Mary Stiasny, OBE, Professor Emerita and former Pro Vice Chancellor (International, Teaching and Learning) at the University of London, takes us through her international education journey, from her initial involvement with international education at Goldsmith University in the early days of international students recrutiment in the UK, then as Director of Education and Training at the British Council, through to her recent role as PVC at the University of London.
We discuss the benefits and potential of online learning as a means to widening global access to education and international education, and the recongition challenges that online education still encounters. Mary emphasises the importance of knowledge diplomacy, and the critical role that international education can play in helping shape constructive international relations and navigating difficult and shifting geopolitics... and she shares a memorable challenging journey from Lahore to Karachi, via Islamabad, as flights from Lahore had been put on hold, in time to run an event in the evening.