'University will compete with the best in the world'

Professor Ian Diamond made the ambitious pledge at the start of his first full week on campus.

Prof Diamond, 56, who succeeds Professor Sir Duncan Rice as principal, will not join the university on a full-time basis until the end of June and will devote 20 per cent of his time until then to his current post as chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the UK's leading funding body for research and training in the social sciences.

He said yesterday: "I am looking forward very much to leading the University of Aberdeen and ensuring that it continues to strengthen, grow, and become established firmly as one of the world's great universities.

"The achievements of recent years, combined with the commitment and ambition of my new colleagues, gives us the best possible advantage in positioning the university as a major international centre of learning and research.

"I want this university to compete with the best in the world, and, together with its staff, I believe we can achieve this."

Before joining the ESRC, Prof Diamond pursued an academic career at Southampton University. He was appointed a lecturer in 1980, rising through the ranks as senior lecturer, professor, and dean of social sciences in 1997 prior to becoming deputy vice-chancellor in 2001.

Welcoming the new principal, Sir Moir Lockhead, the senior governor of the University Court, the university's governing body, said: "We are delighted to welcome as our new principal someone of the standing of Professor Diamond."