His exit on Friday will be symbolic of the legacy he has left after his nine-year term – a UC almost unrecognisable from its former days as the Canberra College of Advanced Education.

Professor Parker inherited an institution beset with debt and industrial tensions in 2007. Last week he signed a development deal for 3300 residences on campus worth $1.7 billion over the next 20 years. UC also became the first Australian university to introduce an Employee Bonus Scheme in 2015 – with full-time staff last year receiving a almost $1200 each, shared with them from the surplus.

Not only has a massive campus redevelopment changed the look of the place, but a spotlight on research, recruitment drive and concerted focus on its international outlook has seen UC place in not one, but two, international league tables over the past 12 months.

Just this month, it earned a spot in the Times Higher Education 150 Under 50 rankings, celebrating a group of institutions under 50 years of age which are noted for excellence across teaching, research, citations, industry income and international outlook.

Last year, UC cracked the QS rankings of universities under the age of 50 in the 91-100 band.

While the QS league table is good, in Professor Parker's eyes the Times Higher Education is better. "It is the top ranking and the one to which we ultimately aspired."

Professor Park acknowledged his very last month at the helm of UC had seen the realisation of many of his long-term plans.

"I couldn't be prouder of the university, its staff and student body at this time," Professor Parker said.

He cites as among his greatest legacy bringing more than $2 billion in funding to the campus redevelopment as part of his "Educated Life" vision of education, research and residence across the UC's Belconnen land holdings.

For the students who have been enrolled during his tenure, it just means a busier, more cosmopolitan, even edgy campus experience.

Now Professor Parker is setting his sights on making university research more accessible to the public on a global scale as he takes over as Director of Strategy, Development and Global at The Conversation.

He sees the platform as taking taxpayer-funded scholarly research and translating it into an accessible form the taxpayer can read about.

"I see this as important work and a chance to give back to the community."

Professor Parker will undertake the new role from Melbourne, where his wife Rhian, two daughters and two-year-old grandson reside.

But he has developed a love of Canberra and is adamant he will not be a stranger. "I am very happy to look at opportunities in Canberra, it has become my second home."

Of his personal regrets over his time at UC, Professor Parker said the time and effort he put into facilitating a potential merger with the CIT was significant. The proposal, considered by the ACT Government in 2011 but strongly resisted by the CIT, was eventually abandoned.

"We put a lot of effort into the CIT proposal, and it did emanate from government. Then it all fell over. I think UC is in a stronger place and it won't ever come back onto the table, but at the time I did think it was in Canberra's interest."

And while it was stressful to stand out among Australia's Vice-Chancellor ranks to be the lone voice of opposition to then Education Minister Christopher Pyne's disastrous attempts to deregulate university funding, Professor Parker said he ultimately provided a winning argument.

"I certainly didn't enjoy it at the time but I look back at it with some satisfaction," he said.

"If those proposals were to be returned I think they will face a lot more critical scrutiny than had I not spoken out and shifted the debate somewhat. In a way that might have been my legacy to Australian higher education."

Australian National University Vice-Chancellor and Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt said: "Stephen has been a valued friend of the ANU and I wish him the very best for his new career."

"It has been wonderful to see how the University of Canberra has flourished under his leadership over the past decade. He is leaving the institution in a very strong position for its future. I would also like to thank Stephen for the contributions he has made to ANU. A very fine example is the vertical double degree for science teaching which we launched together last year and which brings together both of our fine institutions," Professor Schmidt said.