News | 08 March 2021
Cardiff Metropolitan University has appointed two of its senior academics to lead its Global Academies.
As a key part of Cardiff Met’s Strategic Plan the Global Academies offer high-calibre postgraduate education and research opportunities which contribute a positive difference to the main issues facing society today.
The Global Academies serve to tackle global challenges identified by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and national priorities highlighted in The Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
Professor Diane Crone and Professor Andrew Walters have been appointed to lead the Global Academies for Health and Human Performance and Human Centred Design respectively.
Prof Crone provides academic leadership as Head of the Global Academy in Health and Human Performance. This Global Academy includes research and innovation that focuses on improving individuals for the benefit of society whether this is tackling health issues and diseases, improving mental health or developing business leaders.
Prof Crone is Professor of Exercise and Health at Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences where she recently launched the CAWR research centre with over 30 years’ experience of collaborative working in the community, health care, government, third sector and higher education in the UK and the EU.
Speaking about her new role, Prof Crone said: "Universities have a significant role in co-creating solutions to help address some of society’s biggest problems, collectively, with the specific communities in which they operate.
"The Health and Human Performance Global Academy at Cardiff Metropolitan University provides the perfect conduit to achieve this."
Prof Walters provides academic leadership as Head of the Global Academy of Human Centred Design. This Global Academy links our expertise in design and design thinking with technology, art, architecture and policy to address a diverse range of global challenges.
Prof Walters is Director of Research at PDR where, over the last 20 years, he has played a key role in the development of PDR into an internationally-renowned and award-winning Centre.
He also leads PDR’s User Centred Design Research Group and is currently involved in the £5.6 million Arts and Humanities Research Council's Creative Clusters Programme alongside Cardiff University, University of South Wales, BBC Wales, ITV Wales, S4C and Ffilm Cymru.
Prof Walters said: "I will bring researchers and academics from across the institution together to develop our research and post-graduate provision in new ways.
"I intend to take a design approach to this, connecting with people to discover what their needs are and how those needs align to the needs of our external stakeholders."
Director the Global Academies, Leila Gouran said: "I am delighted to welcome Diane and Andrew to these crucial new roles.
"They are proven research leaders and bring a wealth of research experience and knowledge with them.
"I am confident they will work collaboratively across the University and with external stakeholders to utilise our expertise and develop new research, innovation and education which is sure to help our Global Academies successfully address the main issues facing society."
