Professor Richard Black, Head of the School of Global Studies, has been appointed Pro-Director (Research and Enterprise) of SOAS, University of London.

Professor Black, who has been Head of Global Studies at Sussex since the School was established in 2009, will take up his new post at SOAS - a world-leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East - on 1 September 2013.

Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor at Sussex, said: "Richard has made a major contribution to the establishment of a new, very successful school at Sussex and has been an important member of the Senior Management Group as it has developed our broader future strategy.

“Although Richard will leave a gap for us to fill, we are of course delighted that his undoubted skills and abilities have been recognised by another leading UK university in the 1994 Group – and we look forward to Richard’s continuing engagement with us through the '94 Group.

"I am also pleased that Richard has added to the growing number of academic leaders in UK universities whom Sussex has fostered in recent years.”

Professor Black, whose research focuses on international migration, joined Sussex in 1995 and has been Professor of Human Geography since 2003.

He said: “It has been a privilege to research and teach at Sussex over the past two decades.

“I have also had a wonderful opportunity to work with colleagues to establish a new school of study that I believe is genuinely international and forward-looking. The strength of any university lies in the commitment and critical engagement of its staff, and Global Studies at Sussex has these qualities in abundance.”

As Pro-Director at SOAS, Professor Black will lead the strategic development and delivery of all of its research and enterprise.

Professor Paul Webley, Director of SOAS, said: “Professor Black is an extremely distinguished academic who will make a real difference at SOAS, and fit in extremely well.”

The University of Sussex will be taking immediate steps to appoint a new Head of Global Studies to replace Professor Black.