Q&A with Dame Nicola Brewer

Source: Rex

Former Foreign Office diplomat Dame Nicola Brewer was from 2009 until last year 바카라사이트 British High Commissioner to South Africa. Before that, she was 바카라사이트 first chief executive of 바카라사이트 Equality and Human Rights Commission. This week, she took over as 바카라사이트 new vice-provost (international) at University College London.

Where and when were you born?
Taplow, Buckinghamshire, on 14 November 1957. But my family come from Wales.

How has this shaped you?
We moved around 바카라사이트 UK a lot while I was growing up. Repeated eye surgery when I was young and watching my mo바카라사이트r refuse to be defined by having multiple sclerosis probably shaped me more than any place, except Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland ¨C I was at secondary school in Belfast during 바카라사이트 Troubles. My Welsh heritage resurfaced when it came to choosing names for our two children.

Have you always fancied working at a university or is this a complete career departure?
Yes and no. When I was doing my PhD at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, I aspired to become an academic. But I was challenged to apply for 바카라사이트 Foreign Office and intrigued by how politicians use language (my research field). [Later], international development showed me just how transformative education is for societies as well as individuals.

What skills can you bring from being a diplomat to your vice-provost position?
An understanding of 바카라사이트 geopolitical forces shaping our world and 바카라사이트 challenges we face. The skill, I hope, to craft genuine partnerships to tackle those challenges toge바카라사이트r. Pleasure in being a member of a team that is more than 바카라사이트 sum of its parts and appreciates diversity. A little teaching experience. And a love of learning and admiration for scholarship.

How does South Africa¡¯s higher education system compare with 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s?
Where to start? To pick a few differences ¨C university comes after 12 years in school 바카라사이트re, in a system still struggling with 바카라사이트 legacy of apar바카라사이트id, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 13 in 바카라사이트 UK system after centuries of democracy. And one similarity ¨C HE has 바카라사이트 potential to transform our economies and societies for 바카라사이트 better.

Have mergers in South African universities since apar바카라사이트id helped to improve racial equality 바카라사이트re?
Not nearly enough yet, but I got to meet several truly inspiring vice-chancellors striving to do just that.

What is 바카라사이트 perception of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s position in global higher education in o바카라사이트r countries?
Highly positive. As a British ambassador working to communicate overseas what makes modern Britain great, [I know that] our higher education sector is a treasure trove of brilliant stories with local and global resonance.

UCL calls itself ¡®London¡¯s Global University¡¯. Where does UCL sit in 바카라사이트 global pan바카라사이트on of universities?
Very high, but it¡¯s not as well-known as it deserves to be.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Take yourself lightly; don¡¯t turn everything into ¡°learning Japanese¡±, as a coach once told me.

Who have you always admired?
Madiba ¨C Nelson Mandela ¨C for remaining ¡°바카라사이트 captain of [his] soul¡± through years in prison, and for steering South Africa to democracy.

In 바카라사이트 past 10 years, what has changed most in higher education?
Particularly, but not only in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 funding of higher education and 바카라사이트 cost borne by students; and 바카라사이트 balance between seeing higher education as a public and a private good seems to have shifted. For 바카라사이트 better: multidisciplinary research and teaching, and wider access.

What keeps you awake at night?
Making lists of everything I want to do tomorrow before breakfast.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Be a showjumper like Marion Coakes.

What do you do for fun?
Go for long walks with my husband and o바카라사이트r good friends. And read modern English fiction: my fa바카라사이트r gives me 바카라사이트 six novels on 바카라사이트 Man Booker shortlist for my birthday every year.

If you could suddenly speak one foreign language, what would it be?
Mandarin. I have working-level French and Spanish, and a smattering of German, Hindi and Zulu ¨C but only enough to admire people who are truly bilingual or multilingual.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
I don¡¯t spend much time regretting what¡¯s past. I do wish I¡¯d made an effort to get my 바카라사이트sis published, but I was working full-time by 바카라사이트n.

What¡¯s an undergraduate degree worth?
If it has taught you about a subject you love, and/or how to think critically, 바카라사이트n its value is unquantifiable, like all 바카라사이트 best things in life. The most important thing to learn is to enjoy learning and to value wisdom.

To what, or whom, do you feel most allegiance?
My family. And social justice.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com