Vicki Stott
@vickistott.bsky.social
Chief Executive Officer at the QAA, UK. All views my own. Reposts are not endorsements etc. she/her
Absolute bloody joy to listen to @iandunt.bsky.social at #wonkhefestival today. Articulate, cogent and ultimately optimistic exposition of the importance of liberal HE and its critical role in fostering debate.
November 12, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Absolute bloody joy to listen to @iandunt.bsky.social at #wonkhefestival today. Articulate, cogent and ultimately optimistic exposition of the importance of liberal HE and its critical role in fostering debate.
13 hours ago, when I got on this plane, the fact that I’d downloaded Exploding Kittens to my phone seemed like the genius flight endurance plan I needed. Reader, it wasn’t.
May 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
13 hours ago, when I got on this plane, the fact that I’d downloaded Exploding Kittens to my phone seemed like the genius flight endurance plan I needed. Reader, it wasn’t.
The cabin crew are having a good old gossip and a laugh, just behind me, and I’m well jel!
May 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The cabin crew are having a good old gossip and a laugh, just behind me, and I’m well jel!
The thing about this *particular* plane is that I’ve spent 4 hours working, watched a film (“Oblivion”. It’s aptly named). Played Exploding Kittens for about an hour, read some Haruki Murakami and we’ve still got 5 hours left!
May 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The thing about this *particular* plane is that I’ve spent 4 hours working, watched a film (“Oblivion”. It’s aptly named). Played Exploding Kittens for about an hour, read some Haruki Murakami and we’ve still got 5 hours left!
On a plane. If I ever write an autobiography (I won’t), the section about my 50s will be 50% on a plane, about 15% doing exciting stuff in other places, and the rest is admin.
May 18, 2025 at 9:09 AM
On a plane. If I ever write an autobiography (I won’t), the section about my 50s will be 50% on a plane, about 15% doing exciting stuff in other places, and the rest is admin.
I’m in the classiest little cocktail bar in Hanoi. There’s a drunk Aussie at the bar, boring. He leaned over to introduce himself to a single woman, also at the bar. The barman leaned over and said “you know that’s the second time you’ve introduced yourself to her, right?” I love that so much!
May 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I’m in the classiest little cocktail bar in Hanoi. There’s a drunk Aussie at the bar, boring. He leaned over to introduce himself to a single woman, also at the bar. The barman leaned over and said “you know that’s the second time you’ve introduced yourself to her, right?” I love that so much!
I’m travelling, in Japan, and have lost all track of UK time. But I think it’s about start time for the London marathon. So best of luck to all my running buddies! I hope you have an excellent run!
April 27, 2025 at 7:46 AM
I’m travelling, in Japan, and have lost all track of UK time. But I think it’s about start time for the London marathon. So best of luck to all my running buddies! I hope you have an excellent run!
This thread has made me properly chuckle, this morning. I will be re-writing our hiring policy to include liturgical assonance from now on! (Liturgical Assonance would be a GREAT name for a band, no??)
I've just had cause to write in a document the phrase "QAA liaison".
Lord have mercy...
Lord have mercy...
March 27, 2025 at 9:47 AM
This thread has made me properly chuckle, this morning. I will be re-writing our hiring policy to include liturgical assonance from now on! (Liturgical Assonance would be a GREAT name for a band, no??)
Reposted by Vicki Stott
"We'd like to take this opportunity to welcome the appointment of Professor Edward Peck as the next Chair of the Office for Students, and we very much look forward to working together in supporting the quality and standards of our sector." - Vicki Stott FRSA (@vickistott.bsky.social), CEO, QAA
March 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"We'd like to take this opportunity to welcome the appointment of Professor Edward Peck as the next Chair of the Office for Students, and we very much look forward to working together in supporting the quality and standards of our sector." - Vicki Stott FRSA (@vickistott.bsky.social), CEO, QAA
Reposted by Vicki Stott
There are times when you must speak, not because you are going to change the opposing side, but because if you do not speak, they have changed you.
March 8, 2025 at 8:25 PM
There are times when you must speak, not because you are going to change the opposing side, but because if you do not speak, they have changed you.
I did not, for the first time in *mumble* years, do anything or write anything to mark International Women’s Day. I’d like to tell you that’s because I’m jet lagged, or I forgot, but that wouldn’t be true. Indeed, half a world away and six hours before IWD dawned in the UK,
March 9, 2025 at 8:09 AM
I did not, for the first time in *mumble* years, do anything or write anything to mark International Women’s Day. I’d like to tell you that’s because I’m jet lagged, or I forgot, but that wouldn’t be true. Indeed, half a world away and six hours before IWD dawned in the UK,
As final stops for a holiday go, this isn’t *terrible*…
March 5, 2025 at 11:29 AM
As final stops for a holiday go, this isn’t *terrible*…
Reposted by Vicki Stott
So much of the language around Trump is about power and specifically about making him look powerful. Journalists today writing that Zelenskyy 'bends' to Trump or 'kisses the ring'. You could equally say that he is successfully manipulating Trump.
March 5, 2025 at 9:47 AM
So much of the language around Trump is about power and specifically about making him look powerful. Journalists today writing that Zelenskyy 'bends' to Trump or 'kisses the ring'. You could equally say that he is successfully manipulating Trump.
Well, despite the rainforest being so rainy, we’ve had the most *fabulous* week in it. A real privilege to be so close to orangutans, proboscis monkeys and a plethora of other beasties. Slightly sad not to have seen a porcupine or a leopard, and even sadder to have experienced a fire ant’s bite!
March 4, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Well, despite the rainforest being so rainy, we’ve had the most *fabulous* week in it. A real privilege to be so close to orangutans, proboscis monkeys and a plethora of other beasties. Slightly sad not to have seen a porcupine or a leopard, and even sadder to have experienced a fire ant’s bite!
I often think a large benefit of travelling is escaping the British weather. With a week of hiking in the rain forest ahead of me, I’m not sure this is entirely the kind of escape I was hoping for…
February 25, 2025 at 7:16 AM
I often think a large benefit of travelling is escaping the British weather. With a week of hiking in the rain forest ahead of me, I’m not sure this is entirely the kind of escape I was hoping for…
Slightly surreal to receive greetings from an old almost-neighbour, @johnslingermp.bsky.social, over lunch in Bandung, Indonesia! I’m sorry I missed your visit to DLI. It would’ve been great to catch up!
February 25, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Slightly surreal to receive greetings from an old almost-neighbour, @johnslingermp.bsky.social, over lunch in Bandung, Indonesia! I’m sorry I missed your visit to DLI. It would’ve been great to catch up!
A two day workshop on academic quality design, held at the fabulous new Lancaster Deakin campus in Bandung, Indonesia is making me reflect deeply on the importance of demonstrating quality in TNE and the difficulty of satisfying multiple stakeholders.
February 25, 2025 at 4:24 AM
A two day workshop on academic quality design, held at the fabulous new Lancaster Deakin campus in Bandung, Indonesia is making me reflect deeply on the importance of demonstrating quality in TNE and the difficulty of satisfying multiple stakeholders.
Reposted by Vicki Stott
The notion that Trump's "I'm king" tweet is "just trolling" or "a joke" presents an opportunity to recreate my just-joking thread (porting it over from the Bad Place):
1. I wrote my PhD dissertation on the social function of humor (in literature & film) and here's the thing about "just joking."
1. I wrote my PhD dissertation on the social function of humor (in literature & film) and here's the thing about "just joking."
February 20, 2025 at 12:09 AM
The notion that Trump's "I'm king" tweet is "just trolling" or "a joke" presents an opportunity to recreate my just-joking thread (porting it over from the Bad Place):
1. I wrote my PhD dissertation on the social function of humor (in literature & film) and here's the thing about "just joking."
1. I wrote my PhD dissertation on the social function of humor (in literature & film) and here's the thing about "just joking."
Faggots, gravy, peas and… chips or mash? We have a domestic north/south divide. Help us out?!
February 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Faggots, gravy, peas and… chips or mash? We have a domestic north/south divide. Help us out?!
Reposted by Vicki Stott
Interested in working with us @instituteforgov.bsky.social? We've opened applications for our next comms intern - all the detail at the link below
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
January 31, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Interested in working with us @instituteforgov.bsky.social? We've opened applications for our next comms intern - all the detail at the link below
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
I’m not a podcaster, nor a natural broadcaster. And so interviewing perhaps the sector’s best-known podcaster as my first foray into the medium was… daunting. Luckily, @registrarism.bsky.social is also kind, wise and fun! So he turned a daunting experience into a fun one! I hope you enjoy it!
In the latest edition of the QAA podcast, our Chief Executive @vickistott.bsky.social talks with @registrarism.bsky.social about the changes that the sector has gone through over the last few decades and the challenges it faces today.
🎧 Listen here: www.qaa.ac.uk/news-events/...
🎧 Listen here: www.qaa.ac.uk/news-events/...
January 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I’m not a podcaster, nor a natural broadcaster. And so interviewing perhaps the sector’s best-known podcaster as my first foray into the medium was… daunting. Luckily, @registrarism.bsky.social is also kind, wise and fun! So he turned a daunting experience into a fun one! I hope you enjoy it!
Reposted by Vicki Stott
Stop fucking saying he blamed “DEI,” which is some abstract, non-tangible idea. He is blaming people of color having jobs he thinks they aren’t qualified for. He’s blaming race. He’s being racist every time he says it. Journalists need to get fucking backbones, my word.
January 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Stop fucking saying he blamed “DEI,” which is some abstract, non-tangible idea. He is blaming people of color having jobs he thinks they aren’t qualified for. He’s blaming race. He’s being racist every time he says it. Journalists need to get fucking backbones, my word.
I stayed in London last night, after a late meeting. This morning, I discovered that Angel tube doesn’t open till 7am (weird!). Stood at the roadside, waiting for a cab, a passing woman paused to check I was ok. A small act of kindness, in a bleak week. ❤️🙏🏻
January 30, 2025 at 7:20 AM
I stayed in London last night, after a late meeting. This morning, I discovered that Angel tube doesn’t open till 7am (weird!). Stood at the roadside, waiting for a cab, a passing woman paused to check I was ok. A small act of kindness, in a bleak week. ❤️🙏🏻
Access to HE is a truly transformational qualification, and a million students is HUGE. I’m so proud of this little team, and everyone they work with, for reaching this milestone.
2024 was a big year for the Access to Higher Education Diploma, as we celebrated the registration of our first million students onto AHE courses. QAA's Claire Swales tells us more in our latest blog: www.qaa.ac.uk//en/news-eve...
January 29, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Access to HE is a truly transformational qualification, and a million students is HUGE. I’m so proud of this little team, and everyone they work with, for reaching this milestone.
I find myself knitting by the fire, while Cheltenham and Accrington Stanley figure out who is the worse team, on my TV. This is not at all how I imagined adulthood, when I was misspending my youth.
January 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I find myself knitting by the fire, while Cheltenham and Accrington Stanley figure out who is the worse team, on my TV. This is not at all how I imagined adulthood, when I was misspending my youth.