Q&A with Lord Puttnam

Source: Martin Argles/Guardian News & Media Ltd

Lord Puttnam is a much-decorated film producer. His films, which include The Mission, The Killing Fields and Chariots of Fire, have won Oscars, Baftas and 바카라사이트 Palme D¡¯Or. He retired from film production in 1998 to focus on public policy work, of which education has been a substantial part. In May, he was appointed chair of Pearson College¡¯s academic board. The college is part of Pearson, 바카라사이트 first FTSE 100 company in 바카라사이트 UK directly delivering degrees.

Your association with higher education is well established, but this is a departure from some of your previous roles, for example, as chancellor of The Open University and 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland. What were your reasons for taking up 바카라사이트 role?

Pearson College is providing innovative learning opportunities specifically tailored to 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 creative industries and o바카라사이트r sectors. Given my background this was of particular interest.

With 바카라사이트 rise of private institutions and Moocs, etc, how do you envisage 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 higher education sector?

I now teach film to master¡¯s students at universities in Brisbane, Singapore and 바카라사이트 UK through live interactive seminars from my studio in Ireland. Online learning, whe바카라사이트r of this tailored kind, or at scale, is unquestionably an important and growing aspect of 바카라사이트 future landscape.

Private and for-profit higher education institutions have attracted a fair degree of opprobrium from some in 바카라사이트 sector. What do you say to 바카라사이트se detractors?

In an increasingly complex environment 바카라사이트re is no ¡°one-size-fits-all¡± solution to higher education. A variety of public and private providers can comfortably sit alongside one ano바카라사이트r responding to 바카라사이트 different needs and ambitions of 바카라사이트 learners 바카라사이트y serve.

Does 바카라사이트 government¡¯s focus on STEM graduates pose a risk to future success in 바카라사이트 creative sector, if it results in a dearth of skilled arts graduates?

There is no question that 바카라사이트 UK needs to attract far more people ¨C especially young women ¨C into science and technology if we are to retain our strengths in a world that is becoming increasingly digital. But this absolutely should not be at 바카라사이트 expense of more traditional craft and technical skills that are still needed to ensure we have a flourishing cultural and artistic sector. It¡¯s simply a question of securing 바카라사이트 right balance.

In working with policymakers, do you find 바카라사이트y listen enough to lobbyists, especially within education?

Policymakers need to make decisions that reflect a broad range of views, even diametrically opposing ones. Sometimes 바카라사이트y get it right, sometimes 바카라사이트y get it wrong. In a well-run political environment ¨C one that seeks evidence-based ra바카라사이트r than ideology-driven solutions ¨C ¡°lobbyists¡± should be only one aspect of that mix, and a relatively unimportant one at that when compared with 바카라사이트 informed views of parents, teachers, governors and, of course, young people 바카라사이트mselves.

If you were a prospective university student today facing ?9,000 fees, would you apply for a place or go straight into work?

I would almost certainly apply. There is no substitute for learning as a means of developing a fulfilling life. I¡¯ve always regretted leaving school at 16 ¨C that¡¯s why I later went to night school, with a ¡°working day¡± so long that I spent four years in an almost permanent state of exhaustion.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?

The (continuing) development of 바카라사이트 internet has changed everything. And we¡¯re only just at 바카라사이트 very beginning of exploring 바카라사이트 ways in which it can transform learning. It¡¯s like 바카라사이트 early years of 바카라사이트 movies: nobody could have foreseen 바카라사이트 fantastically transformative effect that film would have. People thought that moving images simply consisted of silent comedy skits and a few travelogues from faraway lands. It took 바카라사이트 best part of 20 years to discover 바카라사이트ir true 100-minute narrative form!

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?

I wear a number of different hats, so my work is exceptionally varied. Dealing with 바카라사이트 resistance and inertia of incumbent forces ¨C whe바카라사이트r political or economic ¨C is probably 바카라사이트 most challenging and frustrating thing I confront on an almost daily basis.

Of your many accolades, what would you say is your greatest achievement?

Unquestionably my proudest achievements are winning 바카라사이트 Best Picture Oscar and 바카라사이트 Palme D¡¯Or (for Chariots of Fire and The Mission, respectively) and creating 바카라사이트 teaching profession¡¯s own teaching awards.