Between art and inclusivity, Editor-in-Chief Emily Pitt-Shaw talks with Vice-Chancellor Professor David Maguire about the university that welcomed him – and what he’s doing to return the experience to students. 

Waiting outside the doors to the Arts and Humanities building, tracing the map on the 5-foot rabbit statue standing beside me, I’m met by Kim. 

An ex-journalist and current communications manager at the University of East Anglia, her smile embraces me. 

“I’ll take you up to his office,” she grins. 

After a flight of stairs and several greetings with the secretarial team, I enter a large office adorned with paintings on each wall. 

It’s what I’d call a curated welcome. Pieces, on loan from the Sainsbury’s centre, entice you to look, to think. 

“They’re an excellent talking point,” says Vice-Chancellor David Maguire, who rises from his desk to come and talk. 

Sitting with me at an empty table, he explains that his role is, when compared to a middle-school system, much like a headteacher, and when compared to a business, a CEO. 

Having worked as a Vice-Chancellor for around 12 years, David joined the UEA in 2023 after previously working at the University of Greenwich and spending time at the University of Dundee and the University of Sussex. 

“When I came for an interview, I was shown around the campus,” he says. 

“Everyone that I met, it was obvious that they loved working here. 

“It was always about two things – the people and the place. I felt so welcomed by both.” 

Talking about his experience of universities and the cities that they reside in, he’s quick to compliment Norwich. 

“It’s got something special. It’s a tight community, and proud of it’s history. 

“People stay here for a long time, they want it [the university and city] to be successful. I think that says a lot. 

“It’s endearing.” 

At the University of East Anglia, four values are echoed between school walls, mirrored in teaching and entwined in training. 

Ambition, Collaboration, Empowerment and Respect. 

I ask David how these might reflect in Welcome Week, to which he says: “The second stands out.” 

“Collaboration, it’s about community and support. It’s about helping each other grow. Joining clubs, joining societies, even taking a leadership role – there are so many opportunities. 

“And through that, there’s the opportunity to become empowered.” 

But he says that it’s respect that underpins preparation for Welcome Week. 

“We want to be a tolerant group that recognises diversity. 

“We want to give everyone equal opportunities and let people express themselves at university. It’s really important that we do that.” 

The idea of equal opportunity, of inclusion, is what many will agree is a priority. 

In a world with an ever-changing political landscape, often affecting vulnerable groups and minorities in society, I ask David what the university is doing to ensure that underrepresented students feel welcomed. 

“We want to welcome everybody. 

“We are really interested in people’s minds. What they’re interested in, what they want to learn.” 

David emphasises that admissions decisions are focused on academic potential and intellectual curiosity, rather than personal characteristics. 

“We don’t make assumptions based on background – we’re interested in what students want to learn and how they’ll contribute intellectually.” 

“We just want to know if people will work hard, if they’ll make an intellectual contribution through their studies.” 

David explains that the university’s admissions process is designed to prioritise academic merit and potential, while ensuring fairness and inclusivity throughout, but recognises that people that are happy and have a sense of belonging will often “do best.” 

“We try to work on all those things and to design inclusivity and respect into everything that we do at the university. 

“From the way we talk about ourselves to the way we seek to recruit students, and the way that we work with them when they’re here.” 

As an academic institution, the university is required by the Office for Students to have an access and participation plan. It reviews how students from underrepresented backgrounds are recruited by UEA. 

“Once they get here, we focus on their success,” David says. 

“We have measures of different protected characteristics, and, generally speaking, we’re way above our benchmarks. 

“I’m proud of the work that we do in that area. It’s really important to me.” 

Looking back at his own introduction to the university, David recognises that it was “slightly privileged”. 

“Lots of people were keen to make me feel welcome and form a good impression. 

“It was kind – but now it’s our duty to offer that back to students.” 

Reflecting on his own experience and considering the build-up to enrolling new students, David summarises what the word welcome means to him. 

“It’s about making sure people feel as though they belong to an institution. It’s about providing a good initial experience, to orientate them to the new environment.” 

Referring to Welcome Week, he says that it’s a “particularly special” time. 

“They [students] can look at clubs, societies, facilities. Different opportunities. 

“It’s a great time to branch out, take a slight risk and do something new. 

“Do something unusual, something different. Try something you have never done before and see if you like it.” 

David’s last piece of advice? 

“You can always try something new next welcome week. There’s always more to come.”