
Preceded byBrian Cantor
Succeeded byCharlie Jeffery
Personal details
BornFebruary 1964 (age 57)[1]
Hasselt, Belgium
NationalityBritish/Belgian
Profession
  • Psychologist
  • University administrator
Salary£290,130 (2019–20)[2]
Websitehttps://www.sheffield.ac.uk/vc/biography
Board member of
Awards
  • British Psychological Society Cognitive Psychology Award (1996)
  • Experimental Psychology Society Prize (1998)
Academic background
Alma mater
Thesis (1992)
Academic work
DisciplinePsychology
Sub-disciplineExperimental psychology
Institutions

Koenraad Lamberts (born 1964) is a British/Belgian psychologist and academic. Since 2018, he has served as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield. From 2014 to 2018, he was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of York. Previously, he had taught at the University of Chicago, University of Birmingham, and the University of Warwick. Lamberts was chair of UCAS between 2019 and 2020. During his time at Sheffield, Lamberts oversaw the closure of its "world-renowned archaeology department".[4]

Early life and education[]

Lamberts was born in Hasselt, Belgium. He studied at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven). He holds two undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in philosophy (1985) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in psychology (1987). He continued his studies in experimental psychology, and completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of Birmingham in 1992.[5]

Academic career[]

Birmingham[]

Following a research appointment at the University of Chicago, Lamberts became a lecturer at the University of Birmingham in 1992.[citation needed] In 1996 he won the British Psychological Society Cognitive Psychology Award, which recognises "outstanding published contributions to research in the area of Cognitive Psychology".[6][7]

He also won the Experimental Psychology Society Award while at Birmingham, recognising "distinguished, independent and original contributions to experimental psychology made during early career".[8][9]

Warwick[]

Lamberts was Professor of Cognitive Science at the University of Warwick from 2000 to 2013. At Warwick, he served as Faculty Chair for Science, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Science & Medicine) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost.[10]

University of York[]

From 2014 to 2018, Lamberts was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of York.[11] Since becoming a Vice-Chancellor, a chief executive position within university, Lamberts has had less time to carry out research, later commenting that "you have to devote every waking moment to [being Vice-Chancellor]".[12]

The university considered outsourcing English-language teaching of international students to INTO University Partnerships. The plans to privatise were criticised by the York branch of the University and College Union (UCU), and Lamberts subsequently announced that the partnership had been abandoned.[13][14]

In 2014, 69 universities in the UK were affected by strikes over proposed changes to pension schemes after a University and College Union (UCU) ballot; the University of York threatened to deduct 100% of striking staff's pay and was prompted to review the decision after a petition and intervention from UCU.[15] During the 2016/17 financial year he claimed £20,743 on expenses in his role as Vice-Chancellor; this was second highest amongst Russell Group VCs, and more than double the average.[16] Student newspaper York Vision reported that along with Deputy Vice-Chancellor Saul Tendler he accounted for 65% of the executive board's £58,000 spending on domestic and international flights.[17]

University of Sheffield[]

In June 2018, he was announced as the new president and vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield: he took up the post in November 2018.[10] Lamberts was appointed chair of the board of trustees of UCAS in March 2019, replacing Steve Smith who filled the position for seven years.[18] He was replaced by Trudy Norris-Grey in December the next year.[19] In September 2019, a 5,000-protest marched through Sheffield, demanding action to tackle climate change. Lamberts joined the protest and announced that all courses would involve teaching about sustainability.[20][21] Student news site The Sheffield Tab filed a freedom of information request and revealed that Lamberts spent nearly £11,000 on air travel in the space of nine months and in his first six months as Vice-Chancellor spent more than £8,000 on chauffeured cars. The UCU described it as an "embarrassment for the university sector".[22][23]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university faced significant financial challenges; in June 2020, Lamberts announced that the University of Sheffield was preparing for a £100-million reduction in income and consequently staff were invited to apply for a voluntary severance scheme as part of measures to reduce budgets by 15%.[24]

In May 2021, Lamberts commissioned a review of Sheffield's Department of Archaeology. Three days after the review was presented to the University Executive Board, it voted to propose the department's closure, provoking widespread objection, with over 25,000 signing a petition against closure within two days.[25] The decision sparked international outrage and, in an open letter to Lamberts encouraging the university to reconsider, the European Association of Archaeologists described the department as a "world-leading Department".[26][27] Mike Parker-Pearson warned that amongst the projects put at risk by the move was important research on Stonehenge.[26] The decision was confirmed in July, by which time the petition had amassed more than 40,000 signatures and 2,200 letters of support had been submitted.[28][29]

Awards[]

  • British Psychological Society Cognitive Psychology Award (1996)
  • Experimental Psychology Society Prize (1998)

Selected publications[]

  • Lamberts, Koen; Goldstone, Rob, eds. (2004). Handbook of Cognition. SAGE Publications Ltd. ISBN 9780761972778.
  • Lamberts, Koen; Shanks, David, eds. (1997). Knowledge, Concepts and Categories. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780863774911.

Research grants[]

Start End Amount Funding body Role Project name Institution
April 2008 March 2009 £74,238 ESRC Principal investigator Why do people remember dynamic images better than static images?[30] University of Warwick
August 2010 March 2011 £96,300 EPSRC Principal investigator Pathways to Impact Award : University of Warwick[31] University of Warwick
January 2011 October 2011 £289,480 EPSRC Co-investigator Trust-Enabling Augmented-reality Support for information Environments (TEASE)[32] University of Warwick
July 2011 March 2012 £91,816 EPSRC Principal investigator Grant Balances[33] University of Warwick

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Koenraad LAMBERTS - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
  2. ^ Annual Report & Financial Statements 2019–20 (Report). University of Sheffield. p. 51.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "President and Vice-Chancellor's biography". University of Sheffield. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  4. ^ "University of Sheffield confirms archaeology department closure". BBC News. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Lamberts, Prof. Koen". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 28 August 2021. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U281234. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  6. ^ "History of Psychology Centre: Archive Catalogue: PHO/001/04/03/03/02". British Psychology Society. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Awards & Funding". British Psychological Society. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  8. ^ "EPS Prize". Experimental Psychology Society. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  9. ^ "EPS Prize Lectures". Experimental Psychology Society. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "University of Sheffield appoints Professor Koen Lamberts as its next President and Vice-Chancellor". www.sheffield.ac.uk. The University of Sheffield. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  11. ^ Jump, Paul (18 March 2013). "Koen Lamberts to be new York v-c". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Professor Koen Lamberts: Sheffield University chief on Brexit, Northern investment and his 'just about doable' job". www.thestar.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  13. ^ Mortimer, Josiah (4 February 2014). "What Is York Getting Into?". York Vision. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  14. ^ Horton, Helena (27 March 2014). "Lamberts announces axing of INTO outsourcing plans". York Vision. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  15. ^ Grove, Jack (5 November 2014). "York to review pay threat over marking boycott". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  16. ^ Fyles, Fred S. (1 June 2018). "Imperial President's expenses bill among highest of entire Russell Group". old.felixonline.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  17. ^ Philpott, Adam (1 October 2019). "Hall of Shame". York Vision. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  18. ^ "UCAS announces new Chair of the Board of Trustees". UCAS. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  19. ^ "UCAS appoints first independent Chair to Board of Trustees". UCAS. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  20. ^ Pearce, Lee (20 September 2019). "University of Sheffield vice chancellor joins in huge climate change protest". www.thestar.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  21. ^ Somerville, Ewan; Robinson, Hannah (22 September 2019). "Every Sheffield Uni student will soon have to attend climate change lectures". The Tab Sheffield. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  22. ^ Somerville, Ewan (27 September 2019). "Revealed: Sheff Uni spends £10k on cars and mansion while preaching on climate change". The Tab Sheffield. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  23. ^ Somerville, Ewan (9 February 2020). "Sheffield Uni bosses spend £55k on flights but refuse compensation for strikes". The Tab Sheffield. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Sheffield University to cut jobs as it faces £100 million loss caused by virus crisis". www.thestar.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Sheffield steal as archaeology department faces the axe". thepipeline.info. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Morris, Steven (21 May 2021). "Stonehenge research at risk if Sheffield archaeology unit closes, say experts". the Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Sheffield". www.e-a-a.org. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  28. ^ "University of Sheffield confirms archaeology department closure". BBC News. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  29. ^ Ross, Steven (9 July 2021). "Last chance for campaigners as over 45,000 people sign petition to save University of Sheffield archaeology department". Sheffield Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  30. ^ "WKRI: Why do people remember dynamic images better than static images?". UK Research and Innovation. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Pathways to Impact Award : University of Warwick". UK Research and Innovation. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Trust-Enabling Augmented-reality Support for information Environments (TEASE)". UK Research and Innovation. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  33. ^ "Grant Balances". UK Research and Innovation. Retrieved 22 July 2021.

External links[]

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