Meher Basit

A few things really, one was I always think of an education institution as a place where ideas happen, and where there are interesting people and young people engaging in things, that's always been interesting to me. When I did my Masters I thought I should do something in academia but I was raising a young family so I didn’t have time at that point. So when my son was slightly older I thought the best place to work would be a university. I live in Ramsgate so University of Kent was a good place to apply to, and I was happy that the School of Social Policy offered me a place and I jumped at the opportunity.

I think personally everyone benefits, if someone increases his or her own knowledge I think everyone benefits. You try and improve things and it leads to better things for everybody, so I think higher education has a role to play in how society progresses. I think my own interest in education and the opportunities that came up made it possible for me.

I studied first in Pakistan, that's where I did my degree and my masters. Then I came to Britain and was living in London where I did another masters before joining the University of Kent.

I was looking for work and looked at the both the vacancies and the school, and as my subject interest was social policy and sociology I was thrilled that there was an opportunity in the school, especially working with students which was fantastic to have that engagement with young people, and also the academics here. That was my interest, to be in an environment where I could actually engage with the subject myself.

Loads of people, every person I’ve come across, all the teachers, every teacher I think has taught me so much throughout my education. In Karachi I was very lucky, I had fantastic teachers, and when I was doing my masters here I found brilliant teachers who I still stay in contact with, and then working here has been brilliant because there have been so many academics and students that have helped.

It’s just fantastic to see the energy that students bring with them, so it’s that sort of interest and also I think students bring new ways of looking at things. It’s always interesting to inspire and to see their ideas and how they are trying to find new ground and add to their knowledge.

The graduation ceremony! I attended last year which was the first time in 10 years, I volunteered (for it) and it is an inspiring event. It is nice to see the students taking their degrees and they are so happy and so are their families. It’s hard work but once you get there is that sense of achievement that you’ve finished and you’ll go on to do better things.

There is a lot of change coming in higher education and I do not know which way things will go. I think the tuition fee is an issue affecting students, which will affect the staff and then the whole higher education sector. I think the way things are moving in that direction will be the biggest challenge to higher education.

I think it’s when students finish their degree, when they struggle but still finish, I’m so happy for them. When the students go through all that hard work over all the years they study, and there can be some low points because you think you know it but when you try put it down on paper its very hard. When they finish and get fantastic feedback and they just say thank you, I think that is the biggest achievement.

I would like to study further.

It’s a strange time at this point, young people are aware of the challenges and the funding of higher education so for the future things have to be looked at, decision makers have to look at why this is going on, higher education should have more focus given to it. A lot of students don’t go into higher education because they don’t see a point, which is a shame for everyone because then the whole system is affected, we all pay a price for it. So things should be improved, the government should look more into it as a priority and provide better options for studying, investing in it and investing in young people.

Young people who come in and are interested and want to learn, that is what motivates me and is so inspiring. That’s why I want to study as well because it’s fantastic to be in that environment that you’re engaging with subjects, people and ideas.

Keep an open mind, and harness that energy and take things forward and break new ground.