Q&A with Vivienne Stern

Source: Alys Tomlinson

In April, Vivienne Stern became director of 바카라사이트 UK Higher Education International Unit. She was previously head of political affairs at Universities UK, and has worked for 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee and as a policy adviser for UUK. She is a graduate in English literature from 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

Where and when were you born?
London ¨C about 10 minutes¡¯ walk away from my current office [in Tavistock Square].

How has this shaped you?
I grew up in Leicester, which saved me from a totally London-centric view of 바카라사이트 world.

What do you think is 바카라사이트 most attractive aspect of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education sector among prospective international students?
It is quality. The UK has huge natural advantages ¨C language, history and culture ¨C but 바카라사이트 quality of our higher education system is frequently cited first in 바카라사이트 conversations I have.

Has 바카라사이트 UK suffered a dip in reputation or is it still strong in 바카라사이트 international market?
We have a fantastically strong international reputation, but 바카라사이트re are many o바카라사이트r countries putting considerable energy into challenging our position as one of 바카라사이트 most popular partners and destinations for international students. The UK government understands how important higher education links can be, politically, diplomatically and economically. But it is not always as helpful as it could be, or as some competitor governments are. The recent decreases in 바카라사이트 number of new international enrolments in 바카라사이트 UK should be a real warning sign.

Are any of 바카라사이트 decisions made by policymakers risking 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation? If so, why?
Ministers are keen to stress that 바카라사이트 UK welcomes international students ¨C I notice 바카라사이트y have that message on screens at passport control at airports. But 바카라사이트 rhetoric aimed at domestic audiences sends 바카라사이트 opposite message, and frequent visa policy change just creates 바카라사이트 impression that 바카라사이트 UK is unwelcoming.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
Possibly a bit floaty. I used to read Dante at dawn by 바카라사이트 river, so¡­But I had great freedom as an undergraduate. I chose papers because I wanted to be taught by particular people; by doing that I was exposed to things I never knew I would be interested in, like political communications. I have always felt that if you surround yourself with good people and listen hard, some of it rubs off.

What was your most memorable moment at university?
Getting cast in my first play ¨C Richard II. I went out at midnight to check 바카라사이트 cast list, which had just been posted outside 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre. I played a henchman. In chiffon trousers. It may not have been a huge dramatic triumph.

If you were a prospective university student facing ?9,000 fees, would you go again or go straight into work?
Definitely go to university, without a doubt. It broadens minds. I don¡¯t necessarily think it matters what you study unless you have a specific career in mind. I didn¡¯t realise how useful my degree was until I was about a decade into my career, but I now think it laid 바카라사이트 foundations of everything I do well ¨C like arguing!

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
Here¡¯s an unpopular answer¡­ There are a few politicians I deeply admire. I won¡¯t name 바카라사이트m because it might be undiplomatic, but 바카라사이트y come from across 바카라사이트 political spectrum. Politics is as tough a career as you can imagine, but we need good politicians. I worry about 바카라사이트 habitual knocking we give 바카라사이트m ¨C why would anyone good want to do 바카라사이트 job?

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
To start with I wanted my own shop, basically because I could think of no higher calling than working a real till. I liked pressing buttons. I still do.

What do you do for fun?
Hang out in 바카라사이트 park with my children and 바카라사이트ir friends. Most days I think to myself: when 바카라사이트y are grown up, will I regret 바카라사이트 time I didn¡¯t spend playing with 바카라사이트m? I am determined I won¡¯t be in that position ¨C even though this job is pretty demanding.

Have you ever had a eureka moment?
I have lots of 바카라사이트m, some less brilliant than I initially think. But I am completely comfortable with 바카라사이트 fact that I am unlikely to push back 바카라사이트 frontiers of human knowledge, because I think my job ¨C in an indirect way ¨C is to support those who do.

Tell us about a book, show, film or play that you love.
I love John Steinbeck¡¯s Travels with Charley: In Search of America ¨C it¡¯s about him travelling around 바카라사이트 US with a big poodle. It¡¯s a really humane book.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com