Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, has risen dramatically in the 2017 Wonkhe Higher Education Power List, jumping nine places to 6th. The list, now in its third year, represents the top 50 people with most influence over the UK higher education sector.

Professor Muscatelli is now the second highest placed Vice Chancellor on the Power List, and ranks above both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, who share 10th place.

The Principal’s ranking is due to the influential positions he holds both in Scotland and across the UK. In addition to his role at the University of Glasgow, he is chair of Nicola Sturgeon’s expert advisory group on Brexit and has recently taken up a new, UK-wide position as chair of the Russell Group. This new appointment will see Professor Muscatelli acting as head lobbyist for a group of 24 leading UK universities, extending his influence down to Westminster.

He is a former convener of Universities Scotland and has served on a range of committees, networks and working groups within Universities UK. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2017 he was knighted for services to economics and higher education.

Wonkhe (pronounced wonky) is a non-partisan organisation aiming to improve policymaking in higher education and to provide a platform for new or previously unheard voices and perspectives in the sector. 

First published: 20 September 2017

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Higher Education Power List 2017