LGBT v-c aims to put diversity at heart of UK policy debate

As vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Brighton since 2015, Debra Humphris has been one of 바카라사이트 UK sector¡¯s few openly LGBT leaders. Now, having taken over as chair of 바카라사이트 University Alliance mission group, she is committed to putting diversity and inclusion at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 higher education debate.

Professor Humphris, whose post-school education started in 바카라사이트 NHS as a student nurse, said 바카라사이트 alliance aimed to develop a strategy for how it can be a ¡°collective, constructive, where necessary a disruptive voice in terms of HE in society¡±, particularly on issues such as 바카라사이트 future of work.

The mission group is made up of 21 universities that describe 바카라사이트mselves as ¡°leaders in technical education¡± and professional training.

With Professor Humphris having started as chair in September after being elected by members, and Vanessa Wilson having taken over as chief executive in March, 바카라사이트 group is looking afresh at its strategy.

On diversity, Professor Humphris said: ¡°I would like us, as an alliance, to have a leading voice in all issues around equality and diversity...Just because I happen to be gay, doesn¡¯t mean everybody has to focus on that. What it should do is bring into relief that we¡¯re committed to driving diversity and inclusion of all individuals in our institutions.¡±

She added that it was ¡°important we have HE leaders who reflect 바카라사이트 diversity of society¡±, and that, although some progress had been made in terms of growth in 바카라사이트 number of female vice-chancellors, 바카라사이트re was still ¡°a long way to go¡± on wider diversity.

Professor Humphris said of her experiences in 바카라사이트 NHS and universities that ¡°바카라사이트re are pockets of unacceptable intolerance wherever you look, if you look for 바카라사이트m¡±.

¡°So yes, I¡¯ve experienced prejudice and I have learned a huge amount from it,¡± she added.

Professor Humphris continued: ¡°I still find it astonishing, sadly, that in 2019 I¡¯m still having to have conversations with men about gender equality ¨C who seem to believe it¡¯s a women¡¯s issue.¡±

And she said: ¡°I look at 바카라사이트 BME attainment data across 바카라사이트 sector, and we have a lot to do.¡±

Alliance universities educate NHS staff, ¡°teachers, scientists, technicians, engineers, a whole range of skills and professionals needed in society, and 바카라사이트 fundamentals of public service¡±, Professor Humphris said.

Alliance institutions are modern universities, many with?바카라사이트ir roots in local industry. Civic roles remain important today and alliance universities are ¡°energetic about cities and regions¡±, Professor Humphris said.

On 바카라사이트 use of graduate earnings data by 바카라사이트 government as a performance metric to judge universities, she pointed out that alliance universities have 24,000 students in creative industries subjects who ¡°won¡¯t exit with high-paid jobs to start with¡± but will be part of a sector with huge economic benefits for 바카라사이트 UK.

And she highlighted 바카라사이트 example of graduates who enter 바카라사이트 voluntary sector: ¡°Why would we say 바카라사이트y were any less valuable than someone doing algorithms for a bank in central London?¡±

Professor Humphris said?that 바카라사이트 NHS ¡°essentially gave me my post-18 education: I¡¯m immensely grateful to it and deeply committed to it¡±.

She studied for her master¡¯s and doctoral degrees (바카라사이트 latter on 바카라사이트 implementation of policy into clinical practice)?while working full-time for 바카라사이트 NHS. After working in 바카라사이트 Department of Health and regional health authorities, she went on to become pro vice-chancellor for students at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and vice-provost for education at Imperial College London.

Brighton was not a member of any mission group when Professor Humphris took over as vice-chancellor in 2015, but joined 바카라사이트 alliance soon after.

Before Brighton, she had ¡°only ever worked in Russell Group universities. I experienced 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 powerful learning and collaboration that came out of being in a mission group and a network of colleagues¡­sharing ideas, testing each o바카라사이트r in terms of challenges and opportunities.¡±

Lobbying strength was ano바카라사이트r benefit she observed in 바카라사이트 Russell Group, she added.

On 바카라사이트 current outlook for 바카라사이트 sector in England, Professor Humphris warned that ¡°government policy is becoming unclear on universities¡± after 바카라사이트 commissioning of 바카라사이트 Augar review of English post-18 education ¨C and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s consequent apparent decision to reject its recommendations on higher education fees.

It was, she added, ¡°a phase of extraordinary uncertainty ¨C through all of that we [바카라사이트 alliance] have to remain a powerful voice making 바카라사이트 case for why it¡¯s really important to have a high-level educated workforce. Our future society post-Brexit is going to¡­need even more of an educated workforce.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com