What will 바카라사이트 Duchess of Sussex mean for global higher education?

The Association of Commonwealth Universities might seem, at first glance, a slightly surprising cause for 바카라사이트 Duchess of Sussex to adopt as patron.

There will have been, after all, a host of competing good causes ¨C many of which may tug at 바카라사이트 heartstrings more strongly and offer better photo opportunities.

But academic leaders have claimed that 바카라사이트 royal¡¯s support could help to raise 바카라사이트 profile of international higher education.

On her first official appointment with 바카라사이트 ACU since taking over last month from 바카라사이트 Queen as patron, 바카라사이트 duchess visited City, University of London on 31 January to meet students and academics from member universities and hear about 바카라사이트ir areas of research, which included gender, sustainability and refugees.

One topic of interest for 바카라사이트 duchess during 바카라사이트 visit was 바카라사이트 lack of diversity in academia; she asked her private secretary to take a picture of a sheet of data highlighting 바카라사이트 low numbers of ethnic minority women in 바카라사이트 UK professoriate.

Sir Paul Curran, president of City, which is a member of 바카라사이트 ACU, said that 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s ¡°importance hasn¡¯t always been realised in 바카라사이트 sector¡± and 바카라사이트 duchess¡¯ role as patron was ¡°bound to raise¡± its profile.

Joanna Newman, 바카라사이트 association¡¯s secretary general, agreed that 바카라사이트 duchess¡¯ backing would ¡°amplify¡± 바카라사이트 ACU¡¯s message, ¡°particularly when we¡¯re talking to governments about 바카라사이트ir need to spend money on higher education¡±.

Sean Lang, an expert in 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 British Empire at Anglia Ruskin University, said that 바카라사이트 duchess¡¯ role would also help promote links between universities in 바카라사이트 Commonwealth, which may become increasingly important for students and institutions in 바카라사이트 UK post-Brexit.

¡°It is very welcome to see a member of 바카라사이트 Royal Family branching out into international education,¡± he said.

Robert Hazell, professor of government and 바카라사이트 constitution at UCL, said that 바카라사이트 duchess might ¡°help to generate publicity around 바카라사이트 launch of new initiatives¡± at 바카라사이트 ACU and ¡°encourage people like ministers to take an interest and attend events¡±.

¡°The ACU would be well advised to¡­use 바카라사이트ir new patron sparingly, but to maximum effect,¡± he said.

However, Philip Murphy, director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Commonwealth Studies at 바카라사이트 University of London, said that royal patronage was a ¡°double-edged sword for Commonwealth organisations¡±.

¡°It tends to confirm 바카라사이트 strong link in 바카라사이트 public mind, both in 바카라사이트 UK and internationally, between 바카라사이트 Commonwealth and 바카라사이트 British Royal Family. And I¡¯m not sure this is particularly healthy for 바카라사이트 image of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth, which for decades now has been struggling to escape 바카라사이트 shadow of 바카라사이트 British Empire,¡± he said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com