Dr Shaun Curtis is Head of the UK Higher Education International Unit, which was established in 2007 in order to undertake activities to support UK universities in a globally competitive world. The International Unit is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Scottish Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, the Department for Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland), GuildHE, and Universities UK. Prior to his work at the International Unit, Shaun was Research Manager at the City of London Corporation for five years. He has also taught International Relations at the University of Toronto, and has undertaken freelance work at the Office of Transnational Issues – Central Intelligence Agency, Gulf States Newsletter, Jane’s Information Group and elsewhere.

Shaun received a BA in Politics and an MA (Distinction) in Middle East Politics from the University of Exeter. He was awarded a PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto, Canada. Prior to university, Shaun spent three years training as an accountant.