Glasgow Caledonian University - 11 October 2011
The third in the symposium series, where the speakers discussed the future shape of higher education in supporting and developing graduate attributes, whilst considering:
- How the curriculum, in its broadest sense, is shaped and delivered?
- Who is it for – how the student body is changing?
- What support is required for staff?
Guest speakers
Sjur Bergan, Head of the Department of Higher Education and History Teaching of the Council of Europe
He represents the Council of Europe on the Bologna Follow Up Group and Board and chairs the Bologna group on Qualifications Frameworks. He was a member of the editorial group for the Council’s White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue. Sjur Bergan is series editor of the Council of Europe Higher Education Series, the author of a book on Qualifications: Introduction to a Concept as well as of numerous articles on various aspects of higher education policies. His latest publication is Speaking across borders: the role of higher education, co-edited with Hilligje van’t Land of the International Association of Universities.
Professor Christine King, Emeritus Professor, Staffordshire University
As an academic Christine is an historian of religion with two major areas of interest. She has an international reputation for her research and work on the history of minority religious groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses during the Third Reich. She also researches and writes on medieval and modern pilgrimage and has made a particular study of the secular objects of devotion with particular reference to Elvis Presley and pilgrimage to his home in Memphis, USA.
As an educationalist, she is an active and recognised champion of access and inclusion and in 2008 was called upon by the then Government to undertake a review of part-time study as part of the larger debate on the future of Higher Education. She is a champion and campaigner for diversity with a particular interest of the role of women in public life. Christine has been awarded a CBE for her services to Higher Education.
Christina Yan Zhang, International Students Officer, National Union of Students
Christina came to Britain in 2006 after BA: English in China. At Loughborough University, she finished MA: Media & Cultural Analysis with Distinction. She is about to finish PhD: Civil Building Engineering. Christina was Global Development Officer, Loughborough Students Union (LSU) 2007-2009. 18 months after she initiated ‘Lufbra’s Going Global’ campaign, LSU was awarded NUS 'Best International Students Union' and 'Best International Students Event' of the year 2009. Higher Education Academy published her case study 'Internationalise all students' experience in 18 months'. In 2008, Christina was awarded British Council ‘East Midland International Students of the Year'. She sits on many internationalization committees, eg. UKCISA Board, UNESCO UK Education Committee, British Council Erasmus Consultative Group; UKBA JET Group, European Students Union Immigration Working Group etc.
In 2009, as an independent candidate, Christina was elected as the first international student to sit on NUS National Executive Council Block 15 position, since its creation in 1976 and now NUS International Students Officer, represents all international students in the UK. Her aim is to globalise the experience of all 7 million UK students to beat youth unemployment.