This month we are delighted to meet Jorge Freire, whom we welcomed to QMUL close to two months ago.

Jorge, please tell us something about your work background and where you’re currently working at QMUL.
I’m very excited to join the Digital Education Studio and the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. I’m working mostly with the Institute of Dentistry and the William Harvey Research Institute.
I have worked in Higher Education in the UK and in Europe for over ten years, and as a senior learning designer at Imperial College, University of the Arts London and Catolica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, leading blended and distance learning projects. Previously, I worked as a teacher, as an academic librarian and did an MSc in Learning Technology at Birkbeck University of London and the UCL Institute of Education.
My main interest is social and educational change, and there’s been quite a lot of it in Higher Education in recent years, so it’s exciting to be a part of the DES and FMD at this particular time.

What are you currently working on?
An undergraduate distance learning programme. It will be my second and it is a very interesting learning design challenge, as most of the work in HE is done at master course level. Undergraduate distance learning student needs, and teaching, learning, assessment and support approaches are very different in this type of course. It’s been an exciting project so far, which has given me a chance to meet some wonderful people.

What are your interests outside of QMUL?
Running, swimming, travelling, reading and learning. I recently got my motorbike licence, so I’ve been spending time riding. Wish me luck!

Quick-Fire Questions:

Favourite director and movie?
My favourite directors are Wim Wenders and Iñárritu. Anything by them is amazing and they both tend to direct films where multiple stories and characters intersect. Favourite show is Mad Men; I love the idea that a main character can both be a terrible person, but also fascinating to follow through the decades.

Favourite Musician, Song or Music?
Tom Waits, by far. His songs are beautiful, weird, and no two are the same.

Favourite Cuisine?
My mother’s. I’m Portuguese, so I’m obliged to give this answer, but it’s also true. Portuguese food is simple, delicious and varied. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

Favourite Holiday Destination?
I go to the Green Coast of Portugal at least once a year (Porto, Matosinhos, Espinho). I grew up there and there’s something about the cold, deceitfully calm waters of the Atlantic and the beaches that I really love. I used to body board, when I was a teenager, and I’m most at home at the beach.

Favourite gadget/tech you’ve owned/used?
My smartwatch. It’s helped me stay fit and it filters notifications, so I both don’t lose something important, but don’t get overwhelmed. I’m a data guy, so I like it for the running and swimming info it gives me.

Thanks Jorge, we wish you all the best in your new(ish) role.