Introduction to HE for Professional Services Staff

This is a joint event and open to members of AUDE, BUFDG, HESPA and UHR - please click on the appropriate ticket when booking your place - please choose one ticket only.

Programme Aim

This is a one day development event aimed at all professional services staff within their first year of working in HE, who need to grasp the complexities and political environment of HE, and the implications for operating and influencing effectively.  

Who should attend? This programme is open to all professional services staff.  If you wish to enquire about the suitability of the programme for yourself or a colleague, please contact naomi@uhr.ac.uk , rachel@bufdg.ac.uk , corinne@aude.ac.uk or monica@hespa.ac.uk 

This event will be CPD accredited:

Agenda

10.30 - 10:35   Welcome and Introduction

10.35 - 11:20 An overview of UK Higher Education 

Differences and similarities with other sectors; HE governance, funding, sustainability; the different structures seen in ‘pre and ‘post’ 1992 HEIs; charitable status; accounting and public body status; competition and collaboration; freedom of action and constraints.

Dr Debbie McVitty, Editor, Wonkhe 

11.20 - 11.40   Break

11.40 - 12:30  What are the current challenges facing the sector and how is the sector working to address them? 

A horizon scan of the current challenges HE is facing now and in the next 5 years. The similarities and differences between institutions in their responses to the challenges facing the sector. 

Dr Carol Costello, Director of People and Services, University of Liverpool

Jo Blunden, Chief Operating Officer, St Mary's University, Twickenham

12.30 -13.30  Break

13.30 - 14:30  The culture of the sector and the skills required to navigate it 

This session will explore some of the skills needed to operate effectively within HE, including building relationships, offering reasoned argument and how Professional Service staff can support operational strategy in an academically challenging and intellectually rigorous environment.  

We welcome a Director from HR, Estates, Strategic Planning and Finance.  They will share their personal journey, what they wish they’d known, the challenges and top tips. 

AUDE speaker - Joanne Bell, Director of Estates and Facilities, University of Surrey

BUFDG speaker - Peter Fotheringham, Director of Finance, University of Dundee 

HESPA speaker - Dr Shane Crothers, Interim Director of BI & Strategic Planning & Performance, Ulster University.

UHR speaker - Nick Rogers, Director of HR and Organisational Development, Aberystwyth University

Time for questions

Put your questions to Directors from Planning, Estates, Finance and HR

To be sure of a place, early booking is recommended. 

Please note, in order to book a place on this event you will need an AUDE, UHR, HESPA or BUFDG website user account.  If you do not yet have an account, your options are:

AUDE

Please click here to register for an account.

BUFDG

Please click here to register for an account.

HESPA

Please click here to register for an account.

UHR

Please click here to register for an account.