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Sir Alan Langlands

Alan Langlands stood outside on campus on a sunny day wearing graduation cap and gown.

Presentation address by Professor Hai-Sui Yu:
 
Chancellor,    

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” This quote by Einstein neatly expresses the value and importance of selfless service. Service to others. Service to our great public institutions. And public service.

They are words which could have been penned for the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds, Sir Alan Langlands – a man who has devoted his professional life to public service – to the nation’s benefit.

Joining us in 2013 from the Higher Education Funding Council for England where he was chief executive, he had previously served as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee. Before that, he spent six years as Chief Executive of the National Health Service in England until 2000.

In addition, Sir Alan chaired the UK Biobank from 2004 to 2012, and the Health Foundation from 2009 to 2017. He is the current Chair of Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Knighted in 1998 for his services to the NHS, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. He has maintained a hands-on interest in improving the scientific basis of health services.

When he stood down as our Vice-Chancellor in 2020 after seven extremely successful years, Sir Alan had achieved 46 years of continuous public service. 

He led the University of Leeds from strength to strength, nurturing excellence in many areas, including student education and research and innovation, and in international reach and global reputation. In 2017, Leeds was named as UK University of the Year. Sir Alan is widely regarded as one of the best Vice-Chancellors of his generation.

I worked closely with him for several years, and saw first-hand his incredible skill, hard work, integrity and total dedication to the institution, its students and staff. I remain forever grateful for his inspiring mentorship and kind friendship.

Sir Alan’s reputation for integrity and trust has been widely recognised at the highest levels of government and by his peers in the public, private and charitable sectors at home and abroad.

I am honoured to present for the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, Sir Alan Langlands.