Executive Board

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering

Biography

Professor Dirk Schaefer is a visionary senior executive with over 25 years of experience in Higher Education, bringing strategic leadership, change management, academic excellence, and a global perspective to his role as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester. He oversees the College’s strategic, academic, and operational direction—championing innovation in education and research and shaping its contribution to the University’s institutional goals. He is also a member of the Executive Board and the Senior Leadership Team. 

Previously, Professor Schaefer served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Hull, where he led a major transformation of the Faculty that significantly improved financial performance and long-term resilience. This included a successful restructuring programme, expansion of the academic portfolio, enhanced research intensity, strengthened postgraduate education, and the growth of transnational activity. He also played a key role in civic and industrial partnerships focused on regional innovation, sustainability and net-zero ambitions.

Prior to Hull, he held senior academic leadership roles at the Universities of Lincoln and Liverpool, and academic appointments at the Universities of Bath, Durham, Stuttgart (Germany) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (USA). These experiences reflect a consistent track record of strategic transformation, effective leadership and academic delivery at scale.

With a PhD in Computer Science and interdisciplinary expertise spanning Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering, Professor Schaefer is internationally recognised for his pioneering research in Cloud-Based Design and Manufacturing (CBDM), which has significantly influenced the development of Industry 4.0. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, including 11 books, and delivered numerous invited talks and keynotes across the globe. He has supervised over 150 research students and served as a reviewer for more than 60 journals and funding bodies, including EPSRC, the European Commission, and the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Professor Schaefer is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), Institution of Engineering Designers (FIED), British Computer Society (FBCS), Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (FIMA), Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (FASME). He holds Chartered status as a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Technological Product Designer (CTPD), Chartered Scientist (CSci), and Chartered IT Professional (CITP).