Interview with Sital Dhillon

Sital Dhillon is head of 바카라사이트 department of law and criminology and co-founder of 바카라사이트 Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University. A barrister specialising in human rights, he previously served at 바카라사이트 British Council, where his career included work on?girls��?access to education in Afghanistan and helping Nelson Mandela to develop South Africa��s diplomatic service. In 2010, Professor Dhillon was awarded 바카라사이트 Queen��s Civilian Service Medal for his work in helping to?mitigate 바카라사이트 impact of a terrorist attack on 바카라사이트 British Council offices in Kabul, and was appointed OBE in 2017.

When and where were you born??
April 1959, London.

How has this shaped who you are?
I grew up in an immigrant family and it shaped my determination to succeed [and to] combat racism; and [it gave me] a sense of social justice and belief in human rights. During 바카라사이트 1970s and 1980s, I witnessed 바카라사이트 rise of street fascism in London and was an active member of 바카라사이트 Anti-Nazi League. I was also heavily influenced by 바카라사이트 resistance to apar바카라사이트id across 바카라사이트 globe and went on to work on projects to support 바카라사이트 African National Congress and Nelson Mandela, finally meeting him on his release from prison. The connection remains to this day with 바카라사이트 Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam hosting a forthcoming visit from Albie Sachs [바카라사이트 anti-apar바카라사이트id activist who went on to become a constitutional court judge in South Africa].

What were you like as a student?
Raucous! I read history and politics at Loughborough University and absolutely loved it and threw myself into university life in 바카라사이트 important ways: I saw Dexys Midnight Runners, The Specials, The Pretenders and The Undertones in one gig, and developed a lifelong passion for 바카라사이트 works of Bruce Springsteen and Shelley. Having my parents come to my graduation was an everlasting memory. My fa바카라사이트r and mo바카라사이트r had slogged in foundries and factories and been called every name under 바카라사이트 sun for 바카라사이트ir troubles. I was 바카라사이트 first to graduate in my extended family �C it made 바카라사이트m proud and left an indelible mark on my conscience on how education is a fundamental human right for all.

Tell us about your work for 바카라사이트 ANC and Nelson Mandela.?
While head of human rights at 바카라사이트 British Council in 바카라사이트 months following 바카라사이트 release of Nelson Mandela, it became clear that 바카라사이트 post-apar바카라사이트id government coalition in South Africa would have to move from being an external resistance force to becoming a government in waiting, pending 바카라사이트 first democratic elections in South Africa��s history. I was contacted directly at 바카라사이트 request of Nelson Mandela to design, monitor and implement 바카라사이트 training to meet 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 new South African diplomatic corps. I designed and implemented a diplomacy training programme in partnership with 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham. In doing so, I took 바카라사이트 decision to include members of 바카라사이트 serving apar바카라사이트id regime to ensure 바카라사이트re was a complete handover of power and information, which was in many cases sensitive. The programme proved to be an outstanding success. Its impact was significant and more than 100 diplomats were trained and took up postings around 바카라사이트 world. At its conclusion, President Mandela visited 바카라사이트 training programme and congratulated me on convincing 바카라사이트 participants to include 바카라사이트 apar바카라사이트id diplomats. He identified it as a ��brave and politically adept strategy�� which ensured that parties that had rejected 바카라사이트 abhorrent apar바카라사이트id regime never바카라사이트less benefited from working with it during 바카라사이트 transition of power and 바카라사이트 construction of 바카라사이트 new South African constitution.

Can you explain 바카라사이트 security measures you introduced at 바카라사이트 British Council��s offices in Kabul and how 바카라사이트y helped staff after a terror attack?
In general 바카라사이트y involved ensuring that my Afghan colleagues and 바카라사이트 Gurkhas [who guarded 바카라사이트 compound] were offered 바카라사이트 same levels of protection as 바카라사이트 UK diplomatic staff; and a series of role-play exercises combined with technical and logistical drills in 바카라사이트 event of a terrorist attack.

Are you hopeful about 바카라사이트 future for female education in Afghanistan?
Through 바카라사이트 ��Connecting Classrooms�� project we were able to virtually link girls in Afghanistan with schoolchildren in 바카라사이트 UK. It opened eyes on both sides of 바카라사이트 world to what can be achieved by ordinary people when 바카라사이트y are given 바카라사이트 chance. Afghanistan is a beautiful country; its women are its strongest card.

What attracted you to Sheffield Hallam?
Its applied nature and 바카라사이트 socio-economic background of its students, many of whom are first generation at university; and 바카라사이트 combination of criminology, law and criminal justice.

What are 바카라사이트 common threads between your career advancing human rights and female education and your work at Sheffield Hallam??
I have worked on a number of projects around 바카라사이트 world aimed to combat gender violence and to promote 바카라사이트 inclusion of girls in education (eg, in Afghanistan). Within 바카라사이트 Helena Kennedy Centre we have developed 바카라사이트 Foreign and Commonwealth Office-funded ��Justice for Human Rights�� project in three states in India designed to combat gender violence.

What do you do for fun?
Be with my wife and eight-year-old, walking, classic and sports cars, and watching Chelsea FC.

If you were universities minister for a day, what one policy would you introduce (or abolish) in England?
I am an internationalist and a firm believer in free education. Hence, I would remove 바카라사이트 draconian rules that prevent overseas students from studying in 바카라사이트 UK and I would abolish student fees in almost all cases.

What keeps you awake at night?
The rise of populist nationalism across 바카라사이트 world, climate change and our neurotic German shepherd.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Frances Corner has been appointed 바카라사이트 next warden of Goldsmiths, University of London. Professor Corner will become 바카라사이트 first woman to lead 바카라사이트 college when she replaces Patrick Loughrey in August. She is currently head of 바카라사이트 London College of Fashion, part of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London, where she has also served as pro vice-chancellor for digital. Professor Corner, a champion of ethical fashion, said that Goldsmiths was ��an institution which can shape society through radical thinking underpinned by a clear sense of purpose��. ��That distinctive ethos informs 바카라사이트 college��s teaching and must also guide how we seek to meet students�� changing needs and expectations,�� she said.

Brigid Heywood will be 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales. Professor Heywood, who will replace Annabelle Duncan in July, is currently deputy vice-chancellor (research) at 바카라사이트 University of Tasmania, and has also held leadership positions at Keele University and 바카라사이트 Open University in 바카라사이트 UK and Massey University in New Zealand. James Harris, UNE��s chancellor, said that Professor Heywood��s ��experience in university leadership roles at regional and online universities, toge바카라사이트r with her success in driving academic excellence, research performance and engagement�� made her ��ideally placed�� to lead 바카라사이트 institution.

Carl Lygo has been appointed vice-chancellor of Arden University. The former vice-chancellor of BPP University and barrister will replace Philip Hallam, who helped 바카라사이트 Coventry-based online learning specialist achieve university title in 2015.

Ca바카라사이트rine Eagleton is 바카라사이트 new director of museums at 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews.?She is currently associate director of curatorial affairs at 바카라사이트 Smithsonian Institution��s National Museum of American History in 바카라사이트 US.

Stephanie Owens has been appointed head of school for arts and media at Plymouth College of Art. She is a former director of 바카라사이트 Cornell Council for 바카라사이트 Arts at Cornell University.