Noticeboard has been speaking to Professor Don Nutbeam to find out more about our future V-C.
Don was born and grew up in Newbury, Berkshire, where he attended St Bartholomew’s Grammar School. One of his sisters still lives in Newbury and another lives in Devon.
What are your impressions of the region?
I love the south of England. It is one of the few places that could attract my wife and I away from the very appealing lifestyle of Sydney.We both enjoy the mix of country, coast and city that Hampshire offers.
You studied at the University of Southampton. Do you have any significant memories of your days here?
Having completed my undergraduate studies in a relatively small and specialised teachers training college (King Alfred’s College in Winchester), I especially enjoyed the sense that Southampton was a “real” University, offering a comprehensive range of studies, and a very stimulating campus experience.
Inevitably, as a postgraduate coursework student, the experience was necessarily different to that of an undergraduate – focussed and time-limited in order to fit study in around full time work. However, it’s fair to say that my time at Southampton opened my eyes to range of academic and professional opportunities that I had not previously considered, and fundamentally shaped my future career direction.
On a more personal note, I have great memories of my graduation days. My mother was able to attend all three[1]. As I was the first member of my family to attend University, I know that she was one of a large number of very proud parents.
How would you describe the University?
Viewed from the other side of the world, Southampton is a well-established University of high standing, especially well known for its research leadership and innovation in disciplines such as engineering, medicine, marine sciences and electronics. If anything, the University may be guilty of undue modesty compared to some. Its academic performance and student experience are both outstanding when benchmarked against other comparable universities, yet Southampton’s external profile and reputation are not as obviously distinctive as they might be.
Do you think it has changed significantly since you were here?
When I was a postgraduate student, the old Boldrewood building was considered a “state of the art” research and teaching complex, so yes, things have changed since I was there! The University has continued to develop its physical infrastructure to meet the changing needs of students, and to ensure its continued research competitiveness.
Other observable changes are a product of changes to higher education more generally in the UK and internationally. Universities are subjected to far greater external scrutiny of their teaching and research performance, and are part of a global marketplace for talented students and staff. Students often have to make significant contributions to the cost of their education. These changes have led to a very different campus experience for both staff and students.
What was the best thing about studying at Southampton?
I was particularly grateful for the personalised support that was offered to me by my academic supervisors, and the stimulating mix of lectures and tutorials that kept me engaged in my MA studies in health education, and adult education.
In my PhD I studied the impact of school structure and organisation on the development of health behaviour among adolescents. I used different research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative), and drew upon a range of disciplinary perspectives. I was fortunate to receive my primary supervision through the Faculty of Education, but also benefited from significant support from the Department of Community Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine. From my perspective this inter-disciplinary co-operation within the University was impressively seamless.
What do you think are the most pressing issues facing HE in the UK?
Very similar to those in many other countries:
§ how to fund a progressive expansion in higher education;
§ how to provide a quality education and student experience in an expanded system;
§ how to remain internationally competitive in research, and as a place to work and study
How do you think the UK HE system compares with Australia?
There are many similarities. Both systems have been through a period of significant expansion in the past 20 years, both require significant financial contributions from students, both are subjected to (somewhat overbearing) external regulation and review.
In my observation, Australia is more exposed to and more conscious of the impressive developments in higher education in Asia, and tends to be somewhat more “international” in outlook.
What do you think are the most pressing issues facing the University of Southampton?
Talented staff and students are the lifeblood of the University. We need to continue to build the resources that will enable us to remain an attractive, competitive place to work and study for the most talented staff and students.
My priorities are equally simple: to work with the University community to maintain focus on continuous improvement in our academic performance, to play an active role in development of our reputation, and to ensure that we achieve our ambition in ways that are financially sustainable.
What advice would you give your children when choosing a university?
The advice I gave to my children (both of whom have recently graduated from university) was to find a university and program that best fitted their talent and ambition, and a university that offered a great overall student experience.
Your twin areas of expertise are health and education. How in your opinion does the UK compare on the global stage in both of these?
Having looked at health care systems around the world, you can’t beat our much maligned NHS in terms of delivering reasonable, comprehensive health care for the whole population on an equitable basis. It has inevitable challenges, but I remain a big fan of the basic concept.
The quality of outcomes from school education remains challenging, and this is the single biggest threat the Government’s ambition to further expand participation in higher education. The solution to this extends back to investment in early childhood development and pre-school education, as well as improving the quality of school education, and is a partnership between parents and educators. It is not something that is going to be easily fixed in a few years.
You have significant experience of working with government. Do you perceive that this will be an important element of your future role as Vice-Chancellor?
It is still the case that the majority of funding for universities comes directly from government, indirectly (for example, through research funding), or is facilitated by government (for example, in relation to student loans). This is unlikely to change greatly during my time as V-C, so yes, I see the University’s relationship with the government as extremely important and something I expect to devote the necessary time to manage and develop.
You’ve spent a large part of your career working in Australia. Has that impacted on your perspective of life and work?
I greatly admire the Australian “can do” approach to almost anything – in part a product of the country’s history and geography. Australia is also an impressive multi-cultural and internationally oriented society that looks to connect with the best ideas and talent all over the world. My experience in Australia has probably reinforced these perspectives to my thinking and day-to-day working.
Did you ever think when you were studying here that you might come back as Vice-Chancellor?
Not in my wildest dreams!
How do you relax?
Although I enjoy reading and watching TV, and am a “collector” (stamps, space memorabilia, football programs), I tend to be active in my relaxation. I play competitive football, and ski whenever I can in the winter, and play tennis and kayak in the summer.
Don Nutbeam will take up his post as Vice-Chancellor in September 2009
[1] King Alfred’s College was affiliated to the University of Southampton when I graduated in 1978. Its degrees were awarded by the University. Hence my BEd graduation was held at the University.