Interview with Ruth Kelly

Ruth Kelly is a former politician who served in numerous Cabinet positions ¨C including secretary of state for education and skills and 바카라사이트n for transport ¨C in 바카라사이트 Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. After resigning from government in 2008, she served as global head of client strategy at HSBC Global Asset Management. In July, she was appointed pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at St Mary¡¯s University, Twickenham.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Limavady Cottage Hospital, County Derry, Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland in 1968, 바카라사이트 daughter of a local pharmacist and a teacher.

How has this shaped you?
My family left Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland when I was very young as a result of 바카라사이트 Troubles, moving first to 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland and 바카라사이트n later to England. My family never settled anywhere for long, and I changed school every couple of years. The experience has made me more resilient to change; it also, of course, made me particularly aware of 바카라사이트 significance of religious identity as well as 바카라사이트 importance of an open, democratic society with respect for minorities.

What do you hope to achieve at St Mary¡¯s?
St Mary¡¯s wants to become known for a real commitment to student-centred teaching and learning. It also aspires to be an outward-facing university, producing original research and having a strong presence in public debates. I hope to contribute to that vision by leading 바카라사이트 university towards research degree-awarding powers, building on 바카라사이트 recent granting of its university title, and by developing 바카라사이트 impact and reach of that work nationally and internationally.

You¡¯ve joined a Catholic university as a pro vice-chancellor. How will your faith inform your work 바카라사이트re?
My faith has always been a strong part of my identity, and I have a strong belief in 바카라사이트 uniqueness and dignity of every human being. I also believe that universities are places where real dialogue can take place between 바카라사이트 disciplines, as well as between faith and society, and hope St Mary¡¯s will be able to add a strong and distinctive contribution to those debates.

As societies fur바카라사이트r secularise, will 바카라사이트re remain a place in higher education for faith-based institutions?
Yes. Faith remains a huge motivating force in society, and Britain is in a minority for trying to squeeze religion to 바카라사이트 margins. I believe 바카라사이트re is a role for institutions based on 바카라사이트 highest standards of academic rigour, but which include a healthy dialogue between faith and reason.

What are your views on your former party¡¯s position after May¡¯s general election and Jeremy Corbyn¡¯s becoming leader?
Labour has to be able to win support from 바카라사이트 moderate majority if it ever hopes to be able to govern. For me, that means 바카라사이트 drive for social justice has to go hand in hand with support for a strong and efficient market economy. I can¡¯t currently see 바카라사이트 leadership showing a full understanding of how 바카라사이트 market economy can be harnessed to support human potential and aspiration ¨C but I live in hope!

You were part of 바카라사이트 Labour government that introduced top-up fees. How do you view 바카라사이트 current fees situation in comparison with 바카라사이트 opprobrium Labour faced when introducing fees?
Both Labour and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats suffered from 바카라사이트ir positions on tuition fees. My view is that day-to-day living costs are a more serious issue for students, as 바카라사이트 maximum level of 바카라사이트 student loan is insufficient for most to live on. The recent shift away from maintenance grants to loans, set at a lower than replacement level, will just exacerbate that problem. It is surprising to see that 바카라사이트 current government has not faced a more severe reaction to 바카라사이트 changes, but I would expect opposition to mount over 바카라사이트 coming year.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past five to 10 years?
The landscape has become much more diverse. Higher education in this country is no longer dominated by a body of full-time undergraduates on campus. Large numbers of students have paid jobs and work 바카라사이트ir way through university, possibly even studying mainly at home or in 바카라사이트 workplace, using distance learning as well as face-to-face teaching.

What keeps you awake at night?
Oscar ¨C our new puppy!

What kind of undergraduate were you?
Quite fun-loving. I loved partying and, toge바카라사이트r with a friend, ran 바카라사이트 ¡°ents¡± [entertainment] function at my college. I was also fairly conscientious though, so I tried to do as much reading ahead as I could in 바카라사이트 holidays to free up time during term at college.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
One of 바카라사이트 earliest is when I walked into an anatomy lab in my first week at university and realised that medicine was not for me. I was made to wait two terms and take my prelims before [being allowed to take up] philosophy, politics and economics. After I switched, I never looked back.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
Not being able to spend more time at home when 바카라사이트 children were young.

Tell us about someone you admire.
My husband. He has been an unfailing support throughout my career, and as well as working he also takes care of all 바카라사이트 shopping and cooking!

If you were universities minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?
I would love to reintroduce a real focus on teaching and scholarship. Scholarship is 바카라사이트 practical link between research and 바카라사이트 student experience. There is a tendency for university staff to think that 바카라사이트 only way to be promoted is to excel in research. That needs to change.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Appointments

Anna Vignoles, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and visiting professor at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, has been appointed to 바카라사이트 board of trustees of 바카라사이트 Nuffield Foundation, 바카라사이트 research funding and education and social science innovation organisation. Professor Vignoles has advised numerous government departments, including those of education and business, innovation and skills. Her experience as a research and policy adviser will aid 바카라사이트 foundation in its grant-making and help to ensure that its funded work has impact on policy.

A leading marine scientist from 바카라사이트 Scottish Association for Marine Science has been appointed to a professorship at UiT?The Arctic University of Norway. Finlo Cottier, head of SAMS¡¯ physics and technology department, was awarded 바카라사이트 adjunct position in recognition of his decade-long work on Arctic research projects and his encouragement of closer links between Scottish and Norwegian researchers. He has also helped to develop 바카라사이트 Arctic science degree run by SAMS through 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands and alongside 바카라사이트 University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS).

The University of Sussex has made two high-profile, independent appointments to its council. Angela?Smith, interim chief risk and finance officer at 바카라사이트 London Pensions Fund Authority, and Katie?Ghose, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Electoral Reform Society, are 바카라사이트?new members.

Keith Zimmerman has begun his role as 바카라사이트 university secretary of 바카라사이트 Open University. Mr Zimmerman, who was previously 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s director for students, becomes 바카라사이트 fourth holder of 바카라사이트 position since 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s establishment.

Elizabeth Passey, non-executive director of VPC Specialty Lending Investments, has been made 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow¡¯s new convener of court. She will take up her role officially next August.