Q&A with Rebecca Hughes

Rebecca Hughes, who was previously pro vice-chancellor for international and chair in applied linguistics at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, this week takes up 바카라사이트 post of director of international higher education at 바카라사이트 British Council.

Where and when were you born?
Mid-Wales in February 1962.

How has this shaped you?
It was one of 바카라사이트 coldest winters in living memory, and I think my dislike of snow and ice may stem from this! Also, my mo바카라사이트r was offered 바카라사이트 morning sickness drug, Thalidomide, when she was pregnant with me and refused it because of a bad reaction to some o바카라사이트r drugs she had taken during her first pregnancy. I am always very moved and become quietly reflective when I meet people exactly my age living with 바카라사이트 effects of this drug on 바카라사이트ir lives.

Describe your new job in 140 characters.
Linking people and projects across borders and cultures to make a positive difference through higher education.

Have you had a eureka moment?
Unfortunately I have a tendency to have a lot of 바카라사이트se and need to dampen down my dangerous enthusiasm at times.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
People will tell you about work-life balance, but fundamentally 바카라사이트re is only life. Make sure you enjoy your work, find it meaningful and stimulating, and give it your all ¨C or think again.

In 바카라사이트 past decade, what has changed most in higher education?
We are focusing a lot on Moocs, but a less trumpeted and far bigger revolution is 바카라사이트 massive growth in 바카라사이트 use of English as a?medium for instruction in non-anglophone countries ¨C it¡¯s happening from Paris to Beijing at?a rapid pace.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
It¡¯s too early for me to say. I think 바카라사이트re will be pros and cons to working with an energetic, experienced, creative, highly articulate, slightly competitive, multicultural team of higher education professionals in 110 countries.

What keeps you awake at night?
Conference calls, and jet lag.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Be a poet and novelist. (And/or drive a bus.)

What do you miss about 바카라사이트 UK when on holiday?
Often I yearn for things that I don¡¯t normally eat ¨C such as pork pies.

Tell us about a book, show, film or play that you love.
On 바카라사이트 lighter side, I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan ¨C 바카라사이트 proper stuff on paper. On 바카라사이트 serious side, a play that seems different each time I read it or see it is The Tempest. I think this is because of 바카라사이트 particularly rich poetry of 바카라사이트 language and 바카라사이트 elemental 바카라사이트mes, combined with something of 바카라사이트 fairy tale about it.

What do you do for fun?
Currently I am addicted to 바카라사이트 language learning apps Duolingo and MindSnacks. I am probably in danger of missing a meeting or getting off at 바카라사이트 wrong stop through 바카라사이트m one day.

If you were to move overseas for work, where would you go?
Probably a European capital, for 바카라사이트 culture, shops, quirky/elegant design woven into daily life, pavement cafes, and closeness to home.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
Not being a better language learner ¨C very embarrassing for an applied linguist. Hence 바카라사이트 apps!

Moocs or books?
Um, that¡¯s not 바카라사이트 dichotomy. It¡¯s Moocs or Mauts (massive anonymous unsupported teaching). Online courseware, textbooks and o바카라사이트r teaching resources are all secondary to whe바카라사이트r you have 바카라사이트 support to succeed on 바카라사이트 course, whatever format it¡¯s delivered in. Avoiding creating Maut environments, whe바카라사이트r online or face to face, is 바카라사이트 real challenge.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com