Shaping the student experience: a chat with our Vice-Chancellor
William Sarenden, Chair of Birkbeck Students’ Union and BA Philosophy student, sits down with Professor Sally Wheeler OBE, Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck, to gain an insight into her role and her daily life. They discuss how she hopes to shape the student experience at Birkbeck as the University embarks on its third century.
William: What does a typical day look like for you as the Vice-Chancellor and what aspects of your role would most surprise people?
Sally: People would be surprised by the very varied sorts of meetings I go to, including, for example, with Birkbeck members of staff on internal matters or with alumni and supporters and people from other parts of the University of London. I also attend many different events. There’s no such thing as a typical day. I think people would be surprised that I don’t have an office – I share an office – plus, I still do bits and pieces of academic work.
William: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing Birkbeck students today?
Sally: For a number of students, financial pressures sadly impact both their ability to access higher education and their time studying with us much more than we would like. Many students face challenges relating to their mental health and wellbeing. We do have comprehensive counselling and learning support for students, which is really important.
A big challenge for all students nowadays is time. Time to try and balance work, studies and things in life in general and how much time to work on your CV and skills to make yourself more rounded. The overwhelming majority of students are working, so time and time management must be a challenge. Students start thinking about their employment prospects before they even arrive. There is that continuous pressure to achieve and find time to fit things in.
William: What are your views on how the Government could better support universities like Birkbeck to make education more accessible?
Sally: I would like to see something done about the clear distinction between a full-time and part-time student. In most Australian universities, which I have experience of from my time as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Australian National University, students can switch between full and part-time study with ease. This is much more difficult in the English system where students are funded on an annual, not modular, basis at present.
I think you produce students that are much more rounded, ready for the workplace and more at ease with themselves if you give them more time to complete their degrees instead of the traditional model of completing within three years. It doesn’t cost the Government more money but for students it can be genuinely transformational. I also think that business of ‘what is a graduate salary?’ is very misleading. If you have a student that earns £30,000 but is in a family of one or two generations of worklessness, that salary is transformational. We should be looking at what we mean by social mobility rather than the salary.
William: How does the university help students enhance their social mobility, and why do you think this is such an important focus for Birkbeck?
Sally: We’re known for our contribution to social mobility partly because we have such a positive approach to accepting ‘non-traditional’ students, which includes mature learners and those without the traditional qualifications some other universities ask for. Our students not only gain knowledge of the subject they’re studying and transferrable skills, they also get the chance to mix with people who are so different and at different points in their career. It’s about raising ambition.
William: Reflecting on your time so far as Vice Chancellor, what is it that you are you most proud of?
Sally: There’s lots of things I am really proud of – even just saying that I am Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck. I think we do graduations very well and it’s incredible to see that many students all together on the way to the next stage of their lives. I am very proud of the new student spaces and lounges in Malet Street and Birkbeck Central. I think it’s great to have that space for our time-poor students to come together.
William: What advice would you give to students to help them maximise their academic, professional and personal development?
Sally: Hear from people in careers you are interested in. Speak with our alumni, who are a great source of information about making the most of your time at Birkbeck and beyond. We have several programmes students can get involved in to get valued support from alumni, for example Mentoring Pathways, Global Buddies and Careers Clinics. Take advantage of anything that improves yourself. You can get a first-class degree but not be employable because you don’t have those soft skills. And just go for it. Don’t be afraid to try things you have never tried before.
William: We know you’re a cat lover – how do your cats influence your work-life balance?
Sally: I have three ginger cats – Pumps 1, Pumps 4 and Pinky – and cats are realistic pets if you are out at work a lot. They accommodate my routine. We have coffee together in the morning and I have a sofa in my home office for them.
William: As you know, staying connected with students is vital. So how do you ensure you remain attuned to the views and concerns of the student body?
Sally: I still teach a class each semester and I hope to do that every year. Plus, I still use the student café and I regularly meet with you and your colleagues.
William: As someone familiar with Bloomsbury, do you have a favourite spot for a coffee or a quick bite between meetings?
Sally: I am on first name terms with the people at Store Street Espresso, particularly because I always buy the same thing, even though I always hesitate. I do use the Perch [on the ground floor of the Malet Street building] – they are always telling me off for how many chocolate bars I buy.
Further Information
- This interview with Sally and William appears in the latest edition of BBK, our annual alumni and supporter magazine. Please read the latest edition here.