New Delhi, 26th October 2023: Study Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon. To a new role of Provost and Chief Academic Officer.  In this role Elena will carry global responsibility for Study Group’s academic strategy and teaching and support of students. As well as operational responsibility for the teaching and support of students. At our international study centres and colleges in the UK and Ireland.

Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon earns international respect as an educator and passionately advocates for excellence and innovation in teaching and student support. She grew up and studied in Mexico. Elena served as a Professor of Engineering in a UK Russell Group university. Before becoming the first President and Chief Executive at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering. She then served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. 

A Principal Fellow at Advance HE and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Elena is also a champion for Women in STEM and has led transformational work on enterprise education and collaboration with employers within education. Teams of international students she mentored have been UK winners of Enactus – an international organisation that connects student. Academic and business leaders through entrepreneurial-based projects – and finalists in its prestigious global awards. 

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Elena is also a long-standing supporter of international students and has advocated in Parliament for the #WeAreInternational campaign. Sector and mainstream media have extensively published her work on support and innovation in education. In 2015, her alma mater, the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in México, awarded her a Doctorate of Engineering honoris causa, and in 2020, FDM Everywoman named her Woman of the Year in Technology.

Study Group Chief Executive Officer Ian Crichton says. “I am extremely pleased to announce the new role of Provost and Chief Academic Officer. At Study Group and delighted that Professor Rodriguez-Falcon has agreed to join us. The dedication of our teachers and the commitment of our student support teams build our reputation for excellent teaching and support. The success of our students as they progress to their degrees and beyond into their careers and lives truly testifies to that.

“This role will strengthen that commitment to student success still further, and in Elena we will have a unique combination of experience in leadership in a traditional university and innovation in new forms of provision. I am very much looking forward to the energy and care I know she will soon bring to our Executive Committee and the organisation as a whole.”

Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon

Commenting on her appointment, Elena says: “I am delighted to take up this new role as Provost and Chief Academic Officer for Study Group and to help increase the participation and success of students from around the world in international education.”
The role includes the opportunity to work with our excellent established International Study Centres and Colleges and teachers, and to develop new models of education globally with partners in universities and government across the world. I very much welcome the determination of Study Group to 

put quality in teaching and the support of students at the core of everything it does, and am truly looking forward to this exciting opportunity.”

Congratulating Elena on her appointment, Chair of the Study Group Academic Board Professor Sir Keith Burnett says. “I am delighted to welcome Elena to Study Group and very much look forward to her contribution. Having worked with Elena at the University of Sheffield, I witnessed at first hand her dedication to students’ learning. As well as her creativity and flair in finding meaningful ways to engage and inspire. She is a true ambassador for international education and, on behalf of the Academic Board, I am looking forward. To working closely together to meet the needs and hopes of our diverse cohorts of students.”

In her new role, a strong operational delivery and academic senior leadership team will support Elena. Including Vaughan Leyshon and Melinda Tan, existing University Partnership Directors and long-standing members of the Study Group team. Previous Managing Director (University Partnerships) Dr Mark Cunnington leaves Study Group after seven years to take up the role of Pro- Vice-Chancellor for BIMM, a private university specialising in music, film, performing arts and creative technology. He leaves Study Group with the warm thanks of all of his colleagues. For his commitment to academic quality and good wishes for his next role.

About Study Group

Study Group is a leading provider of international education and a trusted strategic partner to more than 50 universities around the world. Committed to a better world through education, we deliver high quality international education solutions. That drive success for our partners and students. From outstanding teaching to innovative approaches to international recruitment and student support. Our digital learning company, insendi, helps institutions deliver high-impact. Transformational online and blended education using the most pedagogically powerful digital tools available.

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