University of Wollongong Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings will step down from his post in June 2021, retiring after almost 10 years in the job.
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Prof Wellings took over the role from former vice-chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton on January 1, 2012.
The university announced on Tuesday that Professor Wellings had advised he would retire, prpmpting a "global search" for his replacement.
University Chancellor Jillian Broadbent said wished Prof Wellings "every success in the future"/
The University of Wollongong has now begun a global search for its fifth Vice-Chancellor," she said.
Prof Wellings retirement will mark the end of a 40 year academic and research career, including periods as Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University (2002-11) and Deputy Chief Executive of CSIRO (1999-2002).
During his decade in charge, Prof Wellings has overseen the significant expansion of the university nationally and internationally.
Under his tenure, UOW has spent $870 million on its facilities, including the Liverpool campus, Molecular Horizons, iAccelerate, the new Arts and Social Sciences building and an 820 new student accommodation beds.
UOW delivers teaching to students in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Singapore.
It also now has formal agreements with more than 400 institutions in 45 countries spanning research and teaching collaborations, study abroad and exchange programs and offshore program delivery.
Recently Prof Wellings came under fire from academics and students after accepting a Ramsay Centre-funded degree in Western Civilisation without consulting staff.
As the leader of Wollongong's largest employer, Prof Wellings' imminent retirement is significant for the wider city of Wollongong.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said he had enjoyed working alongside the Vice Chancellor, who came to his position just after Cr Bradbery was elected city leader.
"UOW has been through some challenging times and transitions, and Paul has steered the organisation at a time that hasn't been easy for the university sector," Cr Bradbery said.
"It expanded its campuses, into Liverpool and other locations internationally, which has been a major advancement in terms of its impact well beyond the city of Wollongong.
"Funding has also been a challenge for universities at this time, and he has helped to make it a truly international university in terms of its recognition in the top 50 young universities in the world.
"The economics of universities in Australia generally has been very challenging, and now in the light of the impacto the coronavirus, the implications are immense. Universities play a big role in our exports and export income and he needs to be congratulated for making sure the university thrived."
Cr Bradbery said there was a strong "synergy" between the university and the wider city of Wollongong, as students are staff were major economic drivers.
"Paul has been extremely entrepreneurial and placed the university in a very sound position to go into the future," he said.
As for the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor, Cr Bradbery said he would be keen to work any future leader and see the university become "more engaged with the city".
"I would like to see the university decentralise some of its activities and scatter them more throughout the city, so we don't have such a large impact upon the Keiraville and Gwynneville area," he said.
"We have a campus that has now reached its capacity. We can share the love around."
