Ruth Thompson

Ruth was appointed Director General for Higher Education in May 2007. The Director General's role is to drive forward higher education's contribution to the DIUS Public Service Agreements (PSAs) on skills and science and innovation; to ensure progress on the Departmental Strategic Objectives where higher education policy can contribute; and to play a role on other Government PSAs such as that aiming to narrow the attainment gap. Higher Education Group deals with student finance policy and delivery (including the sale of the Government's loan book) as well as widening and increasing HE participation, matters concerning university title and degree-awarding powers, the shape and structure of the HE system, international HE issues and work on the higher level skills strategy in responcse to Lord Leitch's review of skills to 2020. Ruth is a member of the DIUS Board and is playing an active role in creating the new department, particularly concerning employee engagement.

Immediately prior to her current role, Ruth was the Director of Higher Education Strategy and Implementation in DfES. She was responsible for the Government target of moving towards 50% of 18-30 year olds participating in HE by 2010, fair access and wider participation from lower socioeconomic groups and deeper engagement between HE and employers.

Ruth joined the civil service with a degree in Modern History from Somerville College, Oxford and D. Phil in early twentieth century Argentine labour history from St Antony's College, Oxford. She has worked in a number of government departments: Department of Trade and Industry; Cabinet Office; the Treasury; the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security. She has covered a wide range of work including European Community issues, international and EU financial services regulation and trade in financial services, developing the New Deals for Young and Long Term Unemployed people and other welfare to work programmes, the future structure of the benefit system for people of working age, housing benefit management and EU steel policy.