Oxford Brookes University's new vice chancellor Janet Beer has promised students that she will make their voices heard on the issues that affect their education.

Prof Beer, 50, has been pro vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University and dean of humanities, law and social sciences for the last eight years.

She takes over from Prof Graham Upton, who is retiring after 10 years, on September 1 next year.

The mother-of-two has been described as a "rising star" in the education world, and she is keen to live up to that accolade.

Prof Beer, who lives in Manchester with her husband David Woodman and children Helena Goodwyn, 18, and Tom Goodwyn, 20, said: "I am very concerned to ensure Brookes punches its mark on national debates in the future.

"It is a very important provider of education and it is crucial its voice is heard in the debate about the future of top-up fees, for instance."

The Yale University graduate is well placed to take on her new role.

She is one of two special advisers in higher education to the House of Commons select committee on education and skills.

She is also chairman of the audit committee and board member for the Higher Education Academy.

Prof Beer said she hoped to spend the first six months of her new job "getting out there and meeting people, making sure everybody understands Brookes is central to the area".

She added: "I want to see it getting even better at the things that it already does well.

"Brookes is on an upward trajectory and I will be very keen not to mess that up.

"I want to continue the kind of balance of activities between post-graduate and undergraduate, and international and home students.

"I am hoping to keep up the excellent record on mature students, particularly in higher education, that Brookes is known for."

Prof Beer plans to move to Oxford next summer is and hoping to buy a house in Headington near the university.

She said: "I am very much looking forward to the new challenge but I am also sad to leave. I am a southerner but I've enjoyed living in Manchester and I adore my colleagues.

"We have all been very happy here."

Tim Stevenson, chairman of governors at Brookes, said: "Janet is very much a rising star in the sector, with impressive leadership and management skills, and a strong commitment to education.

"I am confident that her combination of skills and personal style make her very well qualified to work with colleagues to achieve our vision of a progressive, student-centred university."

Her predecessor, Prof Upton, said the university had an international reputation for the quality of its teaching, adding: "I have every confidence that Janet has all the qualities to continue our plan to become one of the best universities in the country."