Introduce yourself in three words or phrases.
Born in Andorra, a small country with no university at the time. I studied at institutions in three countries and two continents.
Two daughters, who despite having a university in the country now, decided to follow in their father’s footsteps and study abroad as well.
What do you like most about your job?
At EDUopinions, we want to make finding independent information about universities easier. This is the aspect I most enjoy: helping other students who were in similar situations to my daughters. I want all students to be able to make an informed decision about their study destination.
Best work trip/Worst work trip?
The best work trip, for me, was attending this year’s EAIE conference in Toulouse. Not only because of the great conversations I had there, but also because there was no need to fly there – just three hours’ driving from Andorra! This year, we hosted our first ever EDUopinions wine tasting event, where we brought together HE professionals to connect and share their passion for wine. It was a lot of fun to build relationships this way.
I’ve been to many conferences over the years, some worse than others, but, to be quite honest, I don’t like to focus on the bad ones!
If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?
Definitely German. I can see the rising influence and popularity of DACH institutions, and to be able to connect with professionals in the local language would be very beneficial. I also admire the diverse culture and work mentality.
What makes you get up in the morning?
Everyday is different at EDUopinions. We’re a young organisation but growing fast, so every day there’s excitement and curiosity about what the day will bring, whether that’s meeting institutions or seeing how we can better serve students.
Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?
I admire Malala Yousafzai enormously. She embodies courage, determination, and the power of using your voice for change. These are all qualities that higher education professionals should embody. Malala has already done so much to break the glass ceiling within higher education institutions, but I think we as professionals can take her as inspiration to accomplish more.
Best international ed conference and why
I’ve mentioned it before, but I love EAIE. At EDUopinions, we primarily partner with European universities, and there’s always a huge variety of institutions at EAIE. Plus, the great atmosphere of collaboration.
Worst conference food/beverage experience
Like most people in higher education who travel a lot, I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences! But I always try to turn them around in my memory, or even delete them altogether.
Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?
10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People by David Yeager. It’s important that, as educators and higher education professionals, we know who we’re talking to. At EDUopinions, we don’t just work with admissions teams, but also engage with real students in marketing campaigns. This book outlines how we can genuinely connect with young people and empower them to achieve all that they’re capable of.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
At the moment, we’re really focused on how we can use data analysis to help marketing directors adapt their strategies. We’ve collected thousands of student reviews on EDUopinions and this data is a goldmine for institution comparisons and understanding what appeals to real students. I believe we can make a difference to how universities understand and respond to students.
