The vice-chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton is to retire next summer as she feels it is ¡°time to do something else¡± after 40 years of full-time work.

Caroline Gipps, who was appointed by Wolverhampton in October 2005, will step down at the end of the coming academic year.

A spokeswoman for the university said: ¡°Caroline has enjoyed leading the university for the past five years, but has worked full-time for 40 years ¨C and part-time for two ¨C so feels it is now time to do something else.¡±

Wolverhampton says in a statement: ¡°Under Professor Gipps¡¯ leadership, the university has received recognition for its world-leading research activity; redesigned its curriculum; built an increased international presence; and enhanced its regional, national and international business links.¡±

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Professor Gipps, 62, is an expert in educational assessment and is a trained psychometrician. Before joining Wolverhampton, she was dean of research at the Institute of Education, University of London and deputy vice-chancellor of Kingston University.

¡°This is a great institution and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead it for the past five years,¡± she said. She thanked staff, her senior team and students.

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Michael Elliott, chairman of the university¡¯s board of governors, paid tribute to Professor Gipps and said the university was ¡°determined to recruit an equally outstanding successor¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com