Rebecca Mason, Study Group

Describe yourself in three words or phrases.

Curious, agile, decisive. 

What do you like most about your job?

I’m fortunate to have spent my whole career in international education. What I like today is the same as two decades ago – the privilege of getting to be part of a global community, using education to help build bridges to opportunities, and helping to foster interactions and understanding.

As director of innovation, I also enjoy the variety and creativity every day brings. Helping shape solutions that make international education the smartest choice for students is incredibly rewarding.

What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?

I’m proud to have recently provided strategic leadership for Study Group’s delivery of the ambitious and transformative digital education initiative, the pilot ‘Program Munafis’ in 2025 – in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia. This unique program for high school students represented a bold step towards equipping higher numbers of Saudi Arabia’s strongest high school students with the academic foundation, global outlook, and confidence needed to thrive on elite university programs both in-country and internationally. 

The program and partnership reinforced for me the importance of good dialogue. It wasn’t always easy, but we navigated any challenges through professionalism, talent, resilience, and mutual respect.

What’s a small daily habit that helps you in your work?

I like to embrace the Japanese concept of ‘ma’ (pause in time and space). I do this by protecting thinking time. I keep a short block of each day deliberately unscheduled. It’s rarely dramatic – just time to reflect on a problem, sometimes through stillness, sometimes more actively like jumping on my trampoline – just thinking without immediate output. In fast-moving environments, that pause prevents shallow decisions and I believe improves the quality of my interactions and what I deliver.

What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector over the next few years?

I wish governments would adopt forward thinking policies that actively encourage international students to study in their countries, recognising the vital role global mobility plays in strengthening education systems and economies. By embracing globalised education, countries can foster richer cultural exchange, drive innovation, and prepare their workforce for an interconnected world.

What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?

A book I often return to and ‘dip in’ to is, ‘The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century’ (2007) by the American music critic Alex Ross. I tend to prefer non-fiction andwhat I enjoy about this one is the weaving narrative, scholarly insight, and how it deepens my understanding on a subject I’m less familiar with. These are also some of themes I appreciate at Study Group in the projects, partners and people I have the opportunity to engage with.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?

Be brave. Be passionate. Think global.

The post Rebecca Mason, Study Group appeared first on The PIE News.