Speaker profile
Prof Jackie Dunne
Jackie is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Access and Lifelong Learning) at the University of Wolverhampton with responsibility for a broad portfolio, having had a wide range of roles in higher education. Jackie graduated in Hispanic Studies from Liverpool University in 1987, in 1995 completed an MA in Education and Industry from Warwick University and is a Professor in Lifelong Learning and Skills. She began her career at Coventry University as a Lecturer in Spanish, working her way up to Principal Lecturer. She moved to the University of Leicester in 2001, as Director of Continuing Professional Development and later went on to become Director of Lifelong Learning. From 2013 she was Dean of Distance Education at the University of Leicester, with institution-wide responsibility for distance and online learning, including the development of FutureLearn MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).
At national level, Jackie has been active in the field of lifelong learning and part-time higher education and was Honorary Secretary of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) from 2008 to 2014. She has been involved in a number of national initiatives in part–time higher education and lifelong learning. She was a Board member of the Universities Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) between 2008 and 2010 and a Board Member of Open University FutureLearn. She has also held a number of regional roles in the East and West Midlands and has been active in the local economic development and skills arena. She is currently a trustee of the Children’s University and chair of the Universities UK Latin American Network.
At regional level she is on the Board of the Black Country LEP, and chair of the Employment and Skills Board, as well as being active in the regional economic development arena in the Black Country and West Midlands. Her research interests include higher education, lifelong learning policy, practice skills and widening participation and she has written and published in these areas. Jackie is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.