Professor Michael Luck

Professor Michael Luck joined the University on 1 September as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost. 

A highly distinguished computer scientist and expert in Artificial Intelligence, Michael joins us from King’s College London, where he was Director of the King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Director of the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe and Trusted Artificial Intelligence. He served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences at Kings from 2013 to 2020 and was Head of the Department of Informatics from 2011 to 2013. He has published over 300 articles and 12 books and has previously held positions at the Universities of Southampton and Warwick. 

Watch this short (1:45 min) video where Michael introduces himself, explains what drew him to Sussex and shares some information about what he will be focusing on.

Michael Luck introduction from University of Sussex on Vimeo.  

See a transcript of the video. 

What is the role of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost? 

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost provides University-wide leadership, developing, and ensuring delivery of, the University’s academic vision and strategy. They also hold responsibility for academic planning and resources, and academic capital planning. Michael will deputise for the Vice-Chancellor in all areas of the University’s work as and when necessary.

Professor Keith Jones, who was interim Provost pending Michael’s appointment, has returned full time to his role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise). 

The full scope of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost role covers: 

• working closely with other senior leaders in the coordination of academic strategy, policy, budgeting and planning, investment, and resources
• managing the University’s and Faculties’ academic financial strategies (once Faculties are established), ensuring plans, budgeting and resourcing are robust
• driving sustainable improvements in academic performance
• providing leadership, guidance, and line management to the Executive Deans once they are appointed and Faculties are established. Prior to that, Michael will line manage the Deans and Heads of School
• working closely with Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Executive Deans, Heads of Schools, and other academic leaders to develop and deliver our overall academic strategy
• overseeing all elements of our academic strategy, including estates, organisational culture, talent planning and staffing policies
• building on and developing new academic partnerships and collaborations
• serving on Council and Senate
• supporting the Vice-Chancellor in her role, deputising for her when necessary.

Together with the Vice-Chancellor, Michael will convene the new Academic Leadership Forum (ALF). This will meet roughly twice per term to share information and discuss important and topical issues in the delivery of our academic work. Membership will be drawn broadly to include Executive and Associate Deans (once appointed), Heads of School, Heads of Department, Directors of Teaching and Learning, Directors of Student Experience, and Directors of Research and Knowledge Exchange. You can see more information on the ALF and other governance structures in Sasha’s recent executive governance update. 

In addition, this year, Michael will also provide overall University leadership on the establishment of Faculties, including leading the recruitment of the new Executive Deans. He will also support the Vice-Chancellor to create, in consultation with the whole University community, the new University strategy. 

See our newly updated leadership pages for more information about our whole University Executive Team.