60 SECONDS WITH PROF ZOE BUTTERFINT, ACADEMIC DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS & APPRENTICESHIPS
Tell us about your role at UEA
My current role at UEA is Academic Director of Partnerships and Apprenticeships which means I have overall responsibility to the University for the academic quality assurance and governance of our partnership provision and our apprenticeships. This is a role that, in theory, takes three days a week of my time. I am also Professor of Health Sciences Education and a phonetician by background, so in the other part of my job I teach, mark, supervise and support students in the School of Health Sciences – largely the Speech and Language Therapy students on our BSc and MSCi programmes.
How has your role changed as a result of COVID-19?
Principally it has meant that I have been unable to visit partners and meet people in person since beginning my Academic Director role – something I very much want to do as soon as circumstances allow. Largely I’m trapped in my spare bedroom at home in Microsoft Teams meetings. Like everyone else, my teaching this academic year has been on-line which has been interesting to say the least in a quite practical subject.
What would surprise people to know about you?
My Dad was a plumber before he retired so I was brought up to be very practical; I’m pretty good at unblocking sinks, toilets and drains, moving radiators, mending showers……
What’s your favourite film of all time and why?
The Lavender Hill Mob, which is an old film but I just like how the old lady gets the better of them all without realising it when they all think they’re so great.
What’s your favourite place to visit?
Every other year or so we go to Australia which is always fantastic. There’s quite a few restaurants, bars, cafes and vineyards that would vie for my favourite place there – the Gin Palace in Melbourne is pretty high on the list.
Tell us your favourite joke
I’m really rubbish at jokes, both telling them and remembering them, so I apologise – “why do bees have sticky hair?”…… “because they use honeycombs!”. Sorry.
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