I’m Sarah Coburn-Crane

An (aspiring) ballerina and Friends quote extraordinaire, impossibly proud of family and friends

A little bit of what I do

I joined IFF as a fresh-faced graduate in 2012. Having completed a degree in History and Philosophy. Quantitative research quickly became my favoured specialism, and there began a love affair with Excel that is strong to this day. I gravitated towards learning and skills research early on, with a particular focus on higher education. Working with organisations such as the Department for Education, the Office for Students and HESA, I lead research that informs policy and practice across the higher education sector. I also work directly with universities to explore issues from student mental health to graduate destinations.

What I’ve achieved

Having quickly established a reputation as a dedicated researcher, I worked on some very interesting and challenging projects early on. Perhaps most significant is my contribution to HESA’s Destination of Leavers from Higher Education series, which has since become the Graduate Outcomes survey, the biggest annual social survey in the UK. Project work aside, I thrive on thinking about new ways of working and have thoroughly enjoyed overseeing one of our teams within the Research department in a more pastoral capacity. Most recently I have taken a leading role in IFF’s mental health and wellbeing working group, a topic very close to my heart.