HE wants to make Oxford Brookes a world-leading university.

So it was fitting that the new vice-chancellor Prof Alistair Fitt had family travel over from America for his inauguration yesterday.

The ceremony marked the official appointment to the role and saw him presented with a ceremonial medal to mark the occasion.

It was held in conjunction with the Brookes People Awards 2015.

Prof Fitt said: “It has been a fantastic day and great to see so many colleagues and family. People have come from all over the world.”

The university vice-chancellor started the role in February after his new role was announced in late January.

He had already been working at the university as the pro vice-chancellor for research and knowledge before taking on the new title.

He said: “It has been a great privilege to do the role and it is a great job. You never really know until you start doing the job the huge range of things you will be getting involved with. I am involved with things in the city, regionally, nationally and internationally, which is what I am really interested in. I truly believe university influences all of these things.

“We are focused on making sure we have a world-leading student experience and we have also done a lot of fantastic building on campus and there is more to be done.

“There will be a lot of renovation and restoration work, things that make staff and student experience better because buildings are important.”

The ceremony took place at the Headington campus of the university with staff, students and special guests including family. The vice-chancellor was presented his ceremonial medal by the chairman of the board of governors Geoffrey Donnelly.

He said: “Alistair knows that Oxford Brookes’ dedicated and talented staff are vital to the university’s continued success. It is therefore entirely in character that he has chosen to express gratitude to his colleagues today.”