Bradford University's new vice-chancellor is keen to add to the institution's growing reputation.

Professor Mark Cleary took up his new post after arriving from the University of Plymouth where he was deputy vice-chancellor.

Now, two months into his new job, he has outlined his task. These include adding to the university's significant international reputation.

Bradford runs satellite institutions in India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Singapore.

However, Prof Cleary said he was keen to see the institution forge links in the world's poorest continent, Africa.

He said: "We are having preliminary discussions about working in Africa at the moment. There is not a huge amount of money in Africa. But it worries me that some UK universities are neglecting it.

"We are looking at one-or-two geographical areas at the moment although it is too early to say where. We are looking at working with African institutions to provide staff development, organisation and staff exchanges."

Prof Cleary said he was also looking to build on the university's domestic name, adding its fortunes were very much tied to its home city.

He said: "Bradford as a university will not thrive unless the city thrives."

He added he had already been offered, and accepted, a place on the Bradford Centre Regeneration team's board.

He hoped the university would improve its student drop-out rate, despite adding that it remained very low'.

Only about one in 13 students at the University of Bradford drop out during their first 12 months, figures revealed earlier this month.

For the academic year 2005-06, 7.9 per cent of students failed to complete the first year of their degree course. This figures compares favourably with the previous year where nearly one in nine (10.9 per cent) of students failed to return.

Prof Cleary, a keen Yorkshire cricket fan, added he was also proud of the university's record in attracting students from poor and ethnic minority backgrounds.