Vivienne Stern MBE has called her new role appointment as Chief Executive of Universities UK (UUK) an ‘enormous privilege’.
It was announced yesterday, Friday April 29, Stern would be taking over as UUK’s chief exec and called the opportunity a ‘privilege’ as well as paying tribute to her predecessor.
Stern at the helm
Vivienne is currently Director of Universities UK International (UUKi), part of UUK which represents the collective voice of UK universities on the global stage.
Since taking up this post in 2014 she has played a significant role in major policy and political decisions including the introduction of a new Graduate Route visa, influencing the creation of the Turing Scheme.
The scheme funds students to spend time abroad, and working to shape the International Education Strategy which committed the UK government to growth in international student numbers to 600k by 2030 – a target achieved almost a decade early.
Just this year she was awarded an MBE for Services to International Education in the New Years’ Honours List 2022.
Upon the news of her appointment as UUK CE she not only spoke about her upcoming role, but also paid a tribute to her predecessor Alistair Jarvis CBE.
She said: ‘Our universities are one of the UK’s outstanding strengths. It is an enormous privilege to be asked to represent them, and to lead the talented team at Universities UK.
‘I look forward to working with the President, the Board, and all those who work in our universities to ensure that they are equipped to fulfil their potential, nationally and internationally, in education, research and in the many positive ways they contribute to the public good.”
‘I would also like to pay tribute to UUK’s outgoing Chief Executive, Alistair Jarvis CBE, for the exceptional leadership he has given the sector and UUK and look forward to building on the strong legacy he leaves.’
What is Universities UK?
UUK is acts as a collective voice of 140 universities across the UK, with the aim to support help the development of said universities.
UUK does things like; campaigning for conditions that help increase their impact locally, nationally and globally, and aims to shape policy that allows universities to deliver the greatest impact possible for students, staff, the economy, and the communities they serve.
The organisation was first founded over 100 years ago in 1918 when the first recorded meeting of 22 university leaders took place.
