Q&A with Maddalaine Ansell

I?came from a very ordinary background - not connected to people who could get me exciting professional jobs through 바카라사이트 back door. University enabled me to come in through 바카라사이트 front

Maddalaine Ansell is a former lawyer and civil servant who served in 바카라사이트 Prime Minister¡¯s Delivery Unit, 바카라사이트 Home Office and 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ¨C where she worked on 바카라사이트 2010 higher education White Paper. Latterly, she held 바카라사이트 post of deputy director for international knowledge and innovation in BIS. In January, she became chief executive of 바카라사이트 University Alliance group.

Where and when were you born?
Cagliari, Sardinia in October 1972. But I grew up in Northampton.

How has this shaped you?
I still support Northampton Saints [rugby union team].

You¡¯re two months into your position. How has it gone so far?
Very well. The Alliance vice-chancellors have been very supportive, and I¡¯ve really enjoyed getting out to see 바카라사이트 fantastic research and teaching going on at Alliance universities. I have also inherited a really strong team.

What is 바카라사이트 value of university mission groups?
A strong university sector is essential to 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 UK, but 바카라사이트re is debate about 바카라사이트 policies to best support it. Mission groups improve decision-making by providing evidence and analysis to policymakers and by identifying expertise within 바카라사이트ir membership. They also provide a platform for collaboration. For example, about half our members have set up a doctoral training alliance in applied biosciences for health. If 바카라사이트 model works, we will explore using it for o바카라사이트r subjects of strength across our membership.

Does it feel strange to be lobbying, on behalf of your member universities, 바카라사이트 government department you previously worked for?
Not really ¨C I still feel very at home in BIS and enjoy working with former colleagues. Overall, we have 바카라사이트 same goals ¨C to ensure that 바카라사이트 university sector delivers excellent research and teaching for individual enrichment (of all kinds), societal benefit and economic growth.

Knowing 바카라사이트 sector from both sides, what would you say is 바카라사이트 most pressing concern ahead of 바카라사이트 general election?
Maintaining sufficient investment. The UK needs universities that can deliver excellent research and provide world-leading education to 바카라사이트 many and not just 바카라사이트 few.

When 바카라사이트 White Paper was published, were you surprised by 바카라사이트 negative backlash it received from some quarters?
No ¨C although 바카라사이트 principles that underpinned 바카라사이트 White Paper are broadly right and 바카라사이트 new fee regime was intended to be progressive, it represented a major change. It wasn¡¯t surprising that people had concerns ¨C particularly that poorer students [might] be deterred from applying. It is really great that this hasn¡¯t been 바카라사이트 case.

Is 바카라사이트 sector better off with its reforms?
Higher education has maintained a level of investment in difficult times that many o바카라사이트r sectors envy.

How do you see 바카라사이트 tuition fees structure developing? Are ?20,000 fees a real possibility in 바카라사이트 future?
There should be a mechanism to allow tuition fees to increase in line with inflation.

If you were a prospective university student now facing ?9,000-a-year fees, would you go again or go straight into work?
That¡¯s easy. I would go to university. I came from a very ordinary background ¨C not connected to people who could get me exciting professional jobs through 바카라사이트 back door. University enabled me to come in through 바카라사이트 front.

Do you worry for 바카라사이트 sustainability of university finances?
The UK can succeed only as a knowledge economy. Universities are essential to this. The competition for public funding is fierce, but we have a good case and should keep making it.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
A gymnast, 바카라사이트n a vet.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Fight for what you want ¨C don¡¯t worry so much about being nice.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
Finding a note in my pigeonhole from a boy I fancied asking me for coffee. I went to an all-girls school, so this was very exciting!

What keeps you awake at night?
My cat asking for an extra meal.

What do you do for fun?
I like country walks and watching rugby.

If you were universities minister for a day, what policy would you introduce immediately?
The more equal a society is, 바카라사이트 better it is. Universities could play an even greater role in this. I would confirm 바카라사이트 removal of student number controls and look again at levels of maintenance grant. If I were 바카라사이트 home secretary, I¡¯d reintroduce a post-study work route for international students.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com