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3 - 5 June 2024
UUKi will again be hosting a residential programme for Pro Vice-Chancellors (International) or equivalent in 2024, from 3 - 5 June at  Durham. Â
The aim of this event is to provide an opportunity for those with strategic responsibility for their institution’s international activities to come together, hear from experts on latest international issues, and discuss challenges and opportunities with peers in a closed environment. The event is designed to support the strategic leadership of UK universities to develop a rounded understanding of opportunity and risk in internationalisation, to help with the development of institutional strategies. This event is exempt from VAT, the price includes dinner and accommodation on Monday and Tuesday nights, and lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The agenda is still being developed and a final agenda and speaker list will be provided closer to the time.
For any further information, please contact Head of Events, Donna Taibe [email protected]
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
Andy joined Northumbria in Aug 2022, having served as DVC at Nottingham University. Prior to that he was PVC for the Engineering Faculty at Nottingham, and Chair of the Executive Management Group for Midlands Innovation, a partnership between research intensive universities in the region. Andy has extensive experience of TNE, including working with Nottingham’s campuses in Malaysia and China, most recently as a Board member for the latter. At Northumbria he engages with 17 partners across 10 countries, primarily through degree programmes delivered in partnership and in country. Â
Emerita DVC Newcastle University
After retiring from full time academic and leadership roles I have continued to work in the sector as an independent HE consultant and with Advance HE. I have always been interested in European issues, both in my academic work and in building partnerships.  I was actively involved in the development of pan-European student mobility programmes and in establishing a framework for PGR students. I have since 2015 been a UK representative on the Global Policy group of the EHEA.  I am an Ambassador for the Magna Charta Observatory which works to promote academic freedom and the importance of values in HE. Â
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Professor Sir Gerry McCormac has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the since May 2010. A scientist who spent his early career working on the NASA Dynamics Explorer satellite program at the University of Michigan, he headed the high-precision carbon-dating facility at Queen’s University Belfast and was Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations (2001–2010). A former board member of the ÌðÐÄÊÓƵ and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) and UCEA Scottish Committee Chair (2010-2020), Sir Gerry was Convener of ÌðÐÄÊÓƵ Scotland (2020-2022). A ÌðÐÄÊÓƵ (UUK) board member, Sir Gerry is UUKi International Policy Lead (2023 -2026).Â
Director Malaysia, Head of Insights and Engagement Hub East Asia
Jazreel joined the British Council in 2004 where she led on the UK’s largest education marketing and partnership initiatives in China. She set up the British Council’s Education Intelligence Unit – the first e-marketing platform dedicated to international education research for the industry globally. In 2013, she launched the UK’s flagship outward mobility programme - Generation UK which led to a 104% growth in British students to China. The UK became one of the largest providers of transnational education in China and the first country to initiate a multi-lateral education collaboration platform bringing together institutional partners from UK, China, Sub-Saharan Africa and ASEAN countries on co-funded projects during her tenure. Jazreel returned to Malaysia in September 2020 to take up the roles as Director Malaysia and Head of East Asia Insights Hub. She was awarded an MBE in 2017 for her services to UK education in China and listed as one of the top 50 Voices in the Australia-ASEAN international education sector by The PIE Insider Leadership Digest 2023.
Vice-Chancellor and Warden
Professor Karen O’Brien joined Durham University as Vice-Chancellor and Warden in January 2022. As the chief executive, she has overall responsibility for the educational and research mission of England’s third oldest university, reporting to its Council of trustees. Since joining she has led Durham University through a significant period of strategy renewal, with a focus on key areas of research growth (particularly in the sciences), access and inclusion, financial sustainability, and sustainable development goals in both the region and the wider world. As VC she engages extensively in national HE policy including as a member of the Russell Group Board. Before joining Durham, she was a member of the senior team at the University of Oxford where she was Head of the Humanities Division for five years. She deliveredÂ
the vision for a new £150m Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities including a new Institute for the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. Prior to joining Oxford, she was Vice-Principal for Education at King’s College London, PVC (Education) at the University of Birmingham, and chair of the Russell Group Pro-Vice-Chancellors for Teaching and Learning.
Global Chief Operating Officer
Lucy is an highly experienced leader in the TNE and international recruitment and student experience space - working first at Middlesex University as PVC Marketing and International and in various roles at Heriot Watt. Her current brief covers Professional Services Globally across 5 campuses - 3 in Scotland and 1 in Dubai and Malaysia respectively. She is highly experienced in development and delivery of overseas campuses and international partner taught and research programmes at scale - both with partners and wholly owned and run. Heriot Watt is one of the most international universities both in the UK and globally. Over 25,000 students study with us globally - with more than 2/3rds outside of the UK. Â
Director Policy Coordination and Foresight
Thomas Ekman Jørgensen is Director of Policy Co-ordination at EUA. His responsibilities include ensuring coherent policies for universities as well as overall policy development and managing cross-cutting issues with policy relevance.Â
Dr Jørgensen worked with EUA as Head of the Council for Doctoral Education for a number of years. He studied History and German Studies at the University of Copenhagen and the Free University Berlin. He received his PhD in History and Civilisation from the European University Institute in Florence in 2004 and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Copenhagen and at the Université libre de Bruxelles before coming to EUA. As a historian, he has worked on students and left-wing movements around 1968. He has also published on youth movements during World War I.Â
Our monthly updates are a great way for you to stay up to date with our work, events, and higher education news.