Differences Between University Chancellor And University Principal

In universities, there is always an official who holds the highest academic position and they are either called the university chancellor or the university principal. A university chancellor is the same as a university principal. The only difference is that in some countries they prefer to call the head of their university a chancellor rather than a principal. University chancellor and university principal are also synonymous with president and rector.

A university chancellor or university principal is the person holding the university’s top official position. He or she is an official who has been given the great responsibility to oversee the university’s whole faculty and student body, including the financial status and general well-being of the institution. Basically, the university chancellor or the university principal is like the acting chief executive officer of the institution in that the heads of each department report to him.

Here is a list of countries that designate their highest academic official as university chancellor: Australia, Canada, Hong-kong, United Kingdom, Finland, Germany, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and United States. But of course, in some of these countries, there are particular universities that don’t designate their highest academic official as university chancellor. Some universities still call them as university principal, president, or rector.  On the other hand, these countries consistently call their highest academic official the university principal: United Kingdom, Canada, England and Scotland.

So what does a university chancellor or a university principal do? Let us find out. University chancellors or university principals are responsible for watching over the programs and activities of the whole university. Though he or she has claimed the spot as the highest academic official in the university, he or she may still share reports among the governing board of trustees of the university. So as to support all of the beneficial programs of the institution, the university chancellor or principal makes sure that the university has adequate funds. These funds are used to run and support certain programs of the school. If he or she deems that the funds are inadequate, existing programs may be cut out.

The university chancellor or principal also takes reports and summaries from the head of each particular department. This is to keep the chancellor updated on every department. The head of each department includes in their report their department’s performance status and financial status. The university chancellor or principal would then analyse all the reports coming from each department so that he or she may be able to devise a better plan or program for the university.

Larger universities commonly hire both a university chancellor and a vice chancellor. The vice chancellor helps the university chancellor to decrease the workload. Vice chancellors are much needed in countries like Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Kenya, Ireland, Philippines, Sweden, and United States.

A university chancellor or university principal does everything he or she can in order to make the university run smoothly as possible. So let us say our thanks to their relentless efforts.

Summary:

1. A university chancellor is the same as a university principal. The only difference is that in some countries they prefer to call the head of their university a chancellor rather than a principal.

2. A university chancellor or university principal is an official who has been given the great responsibility to oversee the university’s whole faculty and student body, including the financial status and general well-being of the institution.

3. The university chancellor or the university principal is like the acting chief executive officer of the institution.

4. Larger universities commonly hire both a university chancellor and a vice chancellor. The vice chancellor helps the university chancellor to decrease his or her workload.

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