Helen’s academic interest in higher education policy developed from more than 20 years of professional experience of university administration – in public relations and admissions.
She gained her doctorate from Oxford in 2010 (a study of the market created by the introduction of £3000 fees for Home/EU undergraduates at English universities in 2006); since then, she has conducted research into the impacts of student fees and funding on institutions, students, graduates and applicants within the higher education sector in England. She also works as a consultant to higher education institutions.
As an inspector for the British Accreditation Council, Helen has the opportunity to gain insights into the operation of higher education providers globally. She is also an Associate of the SKOPE, the department’s research centre for Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance.
From 2012-17, Helen was a member of the governing council of the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE), serving as Vice-Chair from 2014-17.
Helen is a teacher and researcher in HE policy, with a particular interest in fees and funding and the changing nature of the HE 'market'. Her professional background is in communications and PR and, in this capacity, she has worked in a number of English universities.