Times Higher Education (THE), the trusted global data partner for higher education, has today announced the creation of a global Student Advisory Board to be chaired by Wendy Alexander, Vice-Principal (International) at University of Dundee and International Trade Envoy for the Scottish Government.
The THE Student Advisory Board has been created to guide THE’s student business as it seeks to provide its audience of 14 million prospective international students with the right advice and guidance when it comes to one of the biggest decisions of their lives – who to trust with their education. The Advisory Board will ensure that the needs of students are always at the heart of THE’s work and they are adequately supported throughout their decision-making journey into international study.
A select group of 8-10 individuals will be invited to join the THE Student Advisory Board, with five already appointed in addition to Wendy Alexander. The Board is focused on ensuring diversity and representation from across the world. Each Board member is appointed based on their extensive experience in international education and will ensure best practice, transparency and scrutiny across THE’s student business as it looks to change the world of international student recruitment.
The six members currently appointed to serve on the THE Student Advisory Board are:
- Wendy Alexander (Chair) – Vice-Principal (International), University of Dundee
- Dr Fanta Aw – Vice President of Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence, American University
- Dr David Pilsbury – Deputy Vice Chancellor International, Coventry University
- Tania Rhodes Taylor – Vice-Principal (External Relations), The University of Sydney
- Jessica Sandberg – Dean of International Enrollment Management, Duke Kunshan University
- Professor Bernard CY Tan – Senior Vice Provost (Undergraduate Education), National University of Singapore
Patrick Hayes, Chief Development Officer at THE who is responsible for its student-facing division, commented:
“THE’s student business has been rapidly gathering momentum for the past 12-18 months, with a number of trusted partnerships created to help us provide the world’s first end-to-end marketplace for millions of prospective students looking to study abroad. We are looking to connect prospective students with trusted partners who can help with every major decision from researching universities and writing applications, to taking entrance exams and even helping with opening bank accounts in their chosen country.
“We see it as incredibly important that we provide our student audience with the right advice and guidance as they make a decision that will impact the rest of their lives – and the Student Advisory Board will play an essential role in guiding the THE Student team as we undertake this responsibility.”
“It’s a pleasure to have some of the most prominent thought-leaders from the international education community on the board, with Wendy Alexander as chair and representation from across the globe. Their views will also be complimented by members of our THE Student Pulse Community Panel, consisting of tens of thousands of prospective international students from over 100 countries across the world. I look forward to working with every board member to make THE Student the world’s leading platform for international student recruitment.”
Wendy Alexander, Chair of the THE Student Advisory Board and Vice-Principal (International) at University of Dundee, said:
“Choosing the right university is one of the most important decisions we make in life. Pre-COVID that journey was too often reliant on local contacts and local knowledge. The pandemic has created a tipping point, allowing tech savvy students to take control of their own journey. Times Higher Education is stepping up to support all those students, by creating a pioneering online student marketplace. This new student marketplace is unique in bringing together highly respected, trusted partners able to support international students on every step of the pre-arrival journey including choosing the best country, course and university for their ambitions.
Education technology is transforming the international student recruitment ecosystem. So it’s vital that the university sector has oversight of this newly emerging field – and I’m delighted that THE has created an expert independent advisory board to offer advice and guidance, ensuring that the student interests are always at the heart of decision-making.”
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ABOUT THE
THE is the trusted global data partner for higher education. With five decades of expertise in the sector, 30 million unique website users in 2020 and more institutions participating in our flagship university rankings than any other major provider, we draw on millions of individual data points to offer deeper and richer insight into global university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events and hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone in higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions.
ABOUT THE STUDENT
THE Student is a dynamic new digital platform connecting millions of prospective international students and parents to the universities, data and services they need to make one of the biggest decisions of their lives – who to trust with their education. Through a lively mix of engaging content, virtual events and festivals, essential tools and useful tips, THE Student is a vital resource from initial search to first day on campus. www.timeshighereducation.com/student
ABOUT WENDY ALEXANDER
Wendy Alexander is Vice Principal, International at the University of Dundee and Scottish Government International Trade Envoy for Higher Education. She is a member of UK Government’s DIT/DfE Education Sector Advisory Group and the British Council’s Higher Education Sector Group. She is an Advisory Board member of UK National Committee on China, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Patron Social Investment Scotland, a member of Scottish Equity Partner LLP Investment Advisory Board, a former Board member of Scottish Government’s Strategic Board for Enterprise and Skills and former Trustee of the Leadership Foundation (now Advance HE). Prior to her current executive role, she was a member of the Leadership team at London Business School leading their Degree Programmes. As a Member of the Scottish Parliament (1999-2011), she served in the first three Scottish Cabinets, including as Minister with responsibility for Further and Higher Education, holding the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Transport and Communities portfolios and also served as Scottish Labour Leader in the Scottish Parliament. She holds honorary degrees from University of Strathclyde and University of West of Scotland.
ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE THE STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD
Biographies and photos for all members of the THE Student Advisory Board are available here: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/advisory-board