About us

An applied university of today and for tomorrow. The University of Derby has recognised that there is an opportunity to drive change which is reflective of the wider changes that are happening both in the university sector and wider society. As a result of this a Strategic Framework has been developed as a model to follow for a period of change between 2018-2030. At the heart of this is a simple promise: Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. One of the first major steps within this period of change is to design, construct and deliver a brand new Business School to open in September 2024.

Career development

This link gives you a full insight to the mindset behind the need to continually scope out and embrace the opportunity to transform and change the university for the benefit of students, staff and the wider region.

Office culture

We have talented and motivated staff, who work in a high-performance culture that promotes well-being, diversity and opportunity for all, and are essential in providing the best possible student experience.

University of Derby

Our employees

We value people and are future-focused. We are bold and foster brilliance. Our culture is one in which diverse skills and experiences are valued. We are open-minded, with individuals given the space and support to develop and grow.

Our vision

The University of Derby (UoD) is committed to delivering economic, social, environmental, and cultural prosperity to the city of Derby and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) region. The university’s vision includes an aim to expand its reach and reputation across the country as well as globally.

The UoD will offer the best possible learner experience, one that equips its students with the skills and knowledge to prosper in their future careers as well as realise it’s ambition to substantially increase enrolment through the attractiveness of UoD’s facilities, programmes, and employability prospects to national and international applicants.

University of Derby

A key element of the UoD’s efforts realise its ambitions is a proposed new iconic business school building in central Derby which will transform how students, businesses, and business organisations access the teaching, research, innovation and skills needed to thrive.

Brand values

Our Purpose - From the heart of England we empower people across the globe to achieve their potential and make a positive contribution to society.

Our Promise - Everything we do is driven by empowering excellence and opportunities for our students, staff and region.

Our People - We work as a community, with a sense of purpose which translates itself into a single shared passion among all staff to provide the best possible experience for our students, partners and stakeholders.

Our location

Meet the team

Professor Kamil Omoteso
Professor Kamil Omoteso
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of The College of Business, Law and Social Sciences

In my role as the Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences, I provide executive leadership for the College. I’m also responsible for driving change, growth and sustainability across the College and its component Schools. As a Pro Vice-Chancellor, I support University-wide initiatives, programmes and projects. I also help shape the University's policies and strategies. I am the executive lead on the University’s Access and Participation Efforts. I began my academic career in 2001 at Lagos State University, Nigeria, after six years of working in different accounting and auditing roles in both public and private sectors. Between 2003 and 2013, I held different academic positions including Principal Lecturer and the Director of Postgraduate Programmes in Accounting at De Montfort University, Leicester. Prior to joining the University of Derby, I was the Head of the School of Economics, Finance and Accounting at Coventry University, where I led a number of strategic initiatives that drove change, growth and reputation. I’m the Chair of the Centre for African Resources Research and Development. I sit on the Council of Chartered Association of Business School (Chartered ABS). The Chartered ABS is the voice of the UK’s business and management education sector. It supports members to maintain world-class standards of teaching and research and help shape policy and create opportunities through dialogue with business and government.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell
Professor Kathryn Mitchell
Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive

I joined the University as Vice-Chancellor on 1 September 2015. My academic background is in Psychology and I continue to play an active role in research. Before I came to Derby, I was Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of West London. I had special responsibility for academic provision and quality. I was previously Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic and Student Support Services and Dean of Students. I was a Wellcome Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, for over seven years and have studied at the Universities of York and London. I have worked at the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Institute in New York and the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel. The University of Derby has over 25,000 students and operates across the county of Derbyshire. We have principal sites in Derby, Buxton and Chesterfield and Leek in Staffordshire. With a turnover reaching £200m and 3,000 employees, the University is both a major institution of higher education and one of the region’s largest employers. We work with a wide range of local and global businesses. Over the last three years, we have seen growth in our student numbers. We have seen an increase in international students studying with us in Derby or with partners in China and Africa among others.

Russ Langley
Russ Langley
Chief Performance Officer

As Chief Performance Officer I am Executive lead for Marketing & Communications; International; Strategic Insights & Planning (including the Change & Portfolio Management Office); Digital Solutions & Services; and Estates. I was architect of the University's Strategic Framework and led the initial phase of our Cultural Transformation programme, helping ensure the University is best placed to achieve its ambitions through to 2030.