A decade of global leadership

On 2 December 2024, Edinburgh Global hosted a reception for Professor James Smith, who recently stepped down after a decade of leadership as Vice Principal International.

The event celebrated James’ various contributions to the University’s internationalisation efforts and global academic leadership. James’ tenure as Vice Principal International marked a period of significant transformation for the University, propelling its global outreach, partnerships, and international community to new heights. 

A vision for global engagement

Reflecting on his time in office, James shared his vision when he first took on the role in 2014. There were two key things he wanted to change. “Firstly, the then ‘International Office’ really flew beneath the radar (I had to do a lot of research myself when I applied for the role). It’s a huge University and quite labyrinthine and I wanted it to be really clear there was an incredible resource of advice and help for anyone wanting to embark on international endeavours.”

Secondly, James sought to simplify the complex landscape of global strategy. "I didn’t understand the then split between the Edinburgh Global team and the International Office, good strategy is indivisible from good practice, so it made sense to pull that into one entity.” This decision led to the creation of a more cohesive structure that allowed the University to better serve its global partnerships and engage more effectively with international communities.

Reflections on a decade of change

Looking back over the past decade, James highlighted the dramatic evolution of both the University and global higher education. "It’s gotten bigger! More students, more complex partnerships, more strategies, more risks, more opportunities," he said. "The challenge has always been to provide as much gentle guidance as possible to what is a really complicated organisation.”

When asked about what he thinks the most significant achievement for the University has been, “I think having a structure that makes decisions and manages risks around partnerships. This wasn’t so much the case when I started but now, I think it’s very unlikely we’d end up entering a partnership that we’d then have to spend ages unpicking after the fact. For the community of the University, I think the extra diversity we see not only in international students but where they are from and what sort of socio-economic background, they come from is really critical. This is who the university is.”

Among the achievements James is most proud of is the University’s involvement in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, launched in 2016. This initiative, which has brought 240 scholars from 26 African countries to Edinburgh on full scholarships, is one of the cornerstone achievements of his leadership. The partnership with the Mastercard Foundation was successfully renewed and expanded in 2023 and will continue for a further seven years. "I know in 5-10-15 years many of our scholars will have achieved incredible things (and some are already). I’d be amazed if there isn’t an African President or PM in waiting amongst them,” says James.

Key achievements and legacy

James’s leadership has driven lasting institutional change that will shape the University’s future. Under his guidance, Edinburgh became the first Scottish university to join a European alliance, Una Europa in 2019, boosting research collaboration and international mobility with top European institutions. He also strengthened partnerships with networks like Universitas 21 and LERU, solidifying Edinburgh’s global academic standing.

James highlights Una Europa’s potential, noting it provides a fresh perspective on global academic work and fosters impactful research collaboration despite challenges like Brexit. He also praised the development of the University’s humanitarian programmes, particularly those supporting scholarships and partnerships with institutions like Taras Shevchenko University, seeing them as a true reflection of Edinburgh’s values.

Rooted in a commitment to ethical global engagement, James supported initiatives such as the University’s partnership with Cara (supporting displaced scholars since 2018) and the University of Sanctuary initiative (launched in 2017) to assist refugees and asylum seekers.

A lasting impact

Looking ahead, James hopes for a shift in how international students are valued in the UK’s higher education system, advocating for their recognition as vital contributors beyond financial factors. He also envisions further growth in Transnational Education (TNE), particularly in Europe and Africa, where Edinburgh has the potential to lead.

As Professor James Smith steps down from his role, the University of Edinburgh looks forward to continuing its global journey, guided by the strong foundation he has helped build. We wish him a productive and enriching sabbatical and thank him for a decade of outstanding leadership.

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