McHugh, Kate

As the Director of Open Studies at the University of Edinburgh, I work with colleagues towards offering a number of programs for students from all types of backgrounds. This includes our Access Program, our International Foundation Program, and our Lifelong Learning courses. Whilst some days are filled with paperwork, meetings and committees, the joyful days are when I have the chance to spend time with students. At the Centre for Open Learning, you will often find students in our ‘hallowed halls’ who may never have thought that those halls were meant for them. This includes students who have travelled from around the world to Scotland as well as those who live down the street. I enjoy being part of the non-traditional part of the institution, which flings open the doors and removes barriers for students as best we can. Being a part of their learning journeys – whether it be to take the next step to an undergraduate degree, or to find community while they learn something new – is extremely fulfilling and makes all of the other parts of my role worth it.

I have often said that working in University management and administration is a bit of a ‘secret career’. It is not something you often think of as a young child when you picture your future working self, however it has been such a rewarding and exciting sector to work in, and is always full of unique opportunities. When I was working as an administrative and admissions assistant, after a few years I started to feel the need to grow and progress my career to the next level. I identified a number of women in the field who were successful in their areas, and arranged opportunities to speak with them about their own career paths. One element that became quickly apparent was a commonality in their backgrounds – the combination of concrete work experience alongside a M.ED. I already had a number of years of work under my belt, but the missing piece was the formal education to support my experiences. The M.ED (ALGC) program gave me exactly what I needed – confidence, contacts, and clarity. I realized that I had the abilities all along, but the program empowered me to use them wisely, whilst also giving me a credential for that next step up. Now, as a Director at the University of Edinburgh I know how important it is to have an open door to colleagues who may wish to speak about their career progression and opportunities, and am extremely grateful to the women in my past who did the same for me.

When I started my first year of the distance MED (Adult Learning & Global Change) I was working as an Administrative Assistant at a Community College in rural Nova Scotia. The following year my husband and I moved to the United Kingdom and I finished my degree from across the pond. Having gained a variety of new skills, confidence and knowledge from the program, I applied to a new type of job and found myself quickly propelled into exciting leadership roles at the University of Southampton, and finally the University of Edinburgh. Being able to reflect on my learning journey in a completely new setting allowed me the space to trust my own perspectives on international education and support students to succeed from around the world. I am lucky to be able to work with international students on a daily basis, and enjoy watching them broaden their horizons and thrive in their new surroundings as well.