Ambition is a really important attribute for a student, without that, there is no motivation to improve. What we do at Exeter is create an environment where we instil the value of education and how they can use that education to improve, get a good job and make a difference.
The University has made fantastic strides in the way that it has developed over the last few years. This ambition and drive has been mirrored within our research communities, with our PG research students and also in the development of world-class facilities for our researchers of the future.
I think ambition is important in the sense of being able to recognise that you have valuable skills and qualities. We will encourage students to say I am ambitious, I can do well, I know there are opportunities out there. Ambition is a good thing, employers value that.
We aim to support ambition, motivation and goals within education to help students determine how successful they will be in managing their career throughout their working lives and achieving their dreams.
It's important to be ambitious whether you're a teacher or a student. Students should be ambitious to learn everything that they possibly can. Teachers should continually be challenging themselves. It's only through constant experimentation that you can find out what works and what doesn't.
Our students take initiative themselves; we have got some really great SSLC members in this department who are so great, so proactive, and they're really ambitious - always thinking of new events and new projects that they can implement into the department.
Students at Exeter are very ambitious; a lot will go on to be future leaders, and we can see that through our alumni. Our students want to be the best that they can be and we will encourage them to develop this. It shows you've got drive and you know what you want to achieve in your career.
Ambition for an individual student is difficult to define because every student is different... Every student has different ambitions, has different things that they're aiming for. We aim to recognise that in the way we structure our support for students, particularly through employability.
For a student to want to create an idea, want to solve a problem and to have the ambition to solve it, it takes confidence, guidance, support, and it's an absolute privilege to be part of that package, to be giving the support and encouragement to people to follow their ambition.
Students at Exeter are ambitious, they want to make change happen and the Change Agents scheme allows them to do this. They don’t aim for small challenges, they show ambition and we will help them deliver their goals.
I will always strive to represent the students to the best of my ability.