Our mission is simple, based on an equal commitment to education and research.

We are strongly committed to social mobility and making a difference to the lives of individuals and communities regionally, nationally and internationally.

We aim to provide our students with a transformative education experience enabling them to become global citizens who can help shape a better future and society for all.

We take pride in putting our students at the centre of everything we do. This goes far beyond supporting them in achieving their full academic potential. It is about ensuring that the whole student experience we offer at Essex plays its part in enabling each and every student, whatever their background, to succeed and to be equipped to step out into the world and into their future with confidence.

Working in partnership with our Students’ Union helps us to understand the lived experience of students and challenges us every day to remember to listen, be responsive to their needs and always act in their interests. We are ranked 24th for overall student positivity out of all English Broad Discipline Institutions (THE, National Student Survey 2024), 46th in the Times Good University Guide 2025, 23rd in the Guardian University Guide 2025, and 58th in the global Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024.

We are pioneering research that can help transform lives regionally and globally. One of our unique strengths lies in our interdisciplinary approach to fostering collaboration across diverse fields to tackle complex global challenges. From groundbreaking work in our Human Rights Centre (HRC) and the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) to innovations in health through the Institute for Public Health and Wellbeing (IPHW), advances in agriculture at the Essex Plant Innovation Centre (EPIC), and responsible AI development at the Institute for Analytics and Data Science (IADS), our research strives to have a tangible societal impact.

In the Government’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), Essex was ranked in the UK top ten for research quality in four subjects and in the UK top ten for research power in five subjects. We work in partnership with business and public sector organisations, and I am particularly proud that Essex is ranked first for the number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships we hold, and 11th in the sector and 2nd in the benchmark group in the Knowledge Exchange Framework (2024).

Our achievements are driven by dedicated staff who are passionate about education and are pushing the boundaries of research across disciplines. We celebrate and take pride in each other’s successes and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment, where colleagues can contribute, feel supported, develop themselves and thrive.

I have been at Essex for many years and consider this place “home”. During that time I am proud to say that I have seen the University grow and flourish. As we celebrate the University’s 60th anniversary we can step back and reflect on six decades of achievements. From a first intake of 122 students in October 1964, we have grown to 17,000 students and 980 academic researchers.

Part of the vision for our university when it was first established was to be truly international. This is something that has remained constant and is visible in all that we do today. We are proud to be able to say that at Essex you really do experience “the world in one place”. At the same time, the University was founded in, by and for the people of Essex and as a ‘Civic University’ we remain committed to working with stakeholders and having a positive impact in our communities.

Despite the challenges currently facing the UK Higher Education sector, our university continues to thrive. Our ambition is to continue to grow, not just in size but in relation to the quality of education that our students experience and the impactful world-class research being undertaken at Essex. Our diverse, inspiring, and fantastic community is capable of so much. I see my role as enabling it to succeed.

In one sentence

Maria Fasli is the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex and is a Professor of Computer Science specialising in Artificial Intelligence

Full details

Maria Fasli is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex and is a Professor of Computer Science specialising in Artificial Intelligence (AI). She took over the role of Vice-Chancellor on 1st August 2024.  Maria obtained her BSc in Informatics from the Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Department of Informatics, Greece in 1996. She obtained her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Essex in 2000 working on logics for AI under the supervision of Professor Ray Turner.

Maria started as a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Essex in January 2000 and she has held a range of roles within the University. She was the Head of the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (2009-14) and the founding Director of the Institute for Analytics and Data Science (IADS) (2014-19). Prior to her current role, Maria was the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Health.

Maria’s research interests lie in AI and she has published extensively in conferences and journals in the field. Her research has been funded by Research Councils and other organisations and she has worked with companies and public sector organisations in data analytics and AI related projects. She has been the Director of the ESRC funded Business and Local Government Data Research Centre (BLG DRC) since 2018 and has worked with multidisciplinary teams and a range of stakeholders on developing and applying AI techniques in different settings. In 2016, she was awarded the first UNESCO Chair in Analytics and Data Science to support the development of skills and research capacity in data science, analytics and AI across the world. She is passionate about education and in 2005, she was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) by the Higher Education Academy UK for her novel approaches to education and supporting the student experience.

The Vice-Chancellor's role

As the senior academic and administrative officer, the Vice-Chancellor is the de facto Chief Executive of the University with overall responsibility for the leadership and management of the institution.

The University Ordinances state that the Vice-Chancellor: ‘shall have a general responsibility to the Council for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of the University.’ She is responsible to the University Council and is an ex officio member of the Council and of the Senate, which she chairs. The Vice-Chancellor also chairs the University Steering Group (USG), the executive leadership team which meets fortnightly during term time and advises the Vice-Chancellor on matters relating to the management of the University.

The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for:

  1. Providing academic and administrative leadership and ensuring the good management of the University
  2. Developing and evolving the University’s strategy and vision
  3. Exercising general oversight of the University’s financial position in order to ensure a sustainable financial base that allows the delivery of the University’s mission, aims and objectives and advising the Resources Committee on the University’s overall financial strategy and its development
  4. Playing a leading part in shaping the academic development of the University
  5. Promoting and marketing the University locally, nationally and internationally
  6. Articulating the University’s needs and interests to government, the funding bodies and research councils
  7. Providing leadership and personal commitment to the University’s fundraising activities and fostering strong relationships with alumni
  8. Carrying out ceremonial and civic duties

As part of the University’s commitment to equality and diversity within and beyond its community, individual members USG also act as diversity champions in relation to each of the nine protected characteristics. The Vice-Chancellor is one of the University’s sexual orientation diversity champions.

Get in touch
Professor Maria Fasli  Vice-Chancellor
Telephone: 01206 872000
Mariella O’Brien Personal Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor
Telephone: 01206 872815