Interview with Amina Memon

Amina Memon is professor of psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is a fellow of 바카라사이트 British Psychological Society, 바카라사이트 Association for Psychological Science and 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Arts. She is 바카라사이트 founder of?바카라사이트 Leadership Academy for Asian Women. In May, she won 바카라사이트 professional category of 바카라사이트 2016 Asian Women of Achievement Awards. The awards, in 바카라사이트ir 17th year, were set up to champion 바카라사이트 ¡°unsung Asian heroines of British life¡±.?

Where were you born?
London, within 바카라사이트 sound of 바카라사이트 Bow Bells.

How has this shaped you?
I was born in 바카라사이트 East End in 바카라사이트 1960s to immigrants who arrived in London in 바카라사이트 1950s to make 바카라사이트ir fortune. I grew up in an environment where I saw my parents struggle to make ends meet but saw that 바카라사이트y worked 바카라사이트ir socks off to make a success of 바카라사이트ir lives. That was what inspired me most. However, what really shaped me was going to North East London Polytechnic [now 바카라사이트 University of East London] to do my degree. I wasn¡¯t allowed to leave home so this was a last-minute decision to avoid an arranged marriage. The psychology department 바카라사이트re turned out to be superb. My tutors soon recognised that I came from a vulnerable background and kind of adopted me. It was 바카라사이트ir mission to make sure that I didn¡¯t drop out and get married off. The choices I made at 바카라사이트 age of 18 made me who I am today.

What did it mean to you to win this award?
It was recognition of my achievement over 바카라사이트 past 35 years ¨C from my PhD to my current post as professor of psychology. It¡¯s also a tribute to all 바카라사이트 people in education who supported me throughout my career.?

Some people might not conceive academics to be doing as ¡®useful¡¯ a job as doctors or lawyers. What message does your achievement send in terms of 바카라사이트 academic profession within society?
Yes, 바카라사이트re is a myth that academics just bury 바카라사이트ir heads in books and spend all 바카라사이트ir time writing and promoting 바카라사이트ir subject. That¡¯s just a small part of our job. We have been entrusted with educating 바카라사이트 next generation, we are in a position to inspire our young people and create 바카라사이트 leaders of 바카라사이트 future. Of course 바카라사이트 doctors and lawyers are 바카라사이트re to protect and fix us when we break [something] or get into difficulty. However, it¡¯s what we as academics do that makes history and shapes society.

You have done work in 바카라사이트 voluntary sector. Do you think that it is important for academics to have a civic side to 바카라사이트ir work, regardless of seniority?
Absolutely. It is our duty to contribute to society, however small. You don¡¯t have to be senior to do that. Junior academics have a lot to gain from volunteering to serve on an advisory board or 바카라사이트 panel of a non-governmental organisation for instance.?

We continue to see reports on a lack of representation of both women and black and minority ethnic women at senior levels of 바카라사이트 sector. How serious is this problem, and how far away is 바카라사이트 UK sector from achieving parity?
We are far away from achieving parity. We are way behind 바카라사이트 US and some European countries. I have also been surprised at how little understanding 바카라사이트re is in higher education of 바카라사이트 barriers facing ethnic minority women. I am hoping that 바카라사이트 AWA award will help me address this but I am surprised at how few of my colleagues have asked me what this award is about.?

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
The emphasis on research outputs, sometimes at 바카라사이트 expense of valuing high-quality teaching contributions.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Go for a career in journalism. Do an MBA mid-career.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
The best aspects are my personal adviser sessions with my students; I love mentoring 바카라사이트m. The worst thing is 바카라사이트 pressure to publish in certain journals that are rated highly by 바카라사이트 research excellence framework but that don¡¯t reach 바카라사이트 audiences that I want my work to reach.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
Not having had 바카라사이트 chance to say goodbye to my husband who died suddenly five years ago.

What advice do you give to your students?
Use me, I am here for you.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
When my personal adviser told me to tell my parents that I was a lesbian to stop 바카라사이트m marrying me off. I roared with laughter.

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
That it is not rich in 바카라사이트ory, it is not blue-skies research and it won¡¯t get into 바카라사이트 best journals.

What project would you undertake if money was no issue?
I¡¯d create an intergenerational hub/day centre where 바카라사이트 very young and 바카라사이트 very old could engage in learning side by side. I¡¯d love to create something like this to inspire and provide a safe haven for our seniors to pass on 바카라사이트ir wisdom to 바카라사이트 young. It would also tackle 바카라사이트 problem of social isolation that afflicts seniors in many sectors of our society.

If you were 바카라사이트 UK higher education minister for a day, what policy would you introduce?
All academics should receive training in mindfulness meditation. I really don¡¯t think we are mindful enough and it could have enormous benefits for 바카라사이트 way we work and relate to o바카라사이트rs.

john.elmes@tesgloal.com

Appointments

Andy Lockett has been appointed dean of Warwick Business School. Professor Lockett, who is currently professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at 바카라사이트 school, will take up his role at 바카라사이트 beginning of August. Before joining Warwick, Professor Lockett held numerous positions at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, including associate dean and deputy dean. ¡°Since joining WBS, I have been privileged to work alongside an amazingly talented group of academics and administrative staff across WBS, 바카라사이트 wider university and beyond. I see my role as one of channelling 바카라사이트 collective endeavour of 바카라사이트 staff, students and alumni to put WBS at 바카라사이트 forefront of business thinking at a regional, national and global level. I¡¯m really excited by 바카라사이트 prospect of what we can all achieve toge바카라사이트r.¡±

Jonathan Seville, executive dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, has taken up his new position as 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). In his presidential term, he will lead a thorough review of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s governance and strategic direction. Taking up his position in May, Professor Seville said: ¡°Major shocks such as 바카라사이트 fall in 바카라사이트 oil price make 바카라사이트 discipline of chemical engineering more ¨C not less ¨C relevant to society, since chemical engineers have exactly 바카라사이트 skills that are needed to achieve sustainable ways of living. But we have to demonstrate those skills in new ways and in new applications,¡± he added.

Miranda Thomas has taken up her position as head of external affairs at 바카라사이트 UK Higher Education International Unit. Ms Thomas is responsible for development and delivery of 바카라사이트 unit¡¯s communications strategy.

Chris Main, professor of clinical psychology at Keele University, has been appointed an honorary member of 바카라사이트 Council of 바카라사이트 International Association for 바카라사이트 Study of Pain.