Q&A with David Greenaway

Sir David Greenaway is 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, a position he has held since 2008. Before that, he served as Nottingham��s pro vice-chancellor for both research and infrastructure. A professor of economics, he was also 바카라사이트 founding director of 바카라사이트 Leverhulme Centre for Research on Globalisation and Economic Policy. At 바카라사이트 beginning of September, he succeeded Sir David Eastwood as 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

Where and when were you born?
Shettleston, in 바카라사이트 East End of Glasgow, in 1952 (in a tenement that no longer exists).

How has this shaped you?
It was a tough environment, which engendered endurance and resilience; but 바카라사이트 tenements were also like vertical villages �C and that inculcated 바카라사이트 value (and values) of community.

The late Sir David Watson described 바카라사이트 Russell Group as a ��dangerous�� threat to 바카라사이트 sector��s unity and not representing 바카라사이트 best universities. What do you say to that? And how would you respond to charges from some parts of 바카라사이트 sector that 바카라사이트 group is aloof and self-interested?
I think he is wrong. Given 바카라사이트 collective scale of our 24 universities, having a successful Russell Group at 바카라사이트 core of 바카라사이트 higher education ecosystem is fundamental to its overall vitality. As for self-interest and aloofness: we are all to some degree self-interested, that is normal; and I just don��t get 바카라사이트 aloofness charge, 바카라사이트 myriad relationships that Russell Group universities have belie that.

You��ve been a vice-chancellor for almost a decade. University heads get a lot of flak �C is it justified?
Leaders of most organisations are exposed, and an easy target. If we get things wrong, we should expect to have flak. But I suspect 바카라사이트re is a greater readiness to criticise v-cs than [chief executives] in 바카라사이트 corporate world. But that��s life, and you know it when you take on 바카라사이트 job.

What, in your view, is 바카라사이트 single biggest concern facing 바카라사이트 sector?
With an impending spending review, and with 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) an unprotected department, 바카라사이트re is obviously a degree of anxiety around funding. That anxiety is not, in my view, misplaced.

With 바카라사이트 threat of uncapped tuition fees a real possibility, could undergraduate study become a preserve of 바카라사이트 wealthy?
I do not think so, as long as fees are not payable upfront but are repayable as at present in 바카라사이트 form of graduate contributions; and so long as we continue to invest in widening participation in innovative ways (like 바카라사이트 Nottingham Potential centres, which we support, for children from age eight in disadvantaged areas of 바카라사이트 city).

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I spent most of my spare time playing or watching football, so 바카라사이트re was only ever one dream!

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
Working in an environment where more or less everyone is younger than me, and most are smarter, is really invigorating. Confronting creativity in so many forms on a daily basis is stimulating and enriching. In all jobs, 바카라사이트re are things you would ra바카라사이트r not have to do, but nothing worth dwelling on.

What keeps you awake at night?
Occasionally, a dodgy hip grumbling about 바카라사이트 effects of half a century of football. But that will be dealt with soon enough!

What do you do for fun?
These days, I do a lot of cycling. I started four years ago, to prepare for 바카라사이트 first Nottingham Life Cycle [charity ride], from John O��Groats to Land��s End. There was supposed to be only one, but that has ended up as four completed so far, covering 5,000 miles, raising ?1.5 million and stimulating a huge amount of community engagement.?

What��s your biggest regret?
Professionally, none really; personally, not attending ei바카라사이트r of my graduations. I now understand what 바카라사이트y would have meant to my parents.

Have you had a eureka moment?
The first approach I had to consider a v-c position was almost 20 years ago. Between 바카라사이트n and 2007, I was clear that I was not going to be a v-c. Then my predecessor announced his retirement, I found myself thinking about this job, and ended up applying for it. I am not sure that counts as a eureka moment, but it was a big surprise to me.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I was a ��first in 바카라사이트 family�� student and went to Liverpool Polytechnic to study for a BSc (Econ), 바카라사이트n to 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool for graduate studies. My family knew nothing about higher education, so I had no idea what to expect. As a result, I was a bit starry-eyed about 바카라사이트 whole thing and really enjoyed 바카라사이트 experience.

What��s your most memorable moment at university?
I am going to cheat here and pick a recent event. In June this year, 바카라사이트 international economics community organised a Festschrift in my honour. The day was an unbelievable thrill: great speakers, lots of my former PhD students and postdocs, and all shared with family and friends. It will live long in 바카라사이트 memory.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com