A real gem

It’s wide ranging and involves all aspects relating to the student life cycle, ultimately ensuring the student experience is a good one. This includes operational and strategic aspects – policies relating to learning and teaching, support geared to improving student retention, progression and achievement, policies aimed at enhancing the student experience. My work also involves the design and validation of new courses and curriculum at the University of Wolverhampton Business School. We ensure what we offer is fit for purpose from an academic and an employer’s point of view.

The job is so varied that no one day is the same as the next – the variety keeps me going and on my toes! It is also a challenge and I like to meet a problem or issue and resolve it with the best outcome possible. I also enjoy working with people – my colleagues are excellent.

I came into the job because I wanted to work with students, and I enjoy seeing the culmination of their hard work on graduation day. I also enjoy engaging with employers who have had a student on placement and their feedback is excellent – you do feel a sense of pride.

Being made Associate Dean – and through that there are many things I am proud of, such as the revalidation of all our undergraduate programmes. Most recently winning the Jewel Award was great and something I never expected to get. To receive recognition for something you enjoy doing is wonderful.

The senior managers within the School – the Dean, Associate Deans, principal lecturers and course leaders. I also work closely with administrative staff in the School and also liaise with Registry staff and senior staff in other schools. Externally we have collaborative partners, such as FE Colleges, employers, and external examiners. I have also travelled overseas to India, where we recruit a number of our students from. Overseas trips have also included establishing new relationships and programme with institutions.

When I was doing my A-Levels I was interested in Law, Journalism and of course Economics, which was what I ended up doing. As I have developed as a person I have become more interested in forensics.

You have got to work hard and have commitment and dedication. I don’t think in terms of ‘I have not done this before so I can’t do it’, I think ‘I will have a go’. Never say you cannot do something – those are my words of wisdom!

A lot of the research I do now is pedagogic research, for example looking at student feedback mechanisms. As part of the recent revalidation of undergraduate degree in the School I looked at equality and diversity data to try and understand the profile of our students. This has been used in part to inform the new curriculum which is aimed ultimately at enhancing the student experience.

I had started a PhD focused on the cultural model of corporate social responsibility in Asian small and medium enterprises prior to becoming an Associate Dean and I hope to pick that up again one day. I would also like to progress up the career ladder.

I like cooking and creating fusion dishes. I enjoy reading, especially mysteries, sci-fi and supernatural novels. I also like to listen to Indian music and watch films – when I have the time!