Anton Muscatelli
Encyclopedia
Professor Vito Antonio "Anton" Muscatelli FRSA FRSE
AcSS
(born 1962 in Italy) is the Principal of the University of Glasgow
and one of the United Kingdom
's leading economists.
, where he graduated M.A.
(Hons) in Political Economy (1984) and took a Ph.D.
in Economics (1989). He was a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow
from 1984–1992, and Daniel Jack Professor of Political Economy from 1992 until 2007. He was Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, 2000 to 2004, and Vice-Principal (Strategy, Budgeting and Advancement) from 2004 until 2007.
and the European Commission
, and was a member of the Panel of Economic Advisers of the Secretary of State for Scotland
from 1998-2000. Since 2007, he has been an adviser to the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee on monetary policy, and in 2008 he was appointed to chair an independent expert group for the Calman Commission
on Devolution, set up by the Scottish Parliament
and led by the Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
, Sir Kenneth Calman
. This includes experts from the UK, Europe, and North America. He chaired the Research and Commercialisation Committee of Universities Scotland in 2007-08 and from 2008-2010 is Convener of Universities Scotland and Vice-President of Universities UK
. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2001, and of the CESifo Economics Research Institute in Munich
in 1999.
on 10 October 2006, with effect from 1 February 2007. He replaced Professor John Archer
, who retired. His tenure as principal saw expansion in the University and rises in league tables. He was described by The Herald
in 2008 as "one of the leading lights in Scottish higher education". Upon the announcement that he would be moving to Glasgow, the Chairman of the Court of Heriot-Watt, Lord Penrose
, said: "Professor Muscatelli has been an excellent principal and vice-chancellor for Heriot-Watt University. During his time here, he has led the university to an ambitious strategy which will be our foundation for the future."
Professor Muscatelli was succeeded as Principal of Heriot-Watt on 1 September 2009 by Professor Steve Chapman
, formerly a Vice-Principal at the University of Edinburgh
.
as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow in October 2009. One of his first actions was creation of a post of Senior Vice-Principal, with responsibility for internationalisation, a key aspect of his strategy for the University. He also put forward proposals to the University Court
to restructure the University's nine faculties into four Colleges: College of Arts, College of Biomedicine, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and College of Law, Business, Social Sciences and Education Such structures already existed at other large universities in the UK, including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Dundee and Edinburgh. The plans for restructuring were approved and brought into effect in August 2010.
The initial occupation lasted until March 2011, when the occupants were evicted by police. Accusations of heavy-handedness were laid against both Strathclyde Police and Muscatelli.
Following the eviction, a surge of students occupied the University's Senate and negotiated the reoccupation of the Hetherington Research Club the same day. The second occupation stayed in effect until 31 August 2011, with the occupants winning major concessions from Muscatelli's management team.
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
AcSS
Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences
The Academy of Social Sciences is a research body in the UK. , the Academy was composed of over 450 Academicians and 32 Learned Societies. Academicians are distinguished scholars and practitioners from academia and the public and private sectors...
(born 1962 in Italy) is the Principal of the University of Glasgow
Principal of the University of Glasgow
The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...
and one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's leading economists.
Early life
Anton Muscatelli was born on 1 January 1962 in Italy to Ambrogio and Rosellina Muscatelli. His father, who was head of a shipping company, relocated the family first to Holland and then to Glasgow. Anton was educated at The High School of Glasgow, at the time a publicly-funded grammar school, and the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, where he graduated M.A.
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
(Hons) in Political Economy (1984) and took a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Economics (1989). He was a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
from 1984–1992, and Daniel Jack Professor of Political Economy from 1992 until 2007. He was Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, 2000 to 2004, and Vice-Principal (Strategy, Budgeting and Advancement) from 2004 until 2007.
Career
Professor Muscatelli has been a consultant to the World BankWorld Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, and was a member of the Panel of Economic Advisers of the Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
from 1998-2000. Since 2007, he has been an adviser to the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee on monetary policy, and in 2008 he was appointed to chair an independent expert group for the Calman Commission
Commission on Scottish Devolution
The Commission on Scottish Devolution, also referred to as the Calman Commission, Scottish Parliament Commission or Review was established by an opposition Labour Party motion passed by the Scottish Parliament on 6 December 2007, with the support of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats...
on Devolution, set up by the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
and led by the Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom he is elected. The office is intended to be held for life. His principal duty is to confer degrees upon those presented to him by the Senate, although this role is usually carried out by...
, Sir Kenneth Calman
Kenneth Calman
Sir Kenneth Charles Calman, KCB, DL, FRSE is a Scottish cancer researcher and former Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England. He was Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University from 1998 to 2006, before becoming Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He has held the position of...
. This includes experts from the UK, Europe, and North America. He chaired the Research and Commercialisation Committee of Universities Scotland in 2007-08 and from 2008-2010 is Convener of Universities Scotland and Vice-President of Universities UK
Universities UK
Universities UK began life as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century when there were informal meetings involving Vice-Chancellors of a number of universities and Principals of university colleges...
. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2001, and of the CESifo Economics Research Institute in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1999.
Heriot-Watt University
Professor Muscatelli was appointed Principal of Heriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
on 10 October 2006, with effect from 1 February 2007. He replaced Professor John Archer
John Stuart Archer
John Stuart Archer, CBE was Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Heriot-Watt University from 1997 to 2006.-Life:...
, who retired. His tenure as principal saw expansion in the University and rises in league tables. He was described by The Herald
The Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
in 2008 as "one of the leading lights in Scottish higher education". Upon the announcement that he would be moving to Glasgow, the Chairman of the Court of Heriot-Watt, Lord Penrose
George William Penrose, Lord Penrose
George William Penrose, Lord Penrose, PC is a Scottish judge and member of the Privy Council who sat in the Court of Session, the supreme civil court. He is best known for heading the Penrose Inquiry into the near-collapse of the mutual life assurance company Equitable Life. In 2001, Lord Penrose...
, said: "Professor Muscatelli has been an excellent principal and vice-chancellor for Heriot-Watt University. During his time here, he has led the university to an ambitious strategy which will be our foundation for the future."
Professor Muscatelli was succeeded as Principal of Heriot-Watt on 1 September 2009 by Professor Steve Chapman
Steve Chapman
Professor Stephen Kenneth Chapman FRSE FRSC CChem PhD is Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.-Early life:...
, formerly a Vice-Principal at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
University of Glasgow
Professor Muscatelli succeeded Sir Muir RussellMuir Russell
Sir Muir Russell KCB DL FRSE is a former civil servant and former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, and Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.-Early life:...
as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow in October 2009. One of his first actions was creation of a post of Senior Vice-Principal, with responsibility for internationalisation, a key aspect of his strategy for the University. He also put forward proposals to the University Court
University Court
A University Court is an administrative body of a university in the United Kingdom. In England's Oxbridge such a Court carries out limited judicial functions; whereas in Scotland it is a University's supreme governing body, analogous to a Board of Directors or a Board of Trustees.-England:In the...
to restructure the University's nine faculties into four Colleges: College of Arts, College of Biomedicine, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and College of Law, Business, Social Sciences and Education Such structures already existed at other large universities in the UK, including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Dundee and Edinburgh. The plans for restructuring were approved and brought into effect in August 2010.
Controversy
Muscatelli was embroiled in controversy in February 2011 after students of Glasgow University occupied the University's defunct Hetherington Research Club. The occupation started in protest at Muscatelli's cuts to courses and budgets at the University, and in particular to the closure of the Hetherington. A committee had presented two alternative business plans in an attempt to keep the Club open, both of which were rejected by Muscatelli's management team.The initial occupation lasted until March 2011, when the occupants were evicted by police. Accusations of heavy-handedness were laid against both Strathclyde Police and Muscatelli.
Following the eviction, a surge of students occupied the University's Senate and negotiated the reoccupation of the Hetherington Research Club the same day. The second occupation stayed in effect until 31 August 2011, with the occupants winning major concessions from Muscatelli's management team.
Personal life
Professor Muscatelli married Elaine Flood in 1986, with whom he has a son and a daughter. His interests include music (opera), literature, football, strategic games and cookery.See also
- Commission on Scottish DevolutionCommission on Scottish DevolutionThe Commission on Scottish Devolution, also referred to as the Calman Commission, Scottish Parliament Commission or Review was established by an opposition Labour Party motion passed by the Scottish Parliament on 6 December 2007, with the support of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats...
- Heriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
- University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
- Andrea NolanAndrea NolanAndrea Nolan is Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology and Senior Vice-Principal of the University of Glasgow. In 1999, she was the first woman ever appointed to head a British veterinary school.-Early life:...