Last modified:
14 December 2018
We have two plenary sessions to start our conference on Wed 28 June 2017
2.00-3.00pm
Welcome, opening remarks and Q&A on current international student issues
Professor Koen Lamberts (pictured right) Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of York and Chair of UKCISA’s Board of Trustees will welcome delegates to the conference, introduce the first plenary speaker and then chair the Question and Answer session with UKCISA’s President, Lord Karan Bilimoria (pictured left)
Lord Bilimoria is the founder of Cobra Beer, Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Limited and of Molson Coors Cobra India and was the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council. In 2014, he was appointed as the 7th Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and was the first Indian born Chancellor of a Russell Group University in Great Britain. In 2006, Karan Bilimoria was appointed the Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, making him the first ever Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords.
Lord Bilimoria has, in recent years, been one of the most active and articulate advocates for international students in Parliament speaking about the value of international students, the global competition, the stagnation in UK recruitment, the impact of current Home Office policies, the significant downturn in students from India, soft power factors, the Brexit challenge and, of course, how evidence shows that very few of the UK public see international students as any sort of ‘migrant’.
What will Lord Bilimoria talk about?
He will reflect on the most recent developments, from a Westminster perspective, and then, together with Prof Lamberts, take questions from delegates on future challenges, concerns and opportunities – both for UKCISA and for the UK. So come prepared with questions you would like answered or points you would like to raise!
5.45-6.45pm
Plenary with Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of Exeter University
Chair: Koen Lamberts
Sponsored by INTO
We are delighted that Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor and Dominic Scott, Chief Executive of the University of Exeter will talk at our Opening Plenary on Wednesday 28 June.
Professor Sir Steve Smith has been Vice-Chancellor and Dominic Scott, Chief Executive of the University of Exeter since October 2002. Previously, he was Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Head of the Department of International Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and Director of the Centre for Public Choice Studies at the University of East Anglia.
Sir Steve is currently Chair of the UCAS Board; Board member of the Russell Group; Chair of UUK's International Policy Network and Chair of UUK's International Strategic Advisory Board; Member of the UUK Board; Member of the Times Higher Education (THE) Editorial Board; Board member of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership; a Trustee of the Education and Employers Task Force.
He was President of Universities UK (UUK) - the representative body for the executive heads of UK universities - from 2009-2011.
He holds a BSc, an MSc, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Southampton. He has served as President of the world academic body in his field from 2003-2004.
Sir Steve was knighted in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to higher education locally and nationally.
This second Opening Plenary is sponsored by INTO:
