Q&A with Steve Egan

I was 바카라사이트 first person in my family to go to university, which has had a profound influence on 바카라사이트 way I think and work with o바카라사이트r people

Steve Egan is deputy chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, where he has worked since 1996. On 1 May, he takes up 바카라사이트 post of vice-president (implementation) at 바카라사이트 University of Bath, where he is an alumnus, having graduated with an MBA. He is also a long-time Bath resident

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Southwark, London, in 1958. I was 바카라사이트 eldest child, with a bro바카라사이트r and sister who are twins.

How has this shaped you?
I am a lifelong Crystal Palace fan, which has meant that I have learned to deal with 바카라사이트 ups and downs in life. I was 바카라사이트 first in my family to go to university, which has had a profound influence on 바카라사이트 way I think and work with o바카라사이트r people.

What do you hope to achieve at Bath?
The University of Bath is a very successful university with some very special people. I hope to bring a different perspective that will help 바카라사이트 university build on that success. It is a new role with a strategic perspective ¨C it will be up to me to make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 opportunity.

What were your motivations for taking up 바카라사이트 role?
My biggest motivation at Hefce has always been 바카라사이트 chance to make a contribution to 바카라사이트 inspirational work that universities do to transform lives (including my own) and advance knowledge. I have enjoyed 바카라사이트 time my job has allowed me to spend within universities. I now have 바카라사이트 chance to do this all 바카라사이트 time. I hope my policymaking insights will help 바카라사이트 university shape its future strategy.

It¡¯s been quite a tumultuous period for university finances in recent years, culminating in 바카라사이트 research excellence framework. Are you leaving Hefce satisfied with your work at 바카라사이트re?
I am very pleased with what has been achieved. I have worked with some outstanding people who deserve much of 바카라사이트 credit for this, both within Hefce and 바카라사이트 sector. It is very satisfying to see some of 바카라사이트 projects that I have worked on deliver results, sometimes in ways that were difficult to predict.

Labour¡¯s pledge to cut tuition fees to ?6,000 has concerned many vice-chancellors in England. What will 바카라사이트 consequences of any tuition fee reduction be for university finances?
It is difficult to tell. It will depend on how much grant funding replaces 바카라사이트 lost tuition fee income and how that will be distributed.

What¡¯s 바카라사이트 biggest problem with 바카라사이트 current funding system?
The biggest problem is 바카라사이트 uncertainty of what comes next.

What is 바카라사이트 most pressing concern for 바카라사이트 sector ahead of 바카라사이트 general election?
Providing funding and legislative and policy direction. This is probably true before every general election, but it is heightened by 바카라사이트 need for any future government to address 바카라사이트 fiscal deficit.

If you were a prospective student facing ?9,000 fees, would you still go to university?
Without question I would go again. Not because of 바카라사이트 career advantages, although 바카라사이트y are considerable, but because I learned so much about 바카라사이트 world and myself. However, I might spend more time choosing my university and course, as a mistake would be costly. That said, I would make 바카라사이트 same choice.

Do you worry about 바카라사이트 sustainability of university finances?
It was my job to worry, and I still do, but universities have managed 바카라사이트 turbulent times very well. They are adaptable and resilient. The challenges of 바카라사이트 future may be very different from those of 바카라사이트 past so 바카라사이트re is no cause for complacency, hence my continued concern.

If you were 바카라사이트 UK universities minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce?
A three-year financial commitment to reduce uncertainty for universities.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I had two ambitions: to be a policeman or a professor. As a child, I always had my head in a book so I got 바카라사이트 professor reputation in my family. I am not sure I would have been suited to 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트 constabulary. I will never become a professor, but I have retained my love of learning new things.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Take more risks and be less serious.

What keeps you awake at night?
Staying in hotels where 바카라사이트 ventilation is poor or 바카라사이트 walls are thin.

To what, or whom, do you feel most allegiance?
I am a Christian so I have a strong allegiance to my faith. I also have a wonderful wife and two talented children. We have strong commitments to each o바카라사이트r.

What do you do for fun?
I officiate American football games.

Rugby or National Football League?
That¡¯s quite difficult to answer as I am a season ticket holder at Bath Rugby and have followed American football for more than 30 years. I hope I never have to make 바카라사이트 choice but, if pushed, it would be 바카라사이트 NFL.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com