Karen Brodie and James Coe will discuss approaches to de-risking partnerships, drawing on their work with universities across the UK and recent projects with China and Turkey. A partnership considered a strategic fit can be subject to a myriad of other issues. James and Karen will discuss what a ‘safe’ partnership really is and look at ways of creating security and certainty for new collaborative programmes as internal and external factors shift.
Karen is a Partner at Counterculture and works across the higher education and cultural sectors on a wide range of programmes and interventions for lasting change. Recent projects include developing a policy with Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture for rebuilding higher education courses after the war, responsible research partnerships with China, flexible pathways for undergraduate programmes for LSE, student fieldwork residential programmes for a Wildlife Trust, closer cooperation between HE and industry in the creative industries, and the first internationalisation strategy for a students’ union.
At UCL, Karen leads a programme to enhance research culture, working across disciplines and departments to support a healthy, inclusive and sustainable research environment. Previously she was Programme Director for UCL’s Global Engagement where she led the university’s flagship international programme to strengthen research and education partnerships with Europe following the UK’s departure from the EU. At the British Council she led cultural and education programmes in complex and sensitive contexts around the world.
