Arriving in Israel on a warm September evening from a cold wet London and smelling the beautiful aromas of the Mediterranean as the doors to the aircraft were opened. It was my first time abroad, and I can still remember the excitement I felt then, and that has stayed with me ever since. I firmly believe we should all take every opportunity to broaden our horizons and see as much of the world as possible.
Staff Spotlight: Jedge Pilbrow
Title:
Senior Lecturer
Jedge Pilbrow is a Senior Lecturer in digital media at the University of Brighton. He has traveled extensively and lived six years in Israel, six years in Germany, and two years in the Lebanon. His background included aircraft and nuclear power simulation, and it is this experience with visual media that led him into teaching.
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
One of the best things about being a lecturer is that I am actually paid to explore and investigate the things that excite and interest me and then share this with students. I have been given the opportunity to make my interest in photography and visual culture my work. When I reflect on what I thought I knew when I started to work at the university compared to what (I think) I know now, I realize I have been given a fantastic opportunity to improve.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
In my Photography Module, students select a photographer whose work interests them, and build their own portfolio of work around what they learn. I had one American student who wanted to look at her grandfather's photography. To be honest, I had my doubts until she said, “My Grandpappy was one of the first American servicemen into Hiroshima, and these are his photographs from 1945. No one has seen them for nearly seventy years.”
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I am lucky to have been able to travel with my job. We have students who go to different countries on exchange programs, and I have been privileged on a number of occasions to be asked to go out to make a film about the students' experiences. I would like to do this more often and work with Erazmus Program teaching abroad.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
I work in a small team in the school of Humanities. We work very well together as a coordinated team, and everyone pulls together to help make sure our students have a good experience while they are with us. We are also very proud that we go the extra mile to help students who experience difficulties while at University.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
It is important for any organization to trust in the people who work there to do their job to the best of their ability.
Organizations that manage to strike this balance are happier places because people feel that their job, whatever it is, is held in respect.
This means that they are also respected and valued by the organization.