Newslink 79

Issue Number 79, Summer 2014

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Annual Conference and Exhibition 2014 The future of higher education in Scotland How to give great presentations

EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE Page 1

Editor’s introduction

Page 2

Chair’s Column

Page 4

Incoming Chair’s Column

Page 5

Postgraduate Certificate graduates

Page 6

Q&A with John Ryan MBE

Page 8

International news

Page 11

Annual Conference and Exhibition 2014

Page 17

Are you busy?

Dr Giles H Brown FAUA, Editor Newslink

Page 20

Individual and organisational accreditation – PEAS Final Updates

Page 22 Page 24

Perspectives

Page 25

Development Conference and Annual Lecture

Page 26

The future of higher education in Scotland

Page 29

AUA News

Page 30

Upcoming AUA events

Page 31

Meet the National Office

Front Cover Images by Tempest Photography

Newslink is not only about the Association but about individuals

How to give great presentations

Dr Giles H Brown

Publications have been an integral part of the AUA’s

accessible. In light of this, I hope you will see Newslink as

portfolio for many years, providing a vehicle for communicating

an opportunity to share your views and experiences with

the activities of the Association, a means of delivering

other members of the AUA!

training and support and an outward-facing exemplar of both the professionalisation of our profession and the standing

I envisage having both regular and occasional features

and integral importance of the AUA in the HE sector. Newslink

covering a range of issues, from professional development

has been a key publication for the Association and I am

tips to finding out what others do, and importantly, how and

delighted to have been asked to edit its relaunch in hard copy.

why they do it the way they do and what they have learned from their experiences. This sharing of personal experiences

Newslink is not only about the Association but about

will, I believe, be key to the success of the publication and I

individuals; an opportunity for you, the member, to find

hope you enjoy this newly relaunched hard copy Newslink

out about the activities, successes and achievements of

and find it both useful and stimulating. It is your publication

other members and share experiences and good practice.

and in addition to offers of articles, we would welcome

It covers news, as well as information, and aims to convey

feedback on current and future content as we establish the

content which is of interest to everyone, in a style which is

headings and format for future issues.

Newslink Summer 2014 - 1

CHAIR’S COLUMN Matthew Andrews FAUA, Chair of AUA and Academic Registrar, Oxford Brookes University

Association is ‘to advance and assist in the advancement of

more mundane tasks as Chair could be being the manager of

education‘. Higher education is something which enables

the National Office, but the task has been made light by the

individuals to build better lives, and through higher education

excellence of our colleagues based there. They are a small team

benefits accrue to society at large, from the local to the global

that cover a broad portfolio of work with uniform excellence:

context. We have jobs of importance to do, and must do them well.

from finance, databases, and web-site development, to publications, programme management, event organisation and

Finally, I can’t leave my final article as Chair without thanking

Higher education is something which enables individuals to build better lives

securing sponsorship. They are an asset to the Association.

those alongside whom it has been my pleasure to work over the past two years. As Chair I have met and worked with many,

Perhaps the greatest pleasure of the last two years, however, is

many engaged members who bring life to the AUA in so many

my last one: the knowledge and confidence that my successor

ways: your vigour is humbling. (Climbing Snowdon or cycling

will far exceed whatever it was that I was able to achieve. As

Matthew Andrews

Is two years a long time? It’s time enough to feel like a long

too continue to be strongly represented at the Annual Conference.

time at the start but short enough to have flown by at the end.

That international dimension adds to our activities and I’m sure

And such are my thoughts as I write my final article as Chair:

like me you will have enjoyed conversations with colleagues from

where has the time gone?

Nigeria, Japan, America, and many other places. While thinking of international colleagues, I’m pleased too to see the launch of our

The past two years have been challenging, rewarding, tiring,

next Study Tour, this time visiting Poland. The other highlight of

and, not least of all, fun. I hope I can claim some achievements

our regular calendar of events is the Annual Lecture, and I feel

too, and in them take some pride. The accreditation scheme

privileged to have introduced two inspiring speakers at that event:

was launched on my first day as Chair and is starting to take

both Liam Burns (our first student lecturer) and Professor Wendy

its place as a way in which staff working in higher education

Purcell gave us inspiring addresses. The list of speakers at AUA

administration and management can show their commitment to

events over the past two years reads like a Who’s Who of the

their personal and professional development. It always needs to

leading voices in higher education today: Mark Pegg, Mary

be remembered that the scheme is not just about the outward

Curnock-Cook, Nicola Dandridge, Madeleine Atkins, Nancy

sign of having achieved Accredited Membership or Fellowship,

Rothwell, John Brooks, Petra Wend, etc. Our ability to attract

but the internal change on an individual of engaging with how

such high profile speakers is testimony to the strength of the AUA.

they can develop as an effective professional.

Inevitably, there are also areas where I would have liked to see We produced a healthy surplus in 2012/13 for the first time in

greater progress. Our total membership remains broadly the same

several years and with prudent planning we expect to produce

and it is important that we work together to change that. To

a surplus in 2013/14 and our budget is for a surplus in 2014/15

achieve growth, however, you have an important role to play too:

too. These surpluses will be ploughed back into real benefits

each and every AUA member has a responsibility to help grow

for members, and will help ensure that the AUA continues for

our Association. It’s too important to be left to the Board and

many years to come. Working with the team in the National

National Office alone! Ask yourself the question: what can I do to

Office, and the Board of Trustees, we have developed a

make the AUA vibrant locally? I know that you will find an

comprehensive and sustainable business model. The revisions

interesting answer to that question, and all I ask is that you

from London to Manchester certainly requires vigour!) The

Vice-Chair in 2014/15 I look forward to supporting our new Chair,

to the Constitution, agreed at the AGMs in 2013 and 2014, have

make it happen.

Board of Trustees has been a pleasure to work with: supportive,

Tessa Harrison. Many of you know that I have a strong interest

imaginative, eager and dedicated to advancing our Association I

in the history of higher education, and through that interest

Growth is important because of what the AUA stands for. Those

have looked forward to each and every meeting as an opportunity

I was reading about the appointment of a new Professor in

Our events programme goes from strength to strength, with

people who attended the launch event for our new strategy, now

to engage with a trusted group of colleagues. I have also had

the early 1830s. The right person needed to offer an all-round

excellent attendance at our various one-day and regional events

two years ago, will hopefully remember what I had to say about

the great pleasure and privilege to be supported by Alison Johns,

match in terms of acquirements, judgement, temper and taste.

as well as increasing UK delegate numbers at our Annual Conference:

our Charitable Object and I have taken every opportunity since

who has been an outstanding President and is the strongest

The alignment of our incoming Chair to the needs of the AUA

up from 526 in 2013 to 548 in 2014. Our international delegates

(including this one!) to return to the theme. The Object of the

advocate for our Association I know. In some ways one of the

could not be more perfect in each of these qualities.

also helped usher in more robust forms of governance.

2 - Newslink Summer 2014

Board of Trustees (from left): Nicola Owen, John Ryan MBE, Melissa Bradley, Chris Hallas, Tessa Harrison, Matthew Andrews, Kenton Lewis MBE, Rachel Birds, Alison Johns, Kathy Fowler and Steven Quigley

Newslink Summer 2014 - 3

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE GRADUATES The AUA Postgraduate Certificate provides an opportunity for those working in higher education to recognise their knowledge and experience and gain a professional qualification.

The Graduation Ceremony for the Award took place on Monday 14 April 2014 during the Annual Conference and Exhibition

IN-COMING CHAIR’S COLUMN Tessa Harrison FAUA, Vice-Chair or AUA and Registrar, University of Southampton

We cannot afford to stand back and wait for others to define the questions and provide the answers.

Tessa Harrison

in Manchester. Will Hutton, announced the following successful graduates.

AUA Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice (higher education administration and management) Linda Barr MAUA University of Cumbria

Helen Fitch MAUA City University London

Wendy Magowan, University of Edinburgh

Sam Bayley FAUA University of York

Emma Flight AAUA Roehampton University

Alison Mansell, ifs School of Finance

Olivia Cameron MAUA Newcastle University

Alice Greenland MAUA University of the West of England

Shirley Marlin MAUA King’s College London

Irena Cheyney MAUA Queen Mary University of London

Edmund Hayes MAUA Newham College

Anne Marie O’Mullane MAUA University of Edinburgh

Gemma Elliott MAUA Jisc infoNet

Louise Jones AAUA Durham University

Alison Wilkerson MAUA Cranfield University

Rachel Evans MAUA University of Kent

Charlotte Lynsdale, University of Kent

Over the last few weeks I have been

to control in our universities. It was an

For 60 years the AUA has been a

exposed to a range of different perspectives

accessible overview of the role of UK

constant commentator on the changing

about the changes within higher education.

higher education changing from being

nature of HE, supporting us through

I have heard about the implications of an

the preserve of a few to becoming a

national, regional and local activities and

A group of Graduate Trainees from the

The following graduated:

unregulated market when the student

mass system to achieve the political

networks to understand the world in

Ambitious Future scheme were also

Matthew Billington MAUA

number cap is removed; the likely HE

imperatives of social mobility and

which we operate and to provide ‘safe

recognised for completing one of the

The validation of the AUA PgCert and

economic prosperity. This brought super

spaces’ to share our anxieties, our

AUA PgCert modules. Ambitious Futures

Claire Blevins MAUA

policy positions of the main political parties

development of the PgDip and MSc with

complexity into our lives as the funding

experiences and our ideas. We regularly

was launched by the Association of

Katie Blow MAUA

as we approach the general election in

regime changed and increased regulatory

hear from sector leaders about the issues

Heads of University Administration as a

of the day and in this way build our

three year pilot programme in 2012

2015; the changes to the Committee of University Chairs governance code of

control was imposed to ensure universities

Graduate Trainees – Reflective practice for work-based learning

Jessica Clark MAUA Deborah Evanson MAUA Jonathan Marshall MAUA

practice; the role of quality assurance in

were delivering the government of the

understanding and reaffirm our

with a view to it becoming a national

a more diverse HE system; the student

day’s political promises. These changes

professional values. I would say this

scheme by 2016. The personal

experience and what it really means to

brought with them the need for mission

wouldn’t I but there has never been a more

development of graduate trainees

‘put students at the heart of the system’;

groups and for professional specialists

important time to be informed about and

is key to the success of Ambitious

the challenges of operating within an ever

to make sense of the new environment

engaged with the sector within which

Futures, and participants undertake

Hayley Simpson MAUA

increasing regulatory burden, and the

leading to debates about the role of ‘the

we work. We operate in rapidly changing

the Reflective practice for work-based

Kimberley Smith MAUA

implications of ‘the end of the world as we

administration’ that continue today.

times; times of uncertainty and ambiguity.

learning to support their development.

Laura Smyth MAUA

Writing this article for Newslink provides

Our students rightly have high demands

AUA is investing in its support for local and

a useful prompt to pause and reflect on

of us; our academics require us to create

regional networks and is in the process

what I’ve heard and especially to think

the space they need to research and teach

of refreshing its programme of CPD

about what this means for professional

and our institutions need us to join things

activities to ensure they are relevant for

services staff working in our institutions.

up to deliver efficient and seamless

your needs as professionals working with

This is particularly timely as I prepare to

services. To some extent none of this is

uncertainty and ambiguity. I urge members

take up the role of Chair of the AUA in

new but the rapidly changing external

to engage in growing the Association

August this year.

context is new and requires us to think

through explaining its relevance to

and behave in much more joined up ways

those who haven’t yet discovered the

Those of you who attended the Annual

in our institutions as they seek to

benefits of being a member and to be

Conference back in April will have heard

differentiate themselves in an increasingly

part of building strong local and regional

me talk about the need for the AUA to

crowded market place. We cannot afford

networks that develop our professional

grow through relevance and engagement.

to stand back and wait for others to define

knowledge and personal awareness. The

In our conference delegate packs we

the questions and provide the answers.

future is now, so get connected.

received a short publication which

We need to keep up to date, to communicate

explored the transition from freedom

and to influence.

Kathleen Minett MAUA James Pipkin MAUA Annette Samuel MAUA

New Validation for the AUA PgCert

effect from 1 October 2014 will transfer to Nottingham Trent University from the Open University. The new collaboration with NTU will include the validation of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Higher Education Administration, Management and Leadership.

If you would like further information, please contact: aua@aua.ac.uk

know it’ on the leadership of our institutions.

4 - Newslink Summer 2014

Graduates (from left): Linda Barr, Alice Greenland, Anne Marie O’Mullane, Sam Bayley, Emma Flight, Gemma Elliott, Alison Wilkerson, Olivia Cameron and Irena Cheyney and image of Graduate Trainee James Pipkin

Newslink Summer 2014 - 5

Q&A WITH JOHN RYAN MAUA MBE

that serendipity plays a significant part in our lives. People

expectation that we should be connected twenty-four-seven.

should have an idea of career trajectory but over-mapping can

This exerts a pernicious influence – I have maintained a work/

John Ryan is University Secretary and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Students at the University of Worcester.

often lead to disappointment. Know your strengths, know

life balance and my sanity by refusing to participate.

As University Secretary John is responsible for corporate governance and acts as Clerk to the Board

your weaknesses, understand your aspirations and inhibitors

of Governors. Within his PVC role John is responsible for student engagement and for managing

recognise your needs, and try and accommodate all of these.

As a member of the Association, what are your thoughts on the AUA?

How do you balance the demands of your day job with your additional work-related activities such as the AUA?

It is a splendid organisation that offers real support to

I have the best assistant anyone could possibly hope for and I

must continue to strive to make membership of the Association

adopt the view that there are always more tasks than I could

and support for it the obvious choice for individuals working

possibly achieve in a day and therefore to survive and remain

within the sector at all levels to join and for those in positions of

sane I have to prioritise. I also make sure that I do important

influence to support.

the University’s relationship with the student body. He chairs the University’s Diversity and Equality and Environment Committees and is Vice-Chair of the Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Committee. John has been a long-term supporter and champion of the AUA; he served as Chair of the Association between 2002 and 2004 and is currently a Trustee and Chair of the Board of Studies for the PgCert. In addition, John is a member of the UCAS Council and of the Board of the Equality Challenge Unit. John was awarded an MBE for services to higher education in 2014.

individuals and to the emerging profession of HE management and administration – it should be more highly valued and we

What do you see as your most important role as University Secretary and Pro-Vice Chancellor Students?

because I have indicated my intention to retire – I will stand down

tasks when I am at my best – which for me is very early in the

as PVC (Students) on 31 December 2014 and from January 2015

This is two-fold. In my role as Secretary to the Board of

day – I do my best work between the hours of 5.30 and 7.30 am.

will reduce my hours to part-time and continue as University

In what way has your AUA membership been of most benefit to you?

Governors I must ensure that the University observes the

Secretary and Clerk to the Board of Governors until 31 July 2015 when I will leave the University – although I do intend remaining

What is your biggest professional achievement…. and….your biggest regret?

It has allowed me to make contacts and friendships with people

highest standards of corporate governance and it is my responsibility to provide the Board with independent advice

active in HE in some (so far unspecified) capacity! So the challenge

I think I would have to say my biggest achievement was my

a massive contribution to my career – I honestly believe that I wouldn’t have achieved half that I have without being part of it.

that enables the Board to discharge its responsibilities. As

for me will be to assist with putting in place transitional arrangements

involvement with the development of the AUA PgCert. I try

PVC (Students) I must ensure that the University listens to the

and to ensure that my levels of commitment and enthusiasm

not to have regrets but because I enjoyed working there so

student voice, that we work in partnership with our students,

are maintained at their usual levels.

much, I regret that the opportunity at Worcester came up after

and that we have in place mechanisms that support our key strategic objective to be an outstanding place to be a student.

I had only been at UCE for 18 months – working with Maxine

In both roles my primary task is to develop the University as a

What has been the most challenging thing you have faced in your professional life?

place where people are proud to work and study, and as an

There have been many, and usually the most challenging have

organisation which makes a positive contribution to its community.

related to having to deal with difficult and sometimes tragic

Penlington and Peter Knight was so much fun and I learned so much from both of them!

student and staff cases. It is in such situations that I have

What are the pressing issues for higher education/ your institution/organisation over the next 5 years?

What are the best and worst things about your job?

felt most stretched and when I have had to be at my most

It has to be the lifting of the cap on student numbers which

There are so many aspects of my job that I like but if I were to

resilient. Otherwise I would single out managing through a

will simply add more uncertainty to an environment which is

choose one it has to be the opportunity to assist in the personal

major restructuring of the academic administration in the 1990s,

more turbulent then anything I can remember in my 35 years

development of our students. I see students at their best and

when I worked at Birmingham, which taught me much about

of working in higher education. I fear that we have not yet

at their worst – at times of celebration and at times when they

people and their motivations, about the principles of situational

experienced the full impact of the new system on widening

have met real difficulties. I work very closely with our Students’

leadership on which I have relied extensively since, and about

access to higher education. The prospect of fundamental changes

Union and make myself as accessible to our students as my

work/life balance (of which more later).

to the DSA also concerns me. We will also have to cope with a

time allows. Worcester is still a medium sized institution (10500 students) but we have grown rapidly and I hope I have played a part in ensuring that our community based values have survived.

new regulatory framework whatever the outcome of the next What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

general election. From my own perspective I hope that the risks of an untrammelled not-for-profit sector do not materialize.

That’s difficult – I have relied on advice a lot in my career.

across the UK and my membership and participation in it has made

What advice would you give someone starting out in higher education management and administration today?

Enjoy – go for it – and join AUA. What advice would you give to someone thinking of going to university in 2014?

Be sure it is the right choice for you, and make sure that you choose the right course at the right university – and of paramount importance an area of study that you enjoy!

Subsequently, make sure that you take every opportunity to participate fully in university life, but on your terms.

What keeps you awake at night?

Pina the cat.

What do you do for fun?

Lots! Food and drink at home and in good restaurants, going to the opera and classical music concerts, musical theatre

What are you most proud of having achieved in the past year/your career so far?

When relatively junior and working for one of the first female

What are your thoughts on the current UK HE sector?

Registrars in the UK she advised me that I would make

I think I may have already answered this! I was amongst those

I came to Worcester in 2000 having worked at three other

mistakes and that in some circumstances, other more senior

at this year’s annual AUA conference who voted against the

Midlands-based but large institutions (Wolverhampton,

staff would blame me for their mistakes. In the case of the

motion – and I do fear that the current changes will leave the

Birmingham and UCE (now BCU)) – it was an institution with

former, she advised me always to admit my mistakes but try

Tell us about a book, show, film, play or work of art you love?

sector weaker. The pace of change has been unprecedented

ambitions. We became a University in 2005, acquired RDAP in

my best not to repeat them; in the case of the latter to be

I would probably have to choose Tosca by Puccini – which I

and changes have been introduced without due regard to their

2010, and are now a multi-campus university that contributes

gracious, but make sure that the culprit knew that I was being

discovered with my partner Kevin and which started us out on a

eventual impact. I know that there are huge reserves of talent in

greatly to the local economy; we have also made a significant

gracious, and that it wouldn’t be wise to do the same again!

voyage of discovery of opera that is still going on 22 years later

the sector which will ensure that we accommodate the changes

and now embraces all periods, from Baroque to Schoenberg!

contribution to urban re-generation. I am very proud to have been much involved with the creation of the Hive, Europe’s

especially Sondheim, The Big Bang Theory, big follower of tennis.

and militate against them, but I can think of many more positive Did you map out your career early on or has it been accidental?

ways to harness that talent that would be more productive.

first and so far only university and public library. We still have ambitious plans for further development but I guess I am

Largely accidental. I went through a long period when I took a

most proud of the contribution I have made to the long-term

number of sideways moves simply to broaden my experience

What has changed most in higher education in the past ten years?

development of the institution over the last 14 years – and it

and for 5 years in the early ‘90s moved from academic

There is so much but it is probably the sheer complexity that

has been a privilege to be a part of the project.

administration to staff development before deciding to move

we now have to deal with. And most potently it is the way

If you hadn’t followed a career in higher education management and administration, what do you think you would you have done?

back again. My move to Worcester was certainly accidental

we now receive our funding. The commercialization of HE has

I would like to have been a chef.

What are you biggest challenges over the next six months?

– I was asked to serve on a selection committee when they

long been discussed but we are now at the point where this

did not appoint, re-structured and subsequently released a

a reality – consumerism rules OK? Concerning changes that

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

The next 12 months will be very different for me personally

post for which I was asked to apply. I have always maintained

have impacted on individuals, I would single out e-mail and the

I have probably said too much already!

6 - Newslink Summer 2014

Who from history would you most like to meet?

Elizabeth the First.

Newslink Summer 2014 - 7

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Others stated that whilst they treat everyone with respect, and with commitment to supporting them, they are providing an opportunity more than a service with “the freedom to fail.”

BEYOND ‘HAVE A NICE DAY’ ARE THERE LESSONS IN SERVICE LEVELS, STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ADDED VALUE TO BE LEARNED FROM UNCLE SAM?

One colleague described, “developmental advising” as offering

Dave Lochtie MAUA, Department Business Manager, Media, Culture and Language, University of Roehampton

“let me do that for you.” I feel that, since raising our fees, these

a good service without negatively enabling, explaining their role as saying, “here is how we support you to do this” rather than complex student-staff relationships and interactions are still developing in the UK and the American comparison is of use.

As universities both sides of the pond seek efficiency savings we are having to work with less but must increasingly be creative to ensure we provide more.

Public vs. Private It was not entirely clear whether students at private universities

students and parents seemed to appreciate increased spending

benefited from a better service as such, but alongside their

on specialist campus police forces and late night transport

better reputations and more lavish facilities, students were

across the site on request. Several students spoke about

offered more opportunities. 70% of those at one private

scholarships as an added value their University was able to

institution benefited from an organised work placement and the

offer with one institution boasting that 85% of their students

university paid the airfare for the same proportion of students

did not pay the full listed price. However the UK’s Office for

US students were often provided a breakdown of their fees,

to study abroad – public universities may not easily match this.

Fair Access (OFFA) reports entitled: ‘Have bursaries influenced

and seemed to have influence over how they were spent,

Several members of staff who had worked at more expensive

choices between universities?’ and ‘Do bursaries have an effect

awareness of specific costing amongst younger undergraduate

private as well as public institutions reported the former’s

on retention rates?’ have concluded negatively on both counts -

students did not appear higher than the UK.

students, and parents, as being more demanding. Generally

scholarships do not seem to hold the same perceived value this

relationships with their institution/staff. Since the Browne review

parents seemed to have a more direct relationship with

side of the Atlantic. Programme and faculty advisors seemed

and the raising of fees in the UK it has often been suggested

In terms of student expectations several US colleagues felt

Universities than has been my experience in the UK.

a more established profession in itself and potentially a way

in the media that we can learn much from the US system. I

students question administrative staff much more than faculty

Dave Lochtie

When I applied for AUA Travel Award funding via the International Higher Education Network to visit the United States my interest was in correlations between tuition fee levels and a wide range of issues such as student experience, expectations, support and

in which a university can offer a highly valuable service. Many

(academic staff) with tutors maintaining the same levels of

Service and Value

offices and services opened at 8:00 (or 7:00) each morning but

respect regardless of fee levels. The role of research assistant

Student ambassadors described a ‘free’ proofreading service,

were not open into the evening and Fridays on campus were

or teaching assistant seemed to be an important intermediary

tutoring from students that have aced the class before, free

very quiet. Counselling services were considered an essential

with students expecting more service and support from them

travel around the city on public transport and free IT/laptop

resource (and a relatively well funded one with teams of social

than faculty members. Colleagues felt that, arguably similar

support as services they appreciated. There may be more of

workers on campus) but were becoming over utilised as

I attended the 2014 American Association of Collegiate Registrars

to the UK and influenced by politics and the media, modern

a need for tight security on US campuses but nevertheless

students need support for stress management and depression.

and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) Conference in Denver,

students were less concerned with broadening their minds

Colorado because I thought that the US being as vast as it is

through their studies and more interested in the pay cheque

Some students cited the opportunity for part-time work at their

may give me an opportunity to obtain the bigger picture. I was

they may command on graduation.

institution as a valuable opportunity. Government funded ‘work

knew making a comparison between the two different sectors would be challenging as, for all their similarities, there are also vast and complex differences but I went with an open mind and excited expectations.

study’ means there appeared to be a far higher number of

also able to visit four different Universities in the city – the privately owned Denver University, and the publicly owned

Students as Customers

Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado

Staff, particularly administrators, generally seemed a lot more

and the Community College of Denver. My flight ended up

comfortable regarding students as customers then we often

cheaper by travelling out via Austin (and the University of Texas)

are in the UK, with customer focus often cited as their primary

then home via New York (and LaGuardia Community College).

aim. In this context to label them as purely a customer is a

students employed on campus (often in reception-based roles) than you may find in the UK, which in most cases seemed to benefit the individual student, their university and the levels of service it was able to provide to all.

failure to recognise their journey, interactions and multi-layered

Common Pressures, Different Answers

I found that it was hard not to be impressed by the sheer size,

relationship with their university. This concept is not new to us

Many of the challenges US institutions face, as highlighted

facilities and capital funding of the campuses I visited - from

in the UK (and in fact was described at the recent closing of our

by the speakers at the AACRAO conference, were highly

a range of giant outdoor swimming pools and a 100k capacity

own AUA Conference) but has perhaps been further explored

recognisable to a visitor from the UK with ‘doing more with

football stadium in Austin to soccer pitches being used by the

in the US.

less’ a common theme. Matthew Andrews, the AUA Chair, was at the conference co-presenting with a US colleague on

US national team in Denver. However what I really wanted to see was not bricks and mortar but people and services. I

Student interactions with the university/staff seemed to easily

spoke to colleagues in various different positions, applicants,

switch from a very traditional paying customer relationship

students and even parents to find out what level of service and

to that of a student being assessed, or even disciplined,

experience students expected and were offered.

by their institution continually. As potential applicants they are customers; when they are submitting coursework for

Student Expectations

assessment etc. they are not - but when they go to buy a

Following the findings of the recent QAA report on Student

coffee they resume the role. Several colleagues reported

Expectations and Perceptions of Higher Education that UK

students declaring: “I pay your wages,” to which they had

students have: “at best a vague understanding of how their

explained that students and staff were partners in their

tuition fees are spent.” I was intrigued to find out that whilst

education and they are paying for the privilege of learning.

8 - Newslink Summer 2014

comparisons between the two systems. In his seminar and in discussion afterwards, Matthew detailed the difficulties of US/ UK comparisons including the complex scholarships and greater price variations stateside alongside the equally complicated salary linked student loan repayment system in the UK. In terms of lessons we might learn from US institutions, Matthew cited that they view good customer service as an income generating (and reputation improving) activity, whereas (despite increased focus on the student experience) we still often consider it as an overhead. This can often mean lower budgets for these

Newslink Summer 2014 - 9

areas are cut to ‘protect the front line’ resources (in teaching

than satisfaction, which meant exceeding expectations every

and learning). He reported, he generally hadn’t found single

time and being proactive rather than reactive in relation to

individual services they offer which we don’t but perhaps that

service delivery. I observed that even if students were sent to

they offer them more consistently and with greater thought as

the wrong department, staff still spent some time with them

to how they are offered – which was key to the most important

before redirecting, so they know, in future, what support is

lesson I learned on the trip.

open to them. None of these concepts are ground breaking

ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2014 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER 14 - 16 APRIL NEWCOMER’S PERSPECTIVES ON THE CONFERENCE Roscoe Hastings MAUA, Research Officer, University of Sheffield*

to us in the UK but it was the process of stepping back from Lessons Learned

my own experience and making an international comparison

Overall, I had hoped to learn more about high levels of service,

that enabled me to explore them further. It delivered to me a

designed to meet higher expectations linked to higher fees.

timely reminder that as Universities both sides of the pond seek

What I found was that, all institutions aim to provide the best

efficiency savings we are having to work with less but must

service they can with greater resources from higher fees only

increasingly be creative to ensure we provide more.

Being a newcomer at Conference this year was a fantastic experience for a relatively new university administrator.

assisting in meeting the higher expectations they lead to. The most useful part of the trip was a session by registrars entitled: ‘The answer is yes… now, what is your question?’ This focused on providing the most positive and helpful service regardless of in support roles, students often make requests of us which with our regulations, resource constraints or general fairness prevent us from saying a direct ‘yes’ to. However they felt that

Roscoe Hastings

we can usually avoid having to say a direct ‘no’ through being

Being able to meet colleagues from across the sector, network

role of Research Officer for the

and share best practice allowed me to develop my contacts

Registrar and Secretary. This

within the sector. The first person I met this year was someone

involves supporting corporate

who did my job at another institution - invaluable networking!

at the University and providing

Benefits to the institution

executive support to the

My university gets lots out of it too. As well as a member of

Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and

staff who is now better connected in the sector and has a

other Executive members. So

greater understanding of the role of the university administrator;

my role naturally means I come into contact

creative in our problem solving and always fully exploring and explaining other options. What they were suggesting is that the answer ‘yes’ means they will try very hard to either solve

they also get experience and information. I was able to share

with colleagues from across the organisation with different

the best practice that I have learnt from the workshops and

portfolios, but it also involves an external perspective, requiring

sessions with colleagues across the organisation.

me to keep up-to-date with developments in the sector.

the problem/answer the question or identify some alternative

Benefits to the Association

course of action.

They described creating a professional atmosphere, culture of hospitality and an environment of ‘can do’ via staff development and training (seen as more important than PR) where every employee knows the University mission and expectations.

Being a member of the AUA is something that the University

The Association also gets a lot out of me being a member

of Sheffield, and particularly my manager, have supported me

and also attending Conference. The AUA gets an active and

in. Having the opportunity to attend the Annual Conference

engaged membership who are professionalising university

this year was identified at the start of the academic year as an

administration, running networks, voting at the AGM and

important part of my development. Many people probably do

building development opportunities within the sector.

wonder about the return on the investment for the institution

Individuals on every level of an organisation were empowered to serve others (with internal stakeholders also considered customers) without needing someone else’s approval to move

in sending a couple of members of staff away for three days.

So I would advise anyone reading this to definitely come along to

Therefore, as a newcomer to the sector I thought that I would

the next AUA Conference in Nottingham in 2015! See you there!

look at how I think that the conference benefited me as an

forward and repeatedly thanked for their efforts so they feel

individual, my institution, and the Association as a whole.

appreciated. They stated, it was about customer loyalty rather

INTERNATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORK Andrea Williams MAUA, Assistant School Manager, School of Business, Economics and Informatics, Birkbeck, University of London and the International Higher Education Network Co-ordinator.

The International Higher Education Network

IHEN organises Study Tours, promotes international good

(IHEN) promotes awareness amongst AUA members

practice, informs about sector developments and provides a

of the international dimension to higher education. This

network for AUA members to discuss areas of shared interest

group provides an ideal opportunity to get involved in the

around the international dimension in higher education.

international work of the AUA. If you would like to join the network, please visit www.aua.ac.uk

for the AUA’s considerable range of international activities, including for AUA members to travel internationally and

Alternatively, please contact Andrea

to raise awareness of international perspectives on higher

Williams, the Network Coordinator:

education within the AUA membership more generally.

a.williams@bbk.ac.uk

10 - Newslink Summer 2014

Benefits to the individual

of Sheffield in 2012, I took up the

governance, policy and strategy

what fees were charged or service expected. It described how

IHEN is a focus for the organisation and provides support

Having graduated from the University

* Roscoe is now Student Participation Officer at Kingston University

MY FIRST AUA CONFERENCE! Jane Bevan, Executive Officer (Communications and Operations), AUA National Office Having only recently joined the AUA National Office to cover

an opportunity for networking, to meet up with old friends and

maternity leave, The Annual Conference and Exhibition at

make new ones of which I met many!

Manchester University was a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand the scale and breadth of the organisation. I didn’t

The Exhibition created a vibrant

know what to expect and was slightly nervous as I’m planning

buzz in Manchester Place and it

the event for next year – so no pressure!

was always busy, with over 650 delegates passing through at one

The Conference was a great mix of professional, learning and

point or other. It was great to

social activities spread across the three days and the variety of

see the Conference come to life

workshops was surprising to me, illustrating the far-reaching

and showcase the strengths

scope of university administration. I personally enjoyed the

of the people who make the

Plenary Debate (the only session I attended as a non-delegate)

organisation what it is and

which addressed the topic of revolution in higher education – it

inspire professionalism in

certainly got a lot of people talking! The Conference was also

higher education.

Jane Bevan

Newslink Summer 2014 - 11

ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2014 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER 14 -16 APRIL

Janice Stanton and Sandra Mienczakowski with Adam Alexander from sponsors, Electric Paper

ANNUAL AWARDS The Gala Dinner was held in the Palace Hotel and included the Annual Awards Presentation. This year’s winners were:

AUA Conference 2014 welcome

Contribution to Career Development

Innovative Involvement

Melissa Bradley FAUA

Sandra Mienczakowski MAUA

Chloe Gallien MAUA Linda Lough MAUA Anne Rushworth MAUA

Janet Marshall MAUA Janice Stanton MAUA

Administrator: Gillian Duncan MAUA

Ambassador Geoff Green MAUA

Fundraiser Emma Price MAUA Gillian Duncan

International delegates

Debate voting

“This was a superb experience. I wish more people from my University had been able to attend, as there was so much of benefit on offer.”

The Annual Conference and Exhibition returned to Manchester

debate inspired the discussion on traditional higher education

this year, the spiritual home of the AUA! The theme: Revolution

withstanding any revolution and the middle plenary delivered by

and reinvention focused on the sector continuing to experience

Professor Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive, HEFCE addressed

unprecedented levels of uncertainty.

the current issues and trends in higher education. The closing plenary delivered by Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President

This year presented the audience with a diverse range of

and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester considered

speakers and guests. Will Hutton, Economist, Journalist and

the role of universities in the 21st Century.

Political Commentator opened the conference, the plenary

12 - Newslink Summer 2014

Emma Price

(From left): Melissa Bradley, Anne Rushworth, Chloe Gallien, Linda Lough (with sponsors Electric Paper)

Newslink Summer 2014 - 13

ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2014 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER 14 -16 APRIL TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

line up of speakers at this year’s Conference – in my view, the

four years that I haven’t given a presentation and although, I

best line up of the Conferences I have attended. There are

missed the opportunity to share knowledge and expertise with

few events which can list amongst its presenters the Principal

an international audience, it was a relief not to have to prepare a

of an Oxford College, the Chief Executive of the Higher

presentation but relax and enjoy the conference!

Education Funding Council for England, the Chief Executive of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, the Chief

For me, the highlights of the Conference were the Debate, which

Executive of the Leadership Foundation, two current Vice-

made me reflect on the current state of the higher education

Chancellors, two Registrars and heads of two higher education

sector and the final day when we received presentations from

affiliated bodies as well as the tens of enthusiasts from across

Professor Madeleine Atkins on English sector wide issues

the sector who were delivering on topics as wide ranging as

affecting higher education and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell

quality assuring a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to

and Professor John Brooks outlining the successes of their

dealing with counterproductive workplace behaviour.

institutions and their contributions to our host city.

During the Conference, I was fortunate to have attended four

As I came away from Manchester and enjoyed the views of

varied and interesting presentations on project management,

the Peak District, I reflected on how the Conference provides

timetabling, change management and the role of the middle

the ideal opportunity to develop my personal and professional

manager in a higher education institution. This is what I find

skills. I am looking forward to sharing what I have learnt at the

best about the Annual Conference, the opportunity to individuals,

Conference into my work and the activities in my Networks and

In 2003, the AUA invited me to report in Newslink on my experiences of my first Annual Conference in Derby (‘Fast Track to

at whatever stage in their higher education career, to influence

to welcoming the Conference back to the Midlands region, and

Derby’, Newslink, June 2003, p.3). Fast forward 11 years and eight Annual Conferences later and I have been asked to share my

the agenda by putting themselves forward to present on a subject

specifically Nottingham Trent University, next year.

experiences of 2014, held in Manchester.

or particular topic of interest. This year was the first time in

Nick Allen MAUA, Executive Officer, The University of Northampton

The AUA Annual Conference excites me as it is the highlight of the higher education administration and management year.

Nick Allen

Notice of the AUA Annual Conference excites me as it is the

My first day at this year’s Conference began with a dedicated

highlight of the higher education administration and management

session for Network Advocates run by Tessa Harrison and Laura

year. The Conference brings together colleagues from

Ashcroft from the National Office. The pre-conference sessions

across the sector, from the UK and overseas, from different

are the ideal way for newcomers, international delegates and

areas of expertise with varying levels of experience and

those interested in strategic planning or career development to

knowledge of the sector, from entry level administrators to

get together in advance of the conference in order to network

senior administrative post holders. For me, the opportunity

with other like-minded individuals and to help get the most out

of peer-to-peer interaction and inspiring the celebration of

of the Conference. The meeting was a great opportunity to

excellence of the higher education sector from amongst an

meet other Advocates from around the UK, learn more about

international community is what makes the Conference unique.

the incoming Chair’s strategy for her term of office and to learn

Indeed, there are few areas of university administration and

about effective practice which was taking place in Networks,

management which aren’t represented amongst conference

both geographical and thematic. It provided an impetus for me

attendees and I have found this to be particularly helpful as

to go back to my Network and communicate some of the key

my own career has progressed, I have moved institution and

messages which were discussed at the session and to put into

role and my relationship with AUA has developed. This has

practice some of the tips I acquired!

included moving between the Open University and my current

MY EXPERIENCE OF PREPARING FOR, AND PRESENTING AT, THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014 Sandra Mienczakowski MAUA, Deputy Director (Academic Administration), Academic Services Division, University of Nottingham

I had a really enjoyable experience of presenting, and I’d encourage anyone to give it a try.

Sandra Mienczakowski

institution, the University of Northampton, the completion of

The arrival of the remaining delegates at lunchtime on day one,

When the call for proposals for presentations went out in 2013

for a presentation relating to my research, ‘Why are we here?

the AUA Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice, my

including colleagues from Northampton, and those joining for

the 2014 Annual Conference seemed a long way off. I’d last

Administrative Middle Management at an English HEI’, just

role as a member and Chair of the PgCert Board of Study, my

day two and day three provided an opportunity to see familiar

presented papers at Conference in 2010, co-presenting with

meeting the deadline!

time as an AUA Trustee and my local and regional roles as

faces and to begin networking with new faces. The networking

colleagues. Having successfully completed a Professional

an Advocate at Northampton and my current role as Acting

and conversations which took place during the conference

Doctorate in Education (EdD) in April 2013, I decided it was

In October, I was pleased to get an e-mail letting me know that

Regional Co-ordinator.

sessions and breaks was assisted considerably by the excellent

time to dip my toe back into the water and put in a proposal

my proposal had been accepted. I immediately contacted Nick

14 - Newslink Summer 2014

Newslink Summer 2014 - 15

Allen, a member of our Regional team coordinating the successful Midlands regional seminar series. I offered to present in Nottingham before the Annual Conference as an opportunity

AUA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2015 Disruption, Diversity and Devolution 30 March - 1 April 2015

for colleagues who couldn’t make it to Manchester to attend a session which was more local and as a practice run through for me. We agreed

Nottingham Trent University

that March 2014 would be a good time and,

A fixture of the higher education calendar for more than 40 years, the AUA

in the last week of March, 28 people attended

Annual Conference and Exhibition is the largest of its kind in the UK.

the University of Nottingham for lunch and the seminar. This was my first time presenting on a topic not about the ‘day job’ and it was nice to have friendly faces in the audience.

The Conference returns to Nottingham, one of the UK’s most dynamic cities, steeped in rich cultural, industrial, scientific and sporting heritage.

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Nottingham Conference Centre at Nottingham Trent University is a recently transformed Grade II* listed building and will provide a beguiling

A flurry of activity followed that presentation; I’d

backdrop to our 2015 conference. The theme Disruption, Diversity and

been invited to take part in the Project Showcase

Devolution presents the opportunity to engage with major strategic

and now had two deadlines to meet: preparing a

influences of our times and how they play out in our sector, the disruptive

poster for the showcase and making changes to

effects of the economic and technological change, the diversifying market

my presentation before sending it off.

and internationalisation of higher education.

ARE YOU BUSY? Dr Kenton Lewis MBE, AUA Trustee and higher education consultant

My Conference session was scheduled for the

With finite time, roles compete for attention and we are faced with a position where a win for one area is automatically a loss for another.

Wednesday at 11.00am, a long time from the start of Conference but there was plenty to occupy me in the meantime. Aside from the main programme, catching up at the Network Co-ordinators and Advocates session, meeting Dr Kenton Lewis

up with Nottingham colleagues and old friends from other institutions, and the obligatory Quiz, meant Monday flew by.

“Are you busy?” Three simple words that are easily delivered,

founding member of the Bridge Group (a policy association

but seldom so easily heard. Spoken by your manager, these

promoting social mobility) and am a regular contributor to staff

Tuesday was another full day, including an

three words can indicate a new task, project or responsibility

development events and conferences. And when I leave the

interesting presentation on the discovery of King

that you will shortly be asked (required) to take on. Spoken by

HEA at the end of July 2014 I will be just as, if not more, busy,

Richard III, ending at the Gala Dinner where

someone you manage, there’s a high chance they’ll be followed

working as an executive coach, higher education consultant and

Janet Marshall (Cranfield), Janice Stanton

by a new problem or challenge that you will need to overcome.

staff trainer, whilst maintaining my interest and involvement in

(Wolverhampton) and I were presented with an

From a colleague they can be the start of a rant about the

educational research.

AUA Innovative Involvement Award for an earlier

workplace, or (noting the irony) a long-winded explanation of

regional seminar. (See page 11). It was a shame

just how busy they are. But when did you last take time to

As I plan for the next few steps in my career I have taken time

explore what those words really mean?

to reflect on what it means to be ‘busy’, and by extension I

that Janet, who had written that presentation and co-ordinated us, wasn’t able to attend.

have become increasingly interested in the ways in which we

Wednesday morning soon came around and my session had a good turn-out, a few more attending than at Nottingham, and again

Nottingham Conference Centre

some friendly faces in the audience. It was a welcome opportunity to talk about a research

The Conference inspires excellence in higher education administration

project which has been a large part of my life

and management through personal and professional development and

in the past few years, and to share and discuss

helps those working in it to shape their future careers. To achieve this,

findings with colleagues from across the sector.

the programme draws together a wide range of sessions which enable

Feedback was positive and hopefully I’ve

participants to:

encouraged at least one person to consider further study as well.

I had a really enjoyable experience of presenting, and I’d encourage anyone to give it a try. As for

• enhance their knowledge and understanding of the sector • explore new concepts and ideas in HE management and administration

as university managers and administrators think about our work,

work, even taking the form of a challenge/defence to reinforce

our priorities and our effectiveness.

your position, your importance and your relevance in the workplace. This could certainly be an indication of the volume

My first reflection on this is an experience I had a few years ago when

of work we are all required to take on as budgets get squeezed,

recruiting students in Western Canada. Presenting to a large audience

resources get stretched and managers’ expectations increase.

of potential medical applicants and their parents, I shared with them

But it could also be an indication of the way(s) in which we

my views on the importance of maintaining an appropriate work/

engage with our work. How we draw a balance between

life balance whilst studying for such a demanding career,

competing priorities, be that within our formal salaried role(s),

highlighting the need to safeguard down-time, and the importance

our additional work-related endeavours or our personal and

of prioritising constructive approaches to relaxing and to escaping

social life is a challenge that we all face. However, the extent to

the often challenging nature of the programme. At the end of

which we navigate that challenge varies considerably.

the session one parent thanked me for the session, but offered

• share good practice • develop new skills

future plans, I’m already working on a proposal for

Bookings will open in early November, please check www.aua.ac.uk for all

a presentation in 2015 with a colleague.

the latest news.

16 - Newslink Summer 2014

Being ‘busy’ has become a stock response when asked about

one ‘correction’ that I needed to make. “In Canada, we call it a I have what could comfortably be described as a busy working

life/work balance.” That single, simple switch in the order of the

life. I currently work full time at the Higher Education Academy

words was a wake-up call which started me on a path of deeper

(HEA), am a trustee and active member of the AUA, am a

engagement with perspective and priority in our daily lives.

Newslink Summer 2014 - 17

There is a dichotomy

ACTIVE AND ENGAGED PRIORITISING

inherent within the management of work/work balance, and by extension in our life/work balance too.

Pursuing multiple roles is gratifying and can also raise

Trade-off between activities is inevitable, but in engaging with priorities we can make conscious decisions. By exploring and understanding our own priorities (partner, career, family, work etc.) we are able to make informed and deliberate choices. If we set the right goals we can limit stress and conflict.

our performance through

INTEGRATING AND SEPARATING ROLES

the learning of new skills

Other ways to manage this objective of reducing the extent to

switched to running a single diary/calendar, combining my

which we feel rushed are shown in the table at the bottom of

work commitments with my personal commitments in a single

this page.

source. This one small change has allowed me to better plan my time, but has also allowed me to engage more effectively

Reflecting on my own engagement with ‘busy’, I have a clear

with being ‘in the moment’; ensuring that I offer my full

view of where I have been successful and where I have been

concentration to whatever activity I’m undertaking, whether

challenged. I am certainly not in any position to claim I am

that is social, professional or developmental.

successful in finding my balance, but I do know I am better than I used to be.

The second is a growing engagement with the concept of

and the expansion of our

Some choose to keep roles and responsibilities distinct (work is the priority at the

connections and networks.

office, family is the priority at home); others choose to integrate roles so that they can

For six years I worked full time whilst completing a part-time

aware of one’s thoughts and feelings). I’m a novice in this area,

However, managing multiple

interact (seeking work environments in which they can form friendships and socialise).

doctorate, and ultimately I was successful, but looking back

but learning more each day. And I am thankful that mindfulness

roles can lead to additional

There is no right answer on which is ‘best’, but there is an opportunity to actively

on that experience now it is clear to me that there was the

is so accessible and easy to engage with. I know that I can

time pressures and conflicts

choose based on our own values and goals

potential to find a greater balance. I became over involved in

take as little or as much from it as I feel comfortable with, and I

my work and my research, with both competing for my limited

know that any exercise or activity I take from it can be kept if it

time, and with my social life being squeezed out. I do not regret

works, or dropped if it doesn’t.

that ratchet up our levels of stress. With finite time, roles compete for attention and we are faced with a position where a win for one area is automatically a loss for another. So what strategies can we adapt to manage these conflicts?

CHOOSING THE RIGHT ACTIVITIES AND BEHAVIOURS To effectively manage our roles we need to engage not only with what we do, but how we do it. For example I can say that “I am an executive coach”, and in that role I offer support to individuals and teams to identify, clarify and achieve their goals.

However a simple change in phrasing (“I am being an executive coach”) broadens my view. In being an executive coach I think more broadly about engaging with research, learning new models and approaches, and setting time to reflect on my learning.

Research from the US1 suggests that there is a clear relationship

cannot do it all, then you are forced to realise that not everything

between how busy we are and how happy we are, and not

is equally important; we need to prioritise and we need to

necessarily in the way you would expect. Whilst there is a decline

engage with asking ourselves “what is important right now?”

mindfulness (in its simplest form, a process for becoming more

any of it, and I have a richer life for having experienced it, but I am aware that I need to maintain a discussion with myself

One final reflection I would like to share with you is this - I work

about work/work and life/work balance in the future.

on my engagement with ‘busy’ every day, and I get it right and I get it wrong every single day. In pulling together this

There are two specific issues that have really helped me

article I have procrastinated and frequently sought displacement.

engage with that ongoing reflection and discussion, one

But I did get it written, I have managed my feelings of being

very practical and one more esoteric. As a simple start I have

‘rushed’, and that achievement makes me happy.

Track your week

in the number of people who consider themselves as ‘happy’ A useful way to approach this question is through a time-

of individuals who are successfully bucking the trend; these are

management tool known as the Eisenhower Matrix (below) that

the people who have little or no excess time, but who rarely feel

maps urgency and importance. By recognising that we should

rushed. It also appears to be the case that the least happy are

prioritise the important over the urgent we are better able to

those who often find that they have spare time on their hands,

reduce or even eliminate tasks that sap our time and energy.

weighed down by a burden of boredom; the lesson here is to

IMPORTANT YES NO

be careful what we wish for!

It is in our perceptions of happiness that we may find the real

first importance tasks you have to DO them now

value. It is not just about whether we are rushed but about

to when we now know that those with less to do are the least happy?). So in knowing that we will never be ‘done’, we can start to disassociate from any self-punishment for having not achieved it all.

This idea of never being ‘done’ can be quite a challenge to contend with, but it can also be liberating. If you know that you

URGENT

reach a point of having ‘done it all’ (indeed why would we want

NO

ourselves to realise that we will never be ‘done’; we will never

YES

whether we feel rushed. And there are ways to address both ‘busy’. Some simple affirmations can help here, such as allowing

watching TV, checking Facebook, chatting with friends, attending meetings etc. Review these against your priorities, and consider ‘unplugging’ for fixed

when compared to recent decades, there is one particular group

the reality and the perception in how we engage with being

Keep a record of what you do in a given week – how much time you spend

1

tasks to be delegated NOT added-value tasks

3

DO

DELEGATE

tasks you must PLAN or they’ll become urgent (1)

tasks to be eliminated or they’ll become (3)

2

PLAN

4

ELIMINATE

periods of the day if ‘updating your status’ is not one of your top priorities.

Full attention

Do one thing at a time and concentrate on it. Multi-tasking is a distracting

Check in with yourself

Be aware of your stress levels, any aches and pains you have, how much

myth, so manage the boundaries between activities.

sleep you’re getting. Identify your work patterns and rhythms – are you an owl or a lark? Work on high priorities when you are at your most effective.

Be bed ready

Sleep is essential in being productive, so ensure that you are ready to sleep when you get to bed – be calm, quiet and avoid distraction in the hour before you want to be asleep (this definitely means not checking your smartphone!)

Hold up a mirror

Set aside time and effort to engage with your own feelings, goals and priorities. Make use of a mentor or coach if you can, ensuring you give selfreflection your full attention.

Learn to say ‘no’

…politely and with a smile. If it’s not a priority, do not let it distract you from

Re-evaluate

Life/work balance is a dynamic issue that can change over time, as your

activities that are2.

priorities change and as your behaviours develop.

The Eisenhower Matrix 1

Robinson, J. 2013 Americans less rushed but no happier: 1965-2010 trends in subjective time and happiness in Social Indicators Research 113 (3) pp 1091-1104

18 - Newslink Summer 2014

2

Some individuals like to use this ‘tip’ to say no to their manager when required to perform a certain task. There is nothing wrong with that choice per se, but bear in mind whether ‘keeping the boss on-side’, ‘gaining a promotion’ or ‘keeping my job’ are listed in your priorities.

Newslink Summer 2014 - 19

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANISATIONAL ACCREDITATION – PEAS FINAL UPDATE Catherine Lillie, PEAS Project Manager and Researcher Development Officer, Graduate and Researcher Development, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Manchester Dr Andrew West FAUA, PEAS Steering Group Chair and Director of Student Services, University of Sheffield

with break-out groups focusing on using the Framework for

are available for Network Co-ordinators or anyone wanting

individuals, teams and institutionally

to give information to others on the benefit of membership.

• Four sessions were run at the 2014 AUA Annual Conference

Finally, new academic posters were created to disseminate

in Manchester. Three of these covered the different sections

information about the Framework and Accredited Membership

of the Practical Guide to the CPD Framework, namely using

scheme at events and workshops, both AUA and elsewhere.

the Framework as an individual, with a team and at an organisational level. The fourth was a case study of the work

Accredited Member survey

In Newslink (Issue 77, July 2013, p.8) we reported on the HEFCE funded PEAS Project (Professional Endorsement and Accreditation Scheme). Now, as the twelve month project draws to a close, we reflect back on what has been achieved, and how it contributes to a sustainable future for the CPD Framework, the AUA and the sector workforce.

Institutional and individual endorsement

to, for example, academics through the HEA Fellowship scheme.

One of the main aims of the project was to create an

To achieve this they wanted to use the AUA Accredited Member

institutional endorsement scheme. This provides a means for

scheme, but have greater flexibility in terms of supporting and

the professional development opportunities institutions offer

assessing applications and encouraging individuals to apply by

to their professional services staff (PSS) to be reviewed and

providing practical support and by paying the application fees

endorsed by the AUA as being of value and relevance to PSS,

for them.

and aligned to the AUA Values and Professional Behaviours.

This in turn gives individual staff the confidence that the training

An AUA Consultant trained a small pool of staff from the Staff

and development they are participating in through their own

Development Unit to become internal Accreditation reviewers

institution is aligned to the national framework for continuing

so that all applications could be assessed in-house. A set of

professional development (CPD) for PSS in the AUA’s CPD

training materials, criteria and application documents were

Framework. It can be used to integrate the outcomes into

created to support this. Staffordshire supported members

for example, role descriptions, competencies and promotion

of PSS in working towards their Accredited Membership

criteria. Working with Staffordshire University, we have in fact

application by providing workshops and drop-in sessions on,

been able to pilot two schemes to accredit and endorse both

for example, reflective writing. The mapping of the institution’s

the institutional CPD provision and the CPD of individuals to

training courses to the professional behaviours also aided

contribute to Accredited Membership.

applicants in identifying suitable material for submission.

To assess the endorsement of the institution’s

Resources

CPD provision, a set of guidelines, terms and

A number of new resources were produced for the benefit of

conditions and assessment criteria were

current AUA members, and for promotional purposes. A printed

created. Staffordshire submitted a self-

Practical Guide to the CPD Framework was designed which

assessment statement of commitment to

contains sections for individuals, teams and organisations and

the AUA Values and a mapping of their

as well as templates and background information. This draws

training and development provision for PSS

on the experiences of the previous users of the Framework and

against the nine professional behaviours

is intended to provide specific examples and practical advice on

of the AUA CPD Framework. They had

how to use it, something that we know members have been

the assistance of an AUA consultant in

keen to have information on. Members can also use this to help

preparing this documentation, and the

facilitate conversations around the use of the Framework with

full backing and support of their Senior

others in their organisations- such as senior management teams,

Management Team who signed off

staff development units, organisational development specialists,

the application and expenditure. A

or at a more local level, those facilitating team away days and

panel comprised of members of the

development events. Three accessible PDF guides to using the

PEAS project Steering Group then

Framework were also developed drawing on the content of the

assessed the submission against

printed Guide and available to download from the website.

the criteria.

A revised and updated Get Connected brochure was produced, Staffordshire were also very keen to have the CPD activity of individual PSS recognised, in line with the recognition afforded

outlining the benefits of Accredited Membership and the CPD Framework to an audience of potential, new and existing members. All new members and those inquiring about membership are provided with a copy and all current AUA

with Staffordshire University.

A survey was distributed to the first cohort of Accredited Members in February 2014.

rk mewo a r F D the CP uccess

e to s cal guid

members were sent a hard copy earlier this year. Further copies

Future benefits of the project Members of the AUA will continue to benefit from the project

This generated learning and actions for both the enhancement

in the future through:

of the Accredited Membership Scheme and the wider AUA. Many of the results confirmed that the areas of investigation

• AUA members having access to useful guidance on how to

of this project have potential for further exploration, particularly

use the Framework in their organisation, with their team or

around professional recognition. For example 82% of respondents

for their own development

said that professional accreditation/recognition is important to them, and more than half indicated that the professional endorsement they had gained as a result of becoming AAUA/FAUA had had a positive impact on their professional practice, mainly (78%) through a greater self-awareness of their skills and competencies. Of those who indicated that their AAUA/FAUA status had had a positive

• AUA staff and volunteers having access to resources which will help them to promote the work of the AUA in relation to providing and supporting CPD • Ensuring that the CPD Framework remains both current and sustainable

impact on their career, 100% of these said that this impact related

• Raising AUA’s profile in the sector

to the enhancement of their professional standing/reputation.

• The enhancement and improvement of the Accredited Membership Scheme drawing on the survey feedback

There is clearly therefore an appetite and need amongst some of the AUA’s members, and in the wider sector (as demonstrated through the numbers of non-members engaging with the Staffordshire scheme) to enhance professional standing. There is great potential for the AUA, the CPD Framework and the Accreditation Scheme in this area.

Consultancy For much of the work for the project, AUA used its pool of consultants to design and deliver certain elements - from drafting written materials to delivering training and workshops.

For example, Oxford Brookes University had identified that their cohort of graduate interns would benefit from structured activity around the CPD Framework and professional behaviours, and some reflection on their experiences as an intern. The AUA worked with them to support interns and their managers in applying for Accredited Membership. An AUA Consultant delivered training to both interns and their managers on the scheme and printed materials were provided.

• The development of the AUA’s consultancy business remains a priority for the Association and anyone interested in benefiting from the services of a consultant, relating to the CPD Framework or wider HE issues should contact the

• Financial benefits from both the development of the consultancy business and the development of an institutional endorsement scheme. The learning from the project with Staffordshire will inform the development of such a scheme, with the Board of Trustees already indicating their commitment to piloting the scheme with other institutions before a potential national launch • Creating a self-sustaining model of internal Accredited Member reviewers had low financial input for the Association but will have continued financial benefits for both the institution (through the internal development of an efficient, effective and well-trained body of PSS) and the AUA (through increased numbers of engaged members).

Other institutions The work of this project will benefit those involved in organisation development and institutional approaches to CPD through providing an infrastructure for institutional endorsement, supporting materials for implementing the CPD Framework at an organisational level and support for change through the consultancy network. Organisations will also benefit as the materials, publications and resources will support individual members and groups of staff.

National Office.

Conference sessions • A workshop session was delivered at the 2013 AUA

Resources generated through the project have been

Development Conference in Birmingham. The session drew

added to the dedicated website for the CPD Framework:

on the content of the Practical Guide to the CPD Framework

cpdframework.aua.ac.uk

Newslink Summer 2014 - 21

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Avoid excess – a blizzard of slides will wear the audience

HOW TO GIVE GREAT PRESENTATIONS Barry Taylor, Director, Taylor Words Ltd

down 2. Write succinct points, not complete sentences 3. Make no more than four or five

According to one estimate, 30 million PowerPoint presentations are made every day. No doubt there are a few million others that don’t involve PowerPoint. That’s an awful lot of potential inspiration or boredom. The guidance below will help you give presentations that hit home and are enthusiastically received.

points per slide 4. Use large fonts, e.g. 36-point for headings, 28-point for main text and 24-point for secondary text

6. Use font colours that contrast

Storytelling

strongly with the background 7. Use capitals only when

Stories can add zest and impact.

grammatically necessary

They are a means of creating an emotional connection with your

8. Avoid multiple colours, complicated animation and

audience. The human feel of a

visual clutter

story complements the analytical content of a presentation and

9. Keep the visual style consistent

lifts the overall experience for

Your slides are not meant to be the

the audience. But you have to be

star of the show

careful how you use stories.

5. Use a clear font, such as Arial or Calibri Remember to:

Introduction

1. Make your story an illustration

We have all attended presentations that have failed on one or more counts.

The most common shortcomings are lack of clarity (which can be about structure, delivery or both) and an absence of rapport. In the worst cases – rambling arguments delivered in a monotone and with little regard for the presence of others – listeners drift away to their smartphones.

Most of us have also been to brilliant presentations – ones that leave us informed, exhilarated and keen to know more. They make us feel warm towards the speaker as well as the subject.

Getting the essentials in place Let us take it as read that you have a fine command of your subject and a good understanding of your audience – who they are, what they know already and their needs and expectations.

Audiences judge speakers on: 1. Whether they know their stuff 2. How well their material is structured 3. How well they deliver it

Decide on an appropriate overall

3. Insightful quotes 4. Powerful, relevant stories 5. Supportive visuals 6. Breaks for questions or exercises

22 - Newslink Summer 2014

Now you should be ready to rehearse – definitely out loud and ideally in the venue in which you will be presenting.

4. Give the story a personal edge

than scanning everyone at

you will be covering 2. The main content

3. Smile and look confident

Reading your slides aloud will not go down well. You should not look at them unless you need to draw attention to particular pieces of information.

4. Focus your attention on the audience to keep them engaged and ward off selfconsciousness

6. Speak clearly and not too fast

2. Identify the key points you want the audience to retain

7. Use the power of the pause

3. Find ways of highlighting those points – brief anecdotes work well

8. Vary your pitch and tone to avoid monotony

4. Go for clear, simple slides, not visual pyrotechnics 5. Watch your pace and maintain a connection with the audience

9. Gesture naturally

Barry Taylor is founder and director of Taylor Words Ltd, which provides writing services to clients in all sectors. He taught

1. Be honest

many an audience. This is how to

your nerves

1. Work out a straightforward structure

based PowerPoint slides tend to be

PowerPoint’ has been the fate of

2. Breathe steadily to manage

or addressing the floor

And finally...

be a blessing or a curse – ‘Death by

stand balanced and relaxed

A great deal comes down to how well you deliver your presentation.

Brilliant content can be undermined by lacklustre or inappropriate style.

5 top tips

clips all have their place, but textthe visual aid of choice. They can

1. Find a comfortable posture –

once, talking over their heads

Effective visuals Overheads, photographs and film

Other pointers to success:

5. Speak to one section of the

1. An opening summary of what

your ‘take away’ messages.

2. Accurate analogies

images

audience at a time rather

your next task, basing it around

1. Concrete examples

3. Paint pictures using concrete

structure, such as:

Developing the main content is

This is the time to strip out content that is superfluous, unnecessarily complicated or potentially meaningless (including obscure acronyms and jargon). Keep the language as straightforward as your subject allows.

structured

the audience

points

engaging. This might mean incorporating:

2. Keep it short and simply

4. How engaged they are with

3. A closing summary of your key

Once you have the content mapped out, consider how you can make it more

rather than a digression

Skilful delivery

2. Be enthusiastic 3. Be yourself

English before spending a decade in performing-arts management. He then spent 24 years as a director of communications, first at Bristol City Council and then at the University of Bristol. He was elected to serve for two years on the board of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in the US.

employ slides in a way that engages

barry.taylor@taylorwords.co.uk

rather than alienates people:

www.taylorwords.co.uk Copyright © Barry Taylor 2014

Newslink Summer 2014 - 23

FEATURE ARTICLE

in the UK and overseas systems. In particular, for this series, mber 1 2013

qxd 1 cover.

TPSP 17_

2/18/13

1:56 PM

Page 1

Nu Volume 17

We certainly agree that more should be done to encourage a wide range of contributors.

EDUCATION

In preparing the editorial for the current issue of Perspectives,

with longer articles on policy and practice in HE. For many years

I used the reader survey to help assess what we should be

we have worked with Routledge, part of the Taylor and Francis

Eur rspect t mobility studen aiming for. Of course there was a wide range ofPeIntviews.

One ernational

the current Principal Editor.

told us that the journal is “a fantastic resource for finding out more about what is happening in the sector”.

the work of Perspectives and more than four in five agree

4

9

11

opean

spectives and US per z and t, Irina Ferenc Hans de Wi mbley Ru Laura E.

colleague found the content “too academic”. Whilst another

SUE IN THIS IS ! (... into the mp Ju Three One, Two, ) third space? in higher on isi ov pr Diversity of education the UK HE l health of The financia sector ning of the ion the begin on Was devolut her educati hig UK the end of system? mobility al student Internation nning in pla gic ate str Renewing universities

1

David Law cation Commentary higher edu provision in Diversity of provider the private The role of n John Fielde ?

Commentary as good as it seems be sector Can it really of the UK HE ial health The financ yman David Palfre end Perspective inning of the tion the beg ? olu dev s Wa ion system her educat of the UK hig David Raffe

Group, to produce Perspectives to a very high standard. I am

employment in management and administration overseas as well as in the UK. Please make contact if you can help with this, or with the special themed issues that we plan.

We want Perspectives to be a journal for the AUA and with articles written by members of the AUA. What we publish projects that will interest the membership. The journal will

o the Editorial p! (. . . int three – jum One, two, ?)

Third Space

ive

we are looking for authors who have first-hand experience of

should address, in a practical way, challenges, issues and

CONTENTS

In addition to Newslink, the AUA publishes a quarterly journal

AUA members, according to our recent reader survey, value

UCATION HIGHER ED IN E IC T C A D PR POLICY AN

es perspect iv IN HIGHER D PRACTICE POLICY AN

David Law

s e v i t c e p pers

mber 1 2013

PERSPECTIVES David Law, Principal Editor Perspectives and Edge Hill University

Nu Volume 17

versities Perspective nning in uni strategic pla Renewing uncertainty at a time of ah Mahsood Sh seration Perspective and commi munication erations in Context, com ctical consid ical and pra log cho Psy nagement change ma Hugh Clarke

To those of you who find us too academic, we would say,

thrive if the membership reads it, uses the content, and contributes their own work. I also want to stress that members of the Editorial Board are happy to support and mentor new contributors. Please get in touch with me about this.

My aim, in this short piece, has been to prompt those of you who can write a good ‘everyday’ article to do so. We certainly agree that more should be done to encourage a wide range of contributors. As one

17

colleague said: “there are quite a few people who 24

would like to [contribute], but they think they don’t have anything to write about or would not be

30

108

ISSN: 1360-3

37

‘permitted’ to do so”. To such people, we say ‘give it

that this publication “helps to improve my understanding of

please help us to change. We do not want to be ‘academic’,

a try!’ – Nobody is stopping you. The only way to be

HE management and administration”. Together, we owe a

if by this you mean ‘not practical, too theoretical’. We want

an author is by writing.

significant debt both to Giles Brown, the current Newslink

to receive more submissions that have a practical focus and,

editor, and Celia Whitchurch.

although many did say that “there is a good balance”, we

Book review

would like to extend our coverage. We certainly agree that we Both previous editors, over fifteen years, established

should be publishing interesting papers from anybody who

Perspectives as a journal that the AUA can be proud of. There

is “capable of writing to the required standard”. The same

are nearly seventy back issues available on-line to members via

individual wrote that “the slightly highbrow academic content

the AUA website. This is a tremendous resource available to

could be relaxed a little” and, in each edition, there might be

The Development Conference and the Annual Lecture

The Annual Lecture is an exclusive member event and

professional services staff working in the sector. We encourage

one or two ‘everyday’ articles.

on Tuesday 4 November are in the historic city of Oxford.

an integral benefit of your membership. Places are

The Conference Programme at Lady Margaret Hall

limited and allocated on a first come first served basis

will inspire your passion for learning and intellectual

so don’t delay in making your booking.

you to fish for ‘food for the mind’ when you have to embark on a new project. More than this, I want to invite members to

In the current issue we have five papers, mainly contributed by

keep the pool stocked!

members of the AUA. Together, they speak to some big issues of practical concern to the sector: professional leadership (with

THE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE AND 17th ANNUAL LECTURE

development. A number of leading speakers will contribute to the dynamic theme: Leading through changing landscapes.

In a rapidly changing sector, Perspectives can only maintain

recommendations for ensuring that administrative staff are

its value if it keeps up-to-date. We need more articles, from

appropriately valued); constructions of professional identity;

members, written from a practitioner point of view. To a large

student induction; support for international students in a UK

The 17th Annual Lecture complements the programme.

extent, it is our practicality that makes us distinctive.

university; and, internationalisation discourse (contributed by an

Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, Professor

Israeli academic). We do try to incorporate a global perspective

Janet Beer will lead a lecture on Diversity in Leadership

in each issue.

at the RIBA Award winning John Henry Brookes Building.

indicated that many of you particularly value authors who can write

In 2015 we plan to run two themed issues: one on the

“The Annual Lecture is one of the highlights of the year

engaging articles that make use of their own experience as

internationalisation of our universities, and what this means

for the AUA. I am delighted that we have been able

project leaders or team members.

for all branches of management and administration, and the

to secure Professor Janet Beer for this year’s Lecture.

other on ‘place and purpose’. The latter, we envisage, will

Previous years’ Annual Lectures have been unmissable

We do require our authors to meet scholarly standards that we

include pieces on devolution and what makes HE distinctive

opportunities to hear from leading HE figures and I am

set through peer review and we ask that they set their work

in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Also we hope that

sure Professor Janet Beer will both offer perceptive

in a context, paying attention to previous major contributions to the

English colleagues will offer their ideas on how the mission of

insights and provoke us into a fruitful discussion. It will

field in which they work. However, the most important thing for

the university is influenced by location.

be another AUA event not to miss!”

There is certainly space for debate on major policy issues, but we also welcome case studies. Indeed, our reader survey

Tessa Harrison, Vice-Chair AUA and Registrar

any author is to be clear about what you want to say to your readers, and to do this with enthusiasm.

Another innovation that we plan to establish in 2015 is a series

Southampton University

Professor Janet Beer

of pieces that reflect on the contrasts between higher education

24 - Newslink Summer 2014

Newslink Summer 2014 - 25

FEATURE ARTICLE

In parallel to these political changes there had also been

unlikely given the opinion polls, but perhaps a little more likely

administrative changes. Responsibility for funding of Scottish

without Scottish voters.

HE had been transferred to the Scottish Office in 1992, with

THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND Author: Dr Bruce Nelson FAUA, College Registrar, College of Science and Engineering, University of Edinburgh

Resources, attention and innovation that should go into student education and research and scholarship are instead being used for peripheral activities Dr Bruce Nelson

the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) being

None of the possible outcomes would necessarily be easy for

established as an intermediary body, similar to HEFCE and

Scottish HEIs – and the Scottish Government – to cope with.

HEFCW. And there was a further change in 2005 when SHEFC

With both countries in the EU, RUK students would acquire

and its sister body for further education were merged to form

the same rights to equal treatment on tuition fees as students

the Scottish Funding Council.

from elsewhere in the EU – they would be entitled to the same treatment as Scottish students. If Scottish governments were

One final point on politics, as it is relevant to the discussion

to maintain the current system under which they pay tuition

on the impact of independence. To the surprise of the

fees for Scottish and EU students, Scotland may then become

sector, tuition fees were a major issue in the first Scottish

a very attractive destination for RUK students seeking to avoid

Parliament election campaign in 1999. The year before, the

paying fees in their home country. The Scottish Government

Blair government had abolished student grants and introduced

argues that retention of tuition fees for students resident in the

a £1000 means-tested tuition fee. In their election campaign,

RUK would be appropriate and necessary to ensure access to

the Scottish Liberal Democrats made abolition of fees a “non-

higher education for Scottish students, but it’s not certain that

On my bookshelf I have a yellowing and dusty copy of the

there be a separate Scottish HE sector responsible to a Scottish

negotiable” element in their manifesto. To finesse this issue

this would survive legal challenge. So it’s an ironic possibility

1985 report of the Scottish Tertiary Education Advisory

Parliament, but that Scotland would be about to vote on

when the programme for the first coalition was negotiated, the

that an independent Scotland would be forced to align its

Council (STEAC). Published shortly after Sir Keith Joseph’s

whether it should depart the United Kingdom it’s been part of

Cubie Committee was established. This duly recommended

approach to tuition fees much more closely with England’s

UK White Paper The Development of Higher Education into

since 1707. And few believed that the system would enter a

the abolition of student payments towards fees, but with a

than it has to at present, to prevent large numbers of students

the 1990s, it likewise attempted to address a world in which

period of seemingly inexorable expansion. By 2012/13 Scotland

Graduate Endowment contribution due once students earned

crossing the border.

student numbers were expected to fall, with the post-Robbins

had 215,000 students, and over 17,000 academic staff, and a

more than £25k per annum. The Graduate Endowment was

expansion likely going into reverse and some institutions

sector delivering £1.3 billion in export earnings.

abolished by the SNP in 2008, leaving Scottish students

Scotland remaining in, or quickly rejoining, the EU but with

needing only to repay any maintenance loans.

the RUK leaving could also be challenging, most so for those

necessarily closing or merging.

universities with large student populations from elsewhere

In the mid-1980s, there appeared to be little prospect of STEAC suggested possible new structures for planning for

devolution in Scotland. While a small majority had voted for

So what would be the challenges if Scotland voted for

in the UK. If the RUK becomes ‘overseas’ for fees charging,

this decline, including mechanisms which would for the first

a Scottish Assembly in the 1979 referendum, devolution was

independence in September? Most obvious areas would

it would seem very likely that this market would disappear

time bring together decisions on planning and funding for all

lost because the required threshold of 40% of the electorate

be student and staff recruitment, with both complicated by

overnight. (Just under 10% of new entrants to Scottish HEIs

of Scottish tertiary education. Responsibility was then split

was not reached, and the Conservative governments of 1979

uncertainties over EU membership, for Scotland itself and for

come from England). Why would students from elsewhere in

between the University Grants Committee for universities and

– 1997 were strongly anti-devolution. But by 1989 a Scottish

the remainder of the UK (RUK).

the UK be prepared to pay fees around double what they would

the Scottish Education Department for central institutions (the

Constitutional Convention was established, with representation

pay in a home institution? Of course the Scottish Government might see this as an opportunity to create more places for

precursors of the polytechnics) and the colleges of education.

from civic society as well as Labour and the Liberal Democrats,

The SNP government asserts that as a stable democracy which

At that time Scotland had eight universities, seven colleges

and it published a blueprint for devolution on St Andrew’s Day

is already part of the EU, Scotland will retain membership,

Scottish students, but there would be a price, and HEIs would

of education, and 12 central institutions, with between them

in 1995. When Labour was elected in 1997, it established the

albeit after a negotiated transition process. Opponents of

take a substantial income hit if replacement students came at

77,400 FTE students of which 60% were in the universities.

Scottish Parliament which first met in 1999. This was elected

independence argue that this will not be automatic, and that

the current fees-only rate of £1820.

under a proportional representation system designed to make it

there are political reasons relating to independence movements

Academic staff totalled 7518, with 60% in the universities.

difficult for any party to get an overall majority. It was therefore

elsewhere in the EU, notably in Catalonia, why this is not so.

Scottish HE would also face challenges in research funding.

STEAC’s suggestions for planning structures - either a Scottish

a surprise when the minority SNP government which had

But given the inexorable expansion of the EU, it would seem

Scotland currently punches above its weight, winning 13.1% of

Higher Education Planning Council or Planning and Funding

been elected in 2007 to replace two Labour-Liberal Democrat

unlikely that Scotland would not be a member, albeit that

Research Council funding despite its population share of 8.4%.

Council were rejected by the HE sector, which argued strongly

coalitions was re-elected in 2011 with an overall majority, and a

there might be challenging accession negotiations (e.g. on

The SNP government has argued that Scotland would continue

that it was part of a UK-wide system and that planning and

mandate for an independence referendum.

membership of the Euro). But the EU situation may be just as

to participate in the current UK common research area, arguing

funding decisions should be made for that system as a whole.

challenging for Scotland if the RUK votes to withdraw from the

Scandinavia as an example of how this could work. It asserts

It then seemed inconceivable that 30 years on not only would

EU in a possible referendum in 2017, something which seems

that this would benefit both Scotland and the RUK, and further

26 - Newslink Summer 2014

Newslink Summer 2014 - 27

AUA NEWS

REFLECTING ON #AUA14CYCLATHON Chris Ince and John Baker, two very dedicated AUA members, took on the challenge of cycling from London to Manchester for the Annual Conference and Exhibition 2014 to raise funds for the AUA. When they arrived in Manchester the challenge didn’t stop there; they delivered a session on their experience, giving some excellent examples of how the AUA professional behaviours can be used in personal development.

Setting off on Saturday 13 April and cycling 210 miles over two days, John and Chris tackled high winds, punctures, the hills of the Peak District and the reality of life outside London to raise over £500 to support AUA professional development.

Using the AUA CPD Framework, John and Chris tackled their puncture ‘using resources’, tweeted throughout their journey ‘finding innovative solutions’ and used their map-reading skills to ‘provide direction’. They were determined on ‘achieving results’ and arrived in Manchester in time for the Sunday Social

Feeling inspired? If you’re interested in joining the peloton for

at Albert Square Chop House.

the Nottingham Conference contact Chris and John through the members list on the members’ website: members.aua.ac.uk,

argues for Scotland retaining access to a joint REF. It addresses

None of these are insurmountable challenges, and some argue

Read the full account of their journey at:

and you can still donate to Chris and John’s #AUA14Cyclathon

the funding issues by saying that Scotland would pay its way.

that HE would prosper in an independent Scotland. Relatively,

www.aua.ac.uk/news-97-Reflecting-on-AUA14-Cyclathon-.html

at www.aua.ac.uk.

However, UK Ministers have suggested that there would be no

HE is a bigger industry in Scotland, and maintaining a successful

common research area. And even if there were, it would surely

system is vital to the country’s future prospects. Past strong

be impossible for RUK ministers to resist the temptation to redirect

support for Scottish HE by successive governments, nearly

the current ‘subsidy’ to Scotland to the benefit of their HEIs.

100 mentions of the sector in the independence White Paper,

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST NETWORK COORDINATORS

and the recent publication by the SNP government of a paper

Welcome to our newest Network Coordinators, Christopher Costigan FAUA, BPP University, who has taken on the role of

The SNP government has responded that it will “in all

attempting to provide reassurance on research funding post-

North Wales and North West Coordinator and Nick Allen MAUA, University of Northampton, and Sandra Mienczakowski MAUA,

circumstances guarantee no adverse funding impact from

independence all suggest continued strong support for the sector.

University of Nottingham, who have jointly taken on the role of Midlands Coordinator.

Scotland’s transition to independence”. This could be an

Christopher said: “As an academic and an administrator I know

Sandra said: “I am delighted to be joining Nick Allen as Joint

that professional administration is crucial to a University’s success

Midlands Regional Coordinator. I am looking forward to an

and so I am delighted to be taking on the opportunity to serve the

opportunity to build on my previous experience as an Advocate

North Wales and North West as the AUA Network Coordinator.”

at the University of Nottingham, and to be working with

expensive commitment, given that Scottish universities

Despite a steady reduction in the anti-independence vote in

win nearly £130M per annum RCUK funding in excess of

the opinion polls over the last six months, they still suggest

population share. To put this in perspective, SFC block grant

a no vote most likely. But that won’t mean the status quo.

for research and knowledge transfer is expected to be £296M

Legislation has already been passed which will give the Scottish

next year. Some opponents of independence argue that it

Parliament responsibility for additional taxes, increasing the

Nick said: “I am delighted to take joint responsibility for the

would be unrealistic to expect Scotland to continue to fund

percentage of tax collected in Scotland going to the Scottish

Midlands Network with Sandra Mienczakowski and to provide

what’s virtually the highest Higher Education Research and

Government from 6% to 15%. (They are responsible for 60%

ongoing assurances to the Board of Trustees of the effective

Interested in joining our networks? See if there are any Network

Development spend in the OECD.

of government spend in Scotland). The three unionist parties are

operation of the networks in the Midlands.”

Coordinator vacancies in your area at www.aua.ac.uk.

colleagues across the network to build on previous successes and innovations within our network.”

all promising further devolution, with the most radical being the And there might be one further challenge to Scottish HEIs in an

Liberal Democrats’ long-standing commitment to a federal UK.

independent Scotland. While we boast in Scotland of the quality

Quite what will emerge is unclear, but the direction of travel for

of our HE sector, and it is undoubtedly worth celebrating a

greater divergence between Scotland and the RUK will continue.

country of only 5 million having five world top 200 universities, we undoubtedly benefit from the Great Britain brand. While

So what of the future for HE? The 30 years or so since STEAC

some changes in policy post-independence might make Scotland

suggests further change, and quite possibly unpredictable

more attractive to international students – notably the SNP’s

change. Demand for HE in Scotland, and expectations from the

promise to allow international students to remain in Scotland

sector, will continue to increase, creating interesting challenges

post-graduation to work – it seems very possible that some

for professional services staff. But let us hope that these are

international students will prefer to go to a British university

not the challenges of the Chinese Curse “May you live in

rather than a Scottish one. And so might international staff.

interesting times!”

28 - Newslink Summer 2014

Christopher Costigan

Nick Allen

Sandra Mienczakowski

Newslink Summer 2014 - 29

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I joined the AUA National Office in February 2014 as a Web and e-Services Project Officer. This is my first role in HE. My previous role was based in the NHS as a web manager. My role involves keeping all of the AUA’s web services alive and also to support the National Office with any sort of I.T. related issues.

When I have time outside of work I enjoy both playing and watching football. Yes, I am a Manchester United supporter! I also love to watch movies and play as many video games as possible.

Laura Ashcroft, Project Officer (Membership and Networks) I work on membership and network-related activities and projects. This includes recruitment and retention, membership profiling, member communications, network activities and development, and ensuring our member database is accurate and up-to-date.

This year I attended my first Annual Conference which I thoroughly enjoyed, especially the debate! It is not often that I can’t decide which argument to side with, the logic and reasoning of the panel members were so compelling. I left feeling utterly enthralled. It made me want to get out my politics text books all over again (for a moment or two).

My part-time role gives me the perfect, much needed work-life balance. When I am not busy signing up new members, I have a 3 year old to entertain!

Jane Bevan, Executive Officer (Communications and Operations) I joined the AUA National Office in April to cover Kathy Murray’s maternity leave. I’m working in the office three days a week and this is my first role in the HE sector. I previously worked for Sodexo based in London and latterly in Salford and have held roles in IS&T, finance, operational support and communications. One of my main roles will be to plan the Annual Conference 2015 in Nottingham and we are busy getting the wheels in motion for this.

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I have a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. When I’m not working very hard for the AUA, I enjoy dance classes, running, music and reading. This year I’m planning trips to India, Portugal and, hopefully, Brazil.

Outside of the office, I enjoy going to concerts (my last concert was Prince) and also being mum to my two year old daughter, Florence.

Laila Berraies, Finance and Membership Assistant I joined the AUA as Finance and Membership Assistant in December 2013. Since graduating in 2006, I have been employed in the Further and Higher Education Sector.

`

31

Managing Change Open Forum We are busy finalising the upcoming event calendar and the dates of these events will be available soon. Events in bold are confirmed, the dates for other events in the calendar will be confirmed in the near future. Please check www.aua.ac.uk for further details and announcements about these events.

30 - Newslink Summer 2014

Newslink Summer 2014 - 31

Richard Carr, Third Party Services & Communications Officer

Mairi Palmer, Executive Officer (Finance) I joined the National Office almost a year ago in August 2013 and I work in the office two and a half days a week looking after all things financial for the AUA. It is a very busy role, but I absolutely love it! The team are amazing and the Annual Conference was a great opportunity to put my calculator down and meet some of the members that we support.

Well hello! I have been working for the AUA for over 5 years now and have worked within the HE sector for over 15 years in total. I am Third Party Services and Communications Officer and work with our third party clients providing event, financial and administrative support to coordinate each client’s flagship annual conferences, as well as ensuring our contracted service

Richard Carr

When not at work I enjoy spending time with my family and have recently become a dad (and have the eye bags to prove it!). My wife and I have a beautiful 7 month old baby daughter called Molly who certainly keeps us very busy. I have a passion for music, cars and my beloved football team Manchester City.

Natalie Hall, Events Assistant I am the current events assistant for the AUA and on placement from Leeds Metropolitan University, where I am studying for a degree in Events Management. The year has flown, however the knowledge and experience I have gained from the organisation will stay with me when I progress in my future career. I have thoroughly enjoyed my year at the AUA, through the events and the people I have worked with.

Natalie Hall

I have worked in HE for the last 14 years and am a librarian by trade! My last role was at Sheffield Hallam University, where I supervised a team of six people across two campuses, delivering a busy document supply service. Prior to that, I worked at the University of Manchester in various library roles.

I worked on several sites over the years, including the John Rylands Library, Deansgate, which I absolutely loved. I have also worked in public libraries (whoa!). Outside work I have a busy family life and enjoy walking and D.I.Y.

32 - Newslink Summer 2014

Brenda Sanderson, Project Officer (Professional Development) I have worked at the AUA for over 5 years and I am currently the Project Officer (Professional Development). My role as Programme Manager for the AUA’s Postgraduate Certificate involves the day to day management of the qualification and facilitating strategic development of the programme. In addition, I am involved in a number of other professional development projects as required. My role is varied and challenging (in a good way!) and I thoroughly enjoy working with the participants of the PgCert, my AUA colleagues, and the membership.

Brenda Sanderson

Outside of work, I enjoy exploring new places, meeting new people, socialising and going to lots of music gigs. After coming to the UK as a backpacker, I still love to travel and am fortunate enough to visit lots of new destinations.

I’m currently planning a year abroad in Australia, Fiji, America and the Caribbean once I’ve finished my degree, so I can see more of the world and other cultures. Hopefully it will be the trip of a lifetime and if I grow to love a place then I may even stay out there, who knows where it will take me.

Pamela Johnson I am the newest recruit in the AUA office. Everyone has made me welcome and the team has been patient answering my many questions.

Mairi Palmer

I have been an accountant for nearly eighteen years now and outside of work I am a school governor, scout group treasurer and taxi driver to Adam aged 12 and Rose aged 10.

level agreements are met.

Pamela Johnson

Amanda Shilton-Godwin, Executive Officer (Professional Development) I joined the National Office in April this year working two days a week on strategic content for programmes. It’s an interesting and challenging role and I’m really enjoying working in the sector again after a few years’ absence and at such a time of huge change.

I worked at Chief Executive Level in Students’ Unions and at NUS Services for twelve years. I aim to bring that independent view to bear in helping to shape the content of our programmes.

Kathy Murray

My life outside work is no less hectic, as I’ve just been elected as a Local Authority Councillor here in Manchester. So fitting it all in and still making time for family - well, it’s all work in progress!

Amanda Shilton-Godwin

Kathy Murray (Executive Officer Communications and Operations) and Noreen Muzaffar (External Relations Officer) are both currently on maternity leave.

Noreen Muzaffar

The AUA exists to advance and promote the professional recognition and development of all who work in professional services roles in higher education, and to be an authoritative advocate and champion for the sector.

As an organisation, we exist for our members. We offer support to help you enhance careers, boost your job prospects and create valuable networking opportunities. In short, we empower our members to take control of their career development.

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The views and opinions expressed in Newslink are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their institutions, or of the Editor, nor should they be considered as expressions of opinion or official policy of the Association of the University Administrators (AUA).

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