Alison Girdwood - Class of 1979 - International Education Development

What subjects did you study at St George’s and what did you do after leaving school?

At school I studied English, Biology, Art and Maths. After I left St George’s I studied English with African Studies at Edinburgh University. I then went on to earn my PhD (Policy Reform in Higher Education in Ghana) at the University of Bath.

What’s been your career path since leaving higher education?

I first worked at an Independent Publishing company in Edinburgh before returning to Edinburgh University to the printing department and then international department (quality of teaching). I then went back to Bath University to the International Centre for Higher Education. I’ve also worked at the Commonwealth Secretariat as an education specialist and for the UK Government’s DFID (Department for International Development) in various roles. Currently I work for the British Council as Director of Evaluation & Learning. I followed a career in education, particularly its implementation and evaluation and the St George’s values are a good benchmark for that. The ethos is very much about the independence of spirit, or perhaps the confidence to think about what you want to do later and who you ought to be.

Any notable achievements since leaving St George’s?

I’ve Chaired NGOs for South African Scholarships and was elected onto the International Committee. I also organised the Commonwealth Conference of Education Ministers in Canada in 2000.

Most memorable moments at School?

My strongest memories are of the boarding house. Melville House was quite institutionalised and spartan – icicles on the inside of the window, narrow bed frames and horsehair mattresses! On returning from holiday to a dorm of nine, any feeling of homesickness didn’t last though. I took part in a six week Exchange to Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. The difference in the culture there and the freedom the students were given in comparison to St George’s really stood out.

What lessons have you learnt along the way?

It took me too long to learn to relax and enjoy life, to appreciate every day, and not to worry overly, every day is special in some way! Time passes very quickly, and the greatest joy comes from the people you share things with and care about.

What advice would you give your 14-year-old self when thinking about your career?

Build a career around what you are really interested in, and where you care about what the job will deliver. You spend a lot of time at work! People matter a lot. Always treat people with respect - you will be respected for this by the people who share your values. In the longer term, those who don’t are not worth getting too worried about.