Professor Hai-Sui Yu has announced his departure from The University of Nottingham to take up a new post as the University of Leeds’ first Pro-Vice Chancellor (International).

Professor Yu is currently Pro-Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement) and Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at The University of Nottingham, and has overall responsibility for the University’s international and global engagement strategy. Professor Yu is also Director of the Nottingham Centre for Geomechanics (NCG). Previously, he held the positions of Head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University.

In his new role at the University of Leeds, he will lead their international strategy – helping to boost Leeds’ global profile and standing, while generating research and educational opportunities with overseas partners. He will also hold the role of Professor of Geotechnical Engineering in Leeds’ Faculty of Engineering. He will take up his appointment on 1 September 2016.

Professor Yu was born and grew up in China. He studied at Imperial College, London and St Anne’s College, Oxford. He has previously served as Assistant Dean of Engineering for Research at the University of Newcastle, Australia, before taking up his posts at The University of Nottingham. His teaching and research is in the field of geomechanics and geotechnical engineering, concerned with the design of geotechnical infrastructure and mitigation of natural hazards and disasters. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2011 for outstanding personal engineering achievement.

Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “I would like to thank Professor Yu for his exceptional work at The University of Nottingham.

“As Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement, Professor Yu has made an outstanding contribution in representing the institution on an international stage, and has also been responsible for maintaining and extending our prestigious reputation as a global University. I wish him every success as he takes up his new position at the University of Leeds.”