Tell our readers about the Program? its journey major achievements and challenges since inception.
The University of Hull is a proud UK university that offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to students from across the world. Offering bachelor and master’s programs in business, law, politics, the arts, education, social sciences and humanities, nursing and medical degrees, plus engineering and science including chemistry, biology, biomedical sciences, physics and astrophysics, environmental sciences and geography.
The University of Hull has a very proud history supporting innovation over the last, almost, 100 years (founded in 1927). Two of our top research discoveries in the last 50 years are ultrasound to detect weakened bones and the technology leading to Liquid crystal display (LCDs). Chris Layton developed an early detection system for osteoporosis utilizing “ultrasonic” waves, back in the 1980s. During the 1970s George Gray and colleagues created a way to stabilize liquid crystals that lead to the development of LCD technology. Through our research, we continue to look at new ways to change our futures for the better.
Tell us about your professional journey and your experience so far in this industry.
I have worked with international students for the last 17 years, in a professional services capacity, ensuring students have had the best opportunities a UK higher education can offer to them. I’ve been lucky enough to travel and meet students from all over the world, and love coming to India to support the students there make their best choices. Being a fantastic communicator has helped me engage with the students and provide answers to any doubts they may have.
What is the structure and duration of courses in terms of online and offline?
Since September 2021 the University of Hull has returned to a more usual pattern of teaching with most classes face to face and elements of study taught online, both through asynchronous and synchronous teaching. All of our students use our virtual learning environment (VLE) to engage in their studies.
How many Indian students are studying currently at the University?
At the University of Hull, we currently have just under 200 Indian students studying a wide range of courses across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
How has the education sector been during this pandemic and what is your future outlook for this sector?
Higher education was asked to change how it did everything as the pandemic encompassed the globe. In the UK, we took this very seriously ensuring students and staff were safe in our local community in Hull. The major change enables us to look at things differently and work in different ways, the pandemic has done this. I have still been able to meet students to talk about them coming to study in the UK and explain everything they need to know. This has just been done online through virtual calls. However, nothing beats the experience of having a face-to-face conversation – but now we can actually have more contact as I only travel to India 3 or 4 times per year.
What kind of changes has been made to redefine the education sector’s goals and objectives?
We haven’t changed our goals and objectives these remain the same, but the way we get there may be different. We know we need to create more sustainable futures for everyone, and the focus of this sustainability has changed. As one idea, globally we need to look at how we provide access to sustainable health care including vaccine support.
What are the major transformations that happened in 2021?
In the UK higher education sector, the transformations were small – we had to try to learn how to live with the COVID pandemic and move our sector back to normal ways of teaching.
