University of Sydney Appoints Jacinda Ardern as Professor of Practice in Its Public Health School, Times Higher Education Reports

The University of Sydney has appointed Jacinda Ardern, the former New Zealand prime minister, as a professor of practice in its public health school, Times Higher Education (THE) reported on 26 October. According to the report, by Juliette Rowsell, the university announced the appointment. According to THE, the role is part-time and paid, runs for five years and is due to begin later in October; the report gives no exact start date.

What the Role Involves

THE says Dame Jacinda’s work will centre on empathetic leadership, civic trust and social cohesion, as well as global health challenges and questions of equity, inclusion and wellbeing. She is expected to give guest lectures and masterclasses and to mentor students and researchers. The report adds that the university did not say how much time she will spend on campus.

Mark Scott, the university’s vice-chancellor, is quoted as saying that “empathy and resolve do not compete with one another; each can strengthen the other”. He described Dame Jacinda as “a thoughtful teacher with a great deal to share about public leadership and service”, according to THE.

Dame Jacinda said she was delighted to be joining the university. THE reports that she said she has been especially focused on the question of leadership since leaving office.

What Has Not Been Said

The report is limited to what the university told THE. It does not set out how many hours Dame Jacinda will give the role, how many students or researchers will take part in the masterclasses and mentoring, or whether the work will be tied to a particular degree programme.

Why It Matters

In our view, the appointment is an example of a university drawing on a former head of government to teach leadership, with a stated focus on empathy, trust and wellbeing alongside public health. On the facts reported it is a modest commitment: part-time, with no stated campus hours, and the report does not say which courses or cohorts she will work with. Its value to students and researchers will depend on how much of her time the programme secures and how the masterclasses and mentoring are arranged, details that the report does not give.