AUA Annual Conference 2021
Programme and timings

Although universities have always competed (for staff, students and resources), the history of the HE sector in the UK is one of collaboration and co-operation, to the point where it’s been described as a cartel by ministers. In this session we will look at the history of HE through the lens of collaboration. This will cover collaborative systems in the middle ages, the emergence of the modern university in the 19th century and common systems and processes in the 20th century.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Engage with key aspects of the history of higher education in Britain
– Understand the historical background to current policy debates
– Understand how approaches to collaboration and competition in the HE sector have changed throughout history

Speaker:
Mike Ratcliffe FAUA, Academic Registrar, NTU

Session Format:
30-minute talk

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration

The session will explore the roles and responsibilities of being an Academic Registrar or similar role in UK Higher Education. It will look at how the role interacts at a senior level and the conflicting demands on the post holder.

Through looking at two personal experiences it will explore the potential routes to becoming an Academic Registrar. Through that lens it will also consider career and professional development in general and participants will be encouraged to consider what their next steps might be to developing their career further.

The style of the session is discursive, with some information sharing and group discussion as well as considering some case studies and CVs.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Consider what their next steps might be in developing their career towards becoming an Academic Registrar
– Explain techniques for evaluating ones own skills and experiences against a potential future role
– Explain the role of an Academic Registrar and its place in an institution

Speakers:
Jim Irving, Academic Registrar, York St John University and ARC Professional Development Lead
Fiona Fisk, Academic Registrar, University of Suffolk

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Governance | Quality | Planning | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration | Other

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

203: Online Collaborative Problem Solving during a Pandemic

Due to COVID-19, we are all facing challenges in how we work; whether this is due to adapting to working remotely, juggling home-schooling with work, or keeping our remote teams connected with each other and with the wider organisation.
 
This session will explore some typical problems associated with online working and how we might use collaborative techniques to bring about a creative approach to these issues, e.g. maintaining team morale, agreeing how to resolve a work challenge with colleagues dispersed remotely, training staff on new systems and processes while working remotely, keeping work/life balance when home-schooling.
 
The session will use a live case study of how the speakers have used different approaches to online collaborative problem solving with their teams and the wider University, with the aim to provide delegates with some take-home tips and tricks. The final part of the session will give delegates the opportunity to divide into groups and try out one of these techniques – an online Action Learning Set (led by Bruce McGowen, University for the Creative Arts).

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Develop an understanding of different tools for collaborative online problem solving and have an opportunity to try them out
– Recognise how collaborative problem solving can be used in a multitude of organisational contexts
– See the value of collaborative problem solving to develop and build networks supporting personal, and wider team, wellbeing

Speakers:
Roseanna Cross MAUA, School Manager, Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol
Jill Walsh MAUA, School Manager, School of Arts, University of Bristol

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
General administration

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

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203: Action learning sets
An introduction

“There can be no learning without action, and no action without learning” (Reg Revan).

There is a way for individuals to have their peers help them solve real problems in real time. This interactive and experiential workshop provides a unique opportunity to work with and learn from peers from other organisations who have (very) similar issues, problems and opportunities to your own through Action Learning Sets. No experience necessary. Bring yourself, an open mind and a current issue or problem to work on.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand the features, roles of participants and facilitator, and process steps of an Action Learning Set cycle Develop an understanding of different tools for collaborative online problem solving and have an opportunity to try them out
– Describe the process of an Action Learning Set, having experienced a cycle in compressed form
– Reflect on the process and decide whether or not to initiate and continue the process with their group

Speaker:
Bruce McGowen MAUA, School Operation Manager, Business School for The Creative Industries, University for the Creative Arts

Session Format:
Interactive workshop

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Finance | Legal | Student services | Governance | Events | Quality | Research | Planning | Marketing | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration | Other

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration

2020 was as challenging as it was unexpected. The future is blended with learners as co-creators. But what are we actually aiming for?

Over 5 months towards the end of 2020, Jisc led an initiative to understand the sector’s response to COVID-19 and to explore the future of digital learning and teaching. Steered by a group of 14 Vice-Chancellors, the work sought to understand 2020, prepare for 2021 and, most importantly, to be inspirational with respect to 2030.

This session will reflect briefly on a tumultuous 12 months and then outline a digital future which alters fundamentally the way in which learning is created, delivered and received.

Speakers
Jon Baldwin, Executive Director Higher Education, Jisc

Session Format:
Hot Topic

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Teaching and learning

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

In 2019 AUA launched a consulting practice “AUA Consulting” as a new strand in our portfolio of activities in the HE sector.  What have we learned as an association from this new initiative over the last two years?  How is AUA Consulting benefiting AUA, our members and the wider sector?  In what ways is AUA Consulting working with universities and what are some of the key issues, questions and topics arising?  What might we all be able to learn from these trends and how can universities work more effectively with external consultants?  Join a panel of AUA Consultants to discuss these questions and more – exploring learning from AUA Consulting.  

By the end of the session delegates will…

– Learn how AUA Consulting has been working with universities
– Have an understanding about how AUA consulting is benefitting AUA, our members and the wider sector

Speakers

Dr Andrew West, Managing Consultant, AUA Consulting
Kate Dodd, Lead Consultant, AUA Consulting
Steph O’Halloran, Lead Consultant, AUA Consulting

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:

Finance | Student services | Quality | Research | Planning | Marketing | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:

Mid-level management | Senior management

The key lesson of our pandemic-driven experiment in virtual operations is that remote work has strategic benefits that higher education left untapped in the past. Leaders are giving new attention to potential reductions in office space, operational savings, recruiting and retention benefits, and process improvement. In an age of brutal constraints, this is a rare opportunity to bend cost curves and to offer staff a valued new benefit. However, these benefits won’t be realised without careful planning and reasonable expectations. This session will help attendees strategise a broader, leadership-driven vision of remote work.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– employ strategies and provide resources for remote staff to be their most effective
– discern the potential cost savings and related benefits to a continuation of remote work
– create new guidelines for remote workers post-pandemic

Speakers
Ron Yanosky, Director – Research, EAB

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Finance | Governance | Planning | General administration | Other

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

There is no doubt that 2020 has brought the sector and our communities untold challenges, creating an environment that has necessitated changes in approach and focus at both a local and global level. However, these Covid times have also provided the opportunity for our organisations to reaffirm our core mission and values, as well as the burning platform to innovate. Partnership has never been more important, or more required within the sector, as universities seek to engage with stakeholders to support institutional aims and ambitions against a backdrop of constant change and evolving business need. This session will showcase the impact of the University of Glasgow’s strategic plan ‘Inspiring People, Changing the World 2015-2020’ and the successful initiatives that have delivered enhanced collaboration and engagement at both a civic and global level with partners that include local and national government, international universities, city-wide audiences, and our own community of students, staff and alumni. Opportunities for working together will undoubtedly continue to increase within the sector – why does this matter and how can we all benefit?

About Rachel
Rachel Sandison is Vice Principal, External Relations at the University of Glasgow. Rachel’s responsibilities include strategic leadership for domestic and international student recruitment; marketing, brand and reputation; undergraduate and postgraduate admissions; international affairs and partnership development; fundraising & alumni relations; and widening participation.

Rachel is a chartered marketer and a CASE Global Trustee and Chairs the annual CASE Marketing Institute. She is a member of the Universities Marketing Forum, Universities Scotland International Committee and sits on a number of sector advisory boards. She is the University of Glasgow’s senior leader for the Universitas 21 network and The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities.

Social mobility is always high on the political agenda in some shape or form. Universities have the power to be agents of social mobility and this session builds the case for taking serious and strategic steps to use that power to create a better world around us. My keynote will offer an overview of key social mobility policies, research and developments in the world of education. We will explore innovative approaches that are creating better life chances for young people – through our institutions, partnerships and places. Participants will come away challenged, informed and inspired to take action on the social justice issues that we face in the UK today.

About Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie Canning MBE has recently taken up a new position as the CEO of The Brilliant Club. Previously, she was the Director of Social Mobility and Student Success at King’s College London. In this role she provided leadership and strategic direction for full lifecycle widening participation across the institution. In 2018 she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to higher education.

Anne-Marie is also the independent chair of the Department for Education led Bradford Opportunity Area. She is a member of the Universities UK Ministerial Social Mobility Advisory Group and has served as the elected Chair of the Russell Group Widening Participation Association.

Anne-Marie has previously worked at University College Oxford and holds a University of Oxford Teaching Award. She studied at the University of York and served a sabbatical term as the president of the students’ union. Anne-Marie is a trustee of the Bridge Group, a policy association researching and promoting socio-economic diversity and equality.

NUS is campaigning for an education system that is fully funded, lifelong, and accessible. The pandemic has surfaced many inequalities in our education. In this keynote speech, Larissa will reflect on the challenges facing higher education and the need for a comprehensive reform of the education system following the disruption of Covid-19. She will discuss the specific priorities for students, and how institutions, students’ unions and students can work together in partnership to address these.

About Larissa

Larissa Kennedy is the NUS National President. Larissa was formerly Education Officer and Deputy President at Warwick Students’ Union, and has worked as Advocacy and Campaigns Officer and Plan International, a global gender equality charity. In a volunteer capacity, Larissa is the UK’s representative to the Global Secretariat at Youth for Change, was formerly a member of the British Youth Council’s trustee board, and U.K. Youth Delegate to the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

A keynote from Rosie Tressler OBE to share what Student Minds has been learning throughout the pandemic, from the development of online support and the Student Space programme to sustaining long term change through the University Mental Health Charter.

About Rosie
Rosie is the CEO of Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity. Student Minds develops innovative approaches to support healthy university communities, collaborates on research, and empowers students, university professionals and connected communities to create change. Rosie has been working on the issue of student wellbeing for several years. She became the charity’s Chief Executive Officer in 2015, following a number of different roles at Student Minds managing volunteering, campaigns and university relationships, and she has been undertaking a Churchill Fellowship to explore preventative approaches to student mental health in Canada and Australia.  

This session will demonstrate virtual interactive activities you can use with your staff and colleagues to raise their awareness and enhance understanding of the AUA CPD Framework.

This session will be useful for any colleagues who are new to the Framework and want to learn more about it and how it can be used to support your development. Any AUA Advocates, Managers or colleagues looking for virtual ways to engage their staff with the AUA CPD Framework and its developmental value should attend this session. It will also indirectly highlight good practice for making virtual activities on Zoom engaging and interactive.

These activities have been used to great effect on LJMU’s virtual AUA Accreditation Programme. As this Zoom session involves development activities, you will need to have your video and audio enabled. To attend you will need to be using your laptop for the video call and have your smart phone (or tablet) ready to use for some of the activities.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…

Speaker:
Michael Monoghan FAUA, Leadership and Development Adviser, LJMU

Session Format:
Individual working session

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
General administration

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

302: Moving into the Matrix
Supporting programme approval in another dimension

This session will provide an account of how a move to a matrix organisational structure led to a change in how quality support has been provided to academics designing programmes, through working more collaboratively and offering a more holistic, effective service. The session will offer a quality officer’s personal account and the contributions of a collaborator and academic ‘customer’. It will also offer reflections on how the move to the matrix model of working facilitated a smooth transition to effectively responding to COVID-19. It should stimulate others to thinking about their working relationships across teams and will particularly promote how effective collaboration and a positive attitude towards change can support excellent service delivery.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Identify ways to maximise the potential of change in their own roles by examining opportunities to work with others to enhance customer service
– Reflect on their own professional behaviours when working collaboratively to achieve goals
– Consider how to effectively overcome challenges that might be encountered working with others to deliver excellent service

Speaker:
Adrian Lee FAUA, Head of the Academic Quality Team, University of York

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Quality | Teaching and Learning

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

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302: Making academic regulations fun!
Creative ways to help staff and students understand and engage with academic regulations

UWE Bristol is undertaking a review of its academic regulatory framework. This requires them finding ways to engage staff and students across the entire University community. In addition, the project team are trying to identify innovative and appealing ways to ensure staff and students keep up to date on the existing regulatory framework.

This session will provide an opportunity for participants to find out what the University has been doing and compare this to their own institutions’ approaches to seeking student and staff engagement with academic regulations. Participants will be encouraged to consider the challenges and potential solutions to ensuring staff and students understand and are up-to-date with regulatory frameworks, as well as to reflect on their own methods of communicating information. This session will not focus on solving particular regulatory issues, but will take a holistic approach on how to raise staff and student awareness of academic regulatory frameworks.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Discuss how other institutions explain/promote their academic regulations
– Reflect on success of the approaches taken by their own institution
– Identify one new approach they will take back to their institution

Speakers:
Tracey Horton, Academic Regulations and Policy Manager, University of the West of England, Bristol
Rachael Williams, Senior Collaborative Provision Officer, University of the West of England, Bristol
Becky Smith, Curriculum Enhancement Manager, University of the West of England, Bristol

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Quality

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management

303: Reach for the StAR
Collaboration, consolidation and culture change on a large scale

Leading an engagement-driven review of student administration and a collaborative project to implement its recommendations. The session will outline an approach to improvement and change which is based on communication and collaboration, bringing different perspectives together to add value and encouraging shared ownership of issues and solutions. It will also describe how this approach was used to review student administration services, processes, organisation and people at the University of Hertfordshire.
By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand the engagement-driven approach to change
– Understand the risks, benefits and challenges of adopting the approach
– Understand the application of the approach to a major organisational change project

Speakers:
Sharon Harrison-Barker MAUA, Secretary and Registrar, University of Hertfordshire
Gill Sadler, Head of Planning and Strategic Support, University of Hertfordshire

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

Student engagement, continuation, and attainment are key issues for the HE sector as universities seek to improve student outcomes and meet their ambitions whilst responding rapidly to changing external environments, challenges, and harnessing new opportunities.

In this session I will share findings from Roehampton’s Re-Imagining Attainment for All (RAFA2) project, that looked to address the barriers to student success. My focus will be on characteristics that shape the lived experience of our students, the intersections, and the limitations of “BAME” as a category of identity. By looking at our work on co-production, and working with students as partners, I will show how giving prominence to diverse voices, capturing data beyond what is collated in national datasets and asking students about their aspirations, and the barriers they face, we are better able to improve our systems, processes and provisions to address their needs and gain insight into improving inclusivity, developing sustainable interventions and enhance the student experience and outcomes, through a shared commitment to collaborating for success.

Speakers
Professor Marilyn Holness OBE, Director of Student Engagement, University of Roehampton

Session Format:
Hot Topic

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Equality and diversity | General administration

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

Looking after our own well-being, and supporting colleagues and students has never been more important. In this session, Pete will outline what commonly impacts on well-being at work, what can be done to alleviate some of the challenges and how individuals and teams can work with well-being in mind.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Identify what may impact their own wellbeing
– Know about habits and strategies for managing well-being challenges

Speakers
Pete Quinn, Lead Consultant, AUA Consulting

Session Format:
Individual one hour session

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

In this session, we’ll share and discuss some of the key concerns stakeholders have when considering the transition from paper-based to digital assessment – academic integrity, question types, marking, to name a few – including reflecting on the challenges the pandemic poses, sector-wide consensus on the future of assessment and real-life examples from HE institutions.

The session will be a mix of reflection and discussion, Q&A, and product demonstration, and you will learn from a case study of a HEI whose adoption of digital assessments has helped them go from strength to strength and become UK leaders in the sector.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…

– Understand how the latest developments in Digital Assessment and a competitive HE market is driving student demand for a more transparent and flexible assessment model
– Identify key areas with their institutions’ exam management process that could benefit from a fresh perspective on assessment practices, reduction of bottlenecks/delays, and in turn contribute to decrease levels of workforce and student stress
– Understand how these areas can be realised by exploring a digital assessment flow approach to examination management

Speakers
Niels Qvarfot, Head of Sales, UNIwise Education Solutions Ltd
Craig Wilkinson, UK Business Development Manager, UNIwise Education Solutions Ltd

Session Format:
Individual one-hour session

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Quality | International | Teaching and learning | Registry

This session is aimed at:
Senior management

This session considers AUA’s Study Tour activities in 2019 and 2020, discussing both the tour to Japan (2019) and the Virtual Study Tour (2020). We will reflect on what makes a good experience for Study Tour participants, which destinations should be considered for future tours and how the AUA can provide support. It will be an interactive session where delegates are encouraged to share ideas and thoughts, helping to shape the future of AUA study tours.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Learn more about AUA Study Tours
– Reach a view about whether they would wish to join a Study Tour
– Provide reasons for why a destination should be short-listed

Speakers:
David Law MAUA, Academic Director: Global Partnerships, Keele University

Session Format:
30-minute talk

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
International | Teaching and learning | General administration

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management

Knowing how to identify, respond to and consider mental ill-health in those we manage or work with is important to create workplaces where people can flourish and work together effectively. This session, based on a training session that has been developed and delivered at the University of Oxford, will facilitate discussions around addressing mental ill-health in the workplace. It will take the form of small and whole group discussions, allowing participants to learn and share experiences of the different ways mental ill-health can manifest and be accommodated for in the workplace.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Have a strong understanding of how, and for how many, mental ill-health affects life in the workplace
– Know how to spot the signs of mental ill-health and know where to find further resources to develop their knowledge
– Have many ideas about how to make the workplace better for staff with mental ill-health

Speaker:
Verity Westgate FAUA, Research Coordinator, University of Oxford

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Equality and diversity | General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

403: University Challenge?
Is our professional identity affected when working with academic colleagues?

We have all heard the stereotypical view that professional services and academics cannot work together and have a fractious relationship but how true is this in the current climate? My research focuses on the relationship between academics and professional services and how this may affect our professional identity. I will give an overview of my initial findings and ideas on how relations could be improved.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand how their relationships with academic staff may affect their professional identity
– Look at ways in which the working relationship could be improved

Speaker:
Joanne Caldwell FAUA, CDT Manager, The University of Salford

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Finance | Student services | Governance | Quality | Research | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration | Other

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

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403: Kindfest event case study

Kindfest2020 was the world’s first digital festival for world kindness day. It was organised by a team of volunteers – #teamkind who were mobilised through social media and networking via linkedin. The event aimed to celebrate and inspire kindness and featured 5 ‘tents’ – kinder lives, kindness at work, thinking kindness (academic research on kindness), kinder politics and younger kindfest. Over 6000 tickets were sold to individuals and organisations in 38 countries. Six universities bought ‘kindfest’ passes offering tickets to staff and students. This session will share learnings from Kindfest and plans for Kindfest2021.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Take away lessons from Kindfest2020
– Gain tips and ideas for their own online events
– Know how they can get involved in kindfest2021

Speaker:
Clare Ruby, Event Director, Kindfest

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Events | General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

Political forces and the pandemic have spotlighted policy and practice areas in higher education that are ripe for change; in many cases, crisis has acted as an accelerant for that change. Pressures around access, equity and mobility are likely to remain key themes for the coming years, in the US and globally. How do we capitalize on the challenges of the past year to move the sector forward to create meaningful access and pathways for all learners?

Speakers
Melanie Gottlieb, Deputy Director, ACCRAO

Session Format:
Hot Topic

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

405: Running on goodwill
The value of co-operative relationships at work

Universities are by nature complex, interdependent, highly relational organisations which rely for their success on collaboration, co-operation and goodwill between staff at all levels, academic and non-academic alike. This session will explore how the relationships of professional services staff with their colleagues as customers can affect service quality, and ultimately the performance of the university. The session will share the findings of recent research on this subject, and concepts will be brought to life with real-life examples taken from 50 interviews with university staff in 3 institutions. Interactive exercises will be used to encourage delegates to reflect on their own experiences of developing effective internal working relationships, to share insights and to learn from those of others. Group discussions will explore the characteristics of positive working relationships and the implications for service quality, as well as the long term consequences for internal stakeholders.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Appreciate the importance of internal service quality for the effective operation of a university, and the role of effective collaborative relationships in achieving this
– Reflect on how their own interpersonal relationships with their colleagues contribute to service outcomes and the quality of their contribution in their job role
– Understand the consequences of interpersonal relationship quality for individual and institutional performance

Speaker:
Thea Gibbs MAUA, Director of Operations, Coventry University

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Finance | Legal | Student services | Governance | Events | Quality | Research | Planning | Marketing | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration | Other

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

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405: Sharing shoestrings
Cross-university collaboration as a rapid, efficient, and effective approach to implementing change

Everyone is running a project, but no one has enough time, people or money to do it. This session showcases how a major technical and cultural project can be delivered by focussing on people, relationships, and collaboration through the speakers’ experiences working on a timetable centralising project at the University of Birmingham. This is an example in delivering a major project when you are not a professional project manager, using what you have available, within a tight timescale.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand the difference between Project Management and Change Management
– Understand the key features of (an example of) a successful centralisation project
– List and describe the basic features of a number of stakeholder analysis tools

Speakers:
Gillian Davis, Assistant Director (Timetabling and Examinations), Registry, University of Birmingham
Chloe Hancox, Change Manager, University of Birmingham

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management

This session will examine some of the typical issues and problematics that governance professionals and board members face on a daily basis when managing important and confidential board information. This session will give insight on best practices that will facilitate managing this information in a secure way:
– Managing board meetings
– Storing board information
– Board member access in a digital age

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Identify the different ways of storing board information
– Learn how to mitigate time restraints collating and disseminating board material
– Understand the opportunities to work differently in a digital age

Speakers
Mark Wilson, Regional Sales Director, BoardEffect

Session Format:
Individual one hour session

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Governance

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

Do you know where the balance of trust is in your own university?

This session will cover what trust means, the key trust relationships within institutions and what makes a leader trustworthy. Through discussion with peers, you can make meaning of trust in your own context and what you personally can do to strengthen it.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– understand what constitutes trust in universities
– understand what leaders do that builds trust
– consider their own institution in terms of key trust relationships

Speaker:
Sara Corcoran, Leadership and Management Coach, University of Suffolk
Sophie Lovejoy, Independent Coach and Facilitator

Session Format:
Individual one hour session

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Finance | Legal | Student services | Governance | Events | Quality | Research | Planning | Marketing | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

Following our popular session on ‘defining the profession’ in Manchester at AUA2019, this session looks at the professional career journeys taken in student and academic administration/services (‘the profession’), and how requirements and skills are adapting in response to the changing environment. By understanding how professional careers are shaping, we’ll develop understanding of how to prepare for the future, and have an opportunity for delegates to share their own professional stories to date. The session is a sequel to the one we did last year, but you don’t need to have attended last year’s session to enjoy it!

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Have insight into a range of professional journeys, using examples from across the sector.
– Understand the choices or opportunities that have been taken by others to develop knowledge, skills and behaviours to meet the needs of our profession.
– Understand what knowledge, skills and behaviours they may need to develop to progress their own professional journey.

Speakers:
Susannah Marsden MAUA, Director of Student & Academic Services and Registrar, City, University of London
Hugh Jones FAUA, Senior Consultant, Hugh Jones Consulting

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Governance | Quality | Planning | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

503: How to give students ownership of their student communications

Research shows that the more engaged students are in their learning the more successful they will be. The exact same is true for your student communications strategy. This workshop will give you practical tips to give students real ownership and choice in their communications, so that they are more successful at university.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand why giving students ownership of student communications and information sharing is so powerful in building a vibrant and engaged student community
– Gain an understanding of practical initiatives and examples that are currently being utilised across the UK higher education sector to give students ownership of their student communications
– Create a plan of how they can implement similar initiatives within their own institutions – taking the theory and putting it into practice

Speaker:
David Gilani FAUA, Head of Student Engagement and Advocacy, Middlesex University

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Events | Marketing | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management

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503: Serious student welfare incidents
What does a coordinated, effective and efficient response look like?

How effectively does your institution respond when there is a serious student incident? When there is a case of meningitis or TB, for example, or when a student is arrested for a serious offence such as a sexual assault, how well do all the relevant parts of your institution work together to manage the incident? What happens when a student dies? How effectively does everyone work together to offer support to the student’s family, friends, and the wider student and staff bodies?

In this short practical session, we will reflect on some of these important themes, starting with a quick fictional case study and exploring the components of an effective response. We will also discuss how holding ‘case conferences’ within institutions can make a significant difference to the efficiency and effectiveness of a university’s response to these serious and complex incidents.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand why it is important that universities have protocols in place to manage serious student incidents
– Reflect on how well your own institution is currently performing on managing serious student incidents and spot opportunities to enhance procedures in their own institution
– Take back some practical information to your own institution on how ‘case conferencing’ can ensure that all of the relevant teams are working well together to manage an incident

Speaker:
Levi Pay, Director, Plinth House

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Legal | Student services | Governance | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

Whether you’re conducting traditional paper exams, moving assessments online, or would like to take a hybrid approach, this session will discuss what other Universities and Colleges have achieved over the past 12 months.

While process efficiency around exam management and modern ways to assess students has been a key topic over the past 5-10 years, the global pandemic forced all Universities to re-examine how students were examined and evaluated. Over the past 12 months, the level of innovation, both at an administrative level and in ways of improving the student experience, has been considerable. More innovation has occurred in this area over the past 12 months than over the past 12 decades!
Learn how universities worldwide are now managing their exam processes in a more automated fashion, securely collaborating online with external examiners, automating marking processes, and delivering exams more effectively online.

The results are very tangible, from significant cost savings to faster student feedback and a less stressful workload for those on the front line managing exams and assessments. This session share case studies and experiences where significant benefits have been achieved.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Learn from other Universities and Colleges and how they have improved institutional efficiency and the student experience when managing and conducting exams and assessments.
– Understand the “low hanging fruit” in the area of exam and assessment transformation and improvement.
– How automating exam management and online assessment delivery can benefit both the University and the student, and what this looks like in real life.

Speakers
Piero Tintori, CEO, BetterExaminations

Session Format:
Individual one hour session

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Governance | Quality | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

505: Creating collaborative opportunities to support your professional development
Lessons learned from the AUA PGCert and beyond

Delivered by former PgCert participants and current mentors, this interactive session will cover practical ways in which attendees can create and make effective use of collaborative opportunities to broaden their knowledge and professional networks and enhance their professional practice. Using the AUA PGCert in Higher Education Administration, Management and Leadership as a case study, the session will explore how even in self-directed study or independent working environments, creating valuable collaborations with colleagues can significantly enhance learning and enrich both study and work experience. The session will make reference to some reflective theories as well as offer a practical session in which delegates will create their own action plan. The content will be of benefit to: prospective or current AUA PGCert participants or mentors, those who are new to the HE sector, and team members or managers seeking to enrich or develop their working practices.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Appreciate the benefits of working collaboratively and how collaboration can be used to support a variety of work and study projects
– Draw upon a range of collaborative activities to support their professional development
– Create a personal action plan for how they can identify and create opportunities to collaborate with colleagues to support their professional development

Speakers:
Rachel Lazenby AMAUA, Student Funding Manager, University of Oxford
Nicola Cooper-Harvey MAUA, Head of Student Fees and Funding, University of Oxford
Craig Franklin AMAUA, Administrative Officer (Courses and Modules), University of Warwick

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
General administration | Other

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management

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505: Collaborating to learn from our mistakes

We all make mistakes. At work and in our personal lives, ‘messing up’ is part of what makes us human. Nevertheless, mistakes made in the workplace often lead to anxiety, panic, defensiveness and even a loss of self-worth – often, these things are tied to how we think our colleagues will respond.

This session will explore how, in collaboration with colleagues, we can reframe our mistakes as a chance to learn and build stronger working relationships. Presenters will share a major mistake they have made in their careers, what they gained from it, and what role the responses of their peers played in this learning process. As a group, we will then consider various scenarios, utilising an adaptable framework to collaboratively develop practical strategies that will enable us to tackle and learn from mistakes.

By exploring how we can collectively reframe mistakes as positive learning opportunities, we hope you will leave the session with further understanding of the value and benefits of making mistakes and with increased confidence to manage and share errors when they inevitably do happen in order to foster an environment where mistakes are accepted.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Explain why sharing with others is integral to the process of learning from mistakes
– Apply practical frameworks and tools to reflect on and process their own and others’ mistakes
– Articulate the value of making mistakes to those around them, helping to create a culture where mistakes are accepted

Speakers:
Annika Theilgaard FAUA, Student Engagement Manager, University of Bath
Jenny Medland AMAUA, Executive Officer to Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning & Teaching and Vice-President (Student Experience), University of Bath
Ann-Marie Hartland FAUA, Director of Administration, University of Bath

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Finance | Legal | Student services | Governance | Events | Quality | Research | Planning | Marketing | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management

This session will explore how and why Solent have moved from attendance monitoring to developing a system of learning analytics using SEAtS to support student success. Understanding and monitoring different forms of student engagement help to inform personalised information, advice and guidance offered to students throughout their time at Solent. This session will include a practical activity for you to experience how learning analytics can enhance the quality of support for learning.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand how learning analytics can be used to enhance the quality of student support
– Evaluate the value of learning analytics as a tool to improving student retention and success
– Appreciate the operational process of embedding SEAtS learning analytics into student support processes

Speakers
Alexandra Banks, Deputy Head of Student Experience (Achievement), Solent University
Louise O’Donoghue, Student Achievement Team Leader, Solent University

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Equality and Diversity | Teaching and Learning

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management

601: Anti-oppressive collaboration
Beyond effective dialogue to real change in transnational education

This session focuses on 15 years of collaboration between Queen Mary University and Beijing University of Posts and Telecom, which has a proven record of successful cross-border team communication and interdisciplinary practice, as evidenced in the ongoing evaluation of their three joint undergraduate programmes. Inspired by the work of Paulo Freire to instil common values in order to end oppression, Queen Mary’s professional services team acted as the collaboration champions and in this session one example of their work in this area will be shared in an effort to evoke open-ended exchanges of experiences with the audience.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand the methods used at Queen Mary to interact with and acknowledge the differences with its Chinese partner institutions in ways that add value
– Display an insight into how the Joint Programme team thought outside of the box and found their voices when working in a complex collaboration project
– Constructively articulate the purpose of change, as well as to understand how to communicate upwards in order to influence policy formulation across international and national campuses

Speaker:
Min Song, Joint Programme Assessment and Record Officer, Queen Mary University of London

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Governance | Planning | International

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | Mid-level management | Senior management

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601: AUA USA Study Tour 2019
Collaboration and partnership across institutions and borders

Collaborative work can take many forms. This session will talk about the experience of participating in a high-profile project that delivered both in terms of objectives and experience. In May 2019, a group of 12 AUA members participated in the AUA Study Tour, travelling to the USA to visit HE institutions and other associations in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. The presenter will share the experiences of the Tour group representing the AUA, coming from different roles and institutions, expand on the mechanisms that carried the entire project from conception to fruition, and the collective efforts that made this a success story. The presenter will share the main highlights and feedback, with the opportunity for delegates to ask questions. Delegates should leave this session feeling informed and inspired, maybe even to become involved in AUA activities and Study Tours themselves.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Recognise the benefits of an effective strategy and execution in a high-profile project
– Recognise the benefits of international engagement within the HE context and identify ways to support rewarding partnerships

Speakers:
Sharon Barnes MAUA, Head of Academic Planning, Department of Management, LSE

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Governance | Events | Quality | Research | Planning | Marketing | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management

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601: Blood, sweat, tears and cats
International project management through the lens of Global Entrepreneurial Talent Management 3 (GETM3)

How do you set up and manage a successful international mega-project within an HE setting? In this quick presentation, delegates will be taken through the who, why, what and how of developing and managing an international mega-project using the first-hand experiences of an EU funded Horizon 2020 RISE project, GETM3. The session leaders will present their own experiences and provide a takeaway template/worksheet to allow delegates to think about their own projects and how they would approach them.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand the different stages of a mega-project, from proposal development and building a consortium, through set up stages and on going management techniques
– Develop their own project ‘plan’ using the presenters framework of blood, sweat, tears and cats
– Understand the importance and complexity of collaboration in order for such projects to be a success, and also be able to explore what success looks like

Speakers:
Alison Pearce, Associate Professor Strategic Management & International Business, Project Leader, Global Entrepreneurial Talent Management 3 (Research & Innovation Staff Exchange), Northumbria University
Suzanne Crane MAUA, International Research Project Co-ordinator, Northumbria University

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Research | International

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

602: How to work with a consultant

Universities often bring in consultants when there is a problem which they need to solve. This session – run by someone who has used consultants and is now a consultant – will look at why they do this, how consultancy works, how to get the most out of a consultant if you are thinking of using one, and how to respond if consultancy is happening to you.

This session will cover everything you need to know if you are hiring a consultant, or if you’re having consultancy done to you, and why the arrival of a consultant does not herald the end of the world.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand why universities use consultants, and the consulting process
– Understand how best to work with consultants, if you are the manager who appoints them
– Understand how best to work with consultants if they are working in your university

Speaker:
Hugh Jones FAUA, Senior Consultant, Hugh Jones Consulting

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Governance | Planning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management

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602: When is it time to ask for help?
Successful collaboration between universities and consultants

These challenging times are shouting out for universities to think and act more strategically. But, with limited experience, where should they turn? We explore a case study of a university who has collaborated with a consultant – with positive results! This session will highlight the entire process of using consultants: from identification of need, discussion of parameters, and delivery, and discuss key challenges and opportunities which arose from the working relationship. Facilitated group discussion will then allow attendees to consider how their institution might benefit from such a relationship, in order to increase their resilience in the current HE landscape.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand key challenges and opportunities of collaborating with external support
– Map the key stages in the strategy development process
– Learn from peers across the sector about different experiences in strategy development and implementation

Speakers
Lorna Wilson, Head of Research Development, Research & Innovation Services, Durham University
Jo Edwards, Director, Lucidity Solutions Ltd

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Research | Planning | International | Teaching and learning | General administration | Other

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

603: Thinking global – Collaborating for success
Case Studies from the University of Kent

This session will focus on the power of cross-institutional collaboration in order to realise impactful internationalisation activities which benefit a range of different professional service departments and their shared missions to support internationalisation activity and internationalised student experience. Delegates will be presented with the approach taken by the University of Kent through ‘The Global Officers Leadership Development (GOLD) Programme’ and ‘The Think Kent Global Showcase’ series which capitalise on the sharing of resources and expertise across the institution. After consideration of the models presented at Kent, delegates will have the opportunity to ask questions and consider their own contexts, thinking about similar activities that may already be happening and how the approaches described at Kent could inform their own collaborative project development.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Identify how to maximise the benefits of an international academic community
– Develop strategies to enhance internationalisation at home
– Consider how resources can be used effectively

Speakers:
Emma Marku MAUA, International Partnerships Officer, University of Kent
Tracey Bello, Internationalisation Officer and PA Dean for Internationalisation, University of Kent

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Events | Marketing | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

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603: Many-headed monsters
Cutting through the complexity of multi-institutional partnerships to deliver excellence in doctoral training

This journey through the development and delivery of three very different UKRI-funded Doctoral Training Partnerships will explore the challenges, complexity and benefits of working in partnership to deliver PhD programmes. The insights shared will be drawn from the management of large and smaller-scale programmes across the Arts and Humanities, Biosciences and Environmental Science, as both leader and partner in a consortium, and will include reflections on successful ways of working and lessons learned, as well as practical tips for the development of complex partnerships with HEIs, industry and the creative sector.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand the steps taken to build a multi-institutional Doctoral Training Partnership with strong working relationships and cross-institutional working
– See how working with industry partners, academic supervisors and students enables a DTP to build research communities and deliver innovative training programmes
– Reflect on the skills and behaviours required to manage and administer large, multi-institutional projects

Speakers:
Rachel Van Krimpen AMAUA, Doctoral Training Partnership Manager (BBSRC and NERC), University of Nottingham
Susanna Ison, Midlands4Cities Manager, University of Nottingham

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Governance | Events | Research | Marketing | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management

Thoughts on how University Governance will need to evolve and embrace insight driven decision as OfS moves towards evidence based regulation.
We look at how Boards (Council) have typically functioned and compare this with other sectors. We also consider the proposals OfS has consulted on in relation to regulating quality and standards in higher education governance and what this means in terms of datasets/KPIS. We will touch upon the differences between data based and insight driven decision making and consider what changes will be needed to ensure that HEI governance supports insight driven leadership.

Speakers
Sarah Litchfield, University Secretary and General Counsel, University of Surrey
Mat Cooling, Director of Risk and Assurance, University of Surrey

Session Format:
Hot Topic

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Governance

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

This 60 minute collaborative social session will conclude the conference by giving delegates an opportunity to reflect on their experience and how we might use our new learning and CPD going forward. Participants will all play a fun and interactive AUA Family Fortunes Price is Right Wheel of Fortune Price hybrid gameshow for us to finish, with a prize for the winner.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– reflect on their conference experience
– consider how they might use their learning going forward

Speakers
Michael Monoghan FAUA, Leadership and Development Adviser, LJMU

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior Management

It has been a year of transformation, an ever-changing digital landscape that has impacted the relationship between the student and their institution in many ways. Teaching and Learning delivery at a distance has brought many issues that have been challenging the sector for many years to the surface; social mobility, well-being and equal opportunity to achieve academic success.

In this session, we look towards a new academic year to explore the role of student engagement strategies in a blended model of delivery where fragmentation and diversification will undoubtedly be the norm and every individual learning journey will become more challenging to support, in real-time and at scale.

Using research and StREAM user case study examples we will demonstrate;
– Why engagement is an important measure for progression, whatever the context (blended, physical and online)
– How to use engagement data to gain a better understanding of learners’ behaviour to support wellbeing, progression and course design initiatives across the university
– Disengagement as an early warning sign for struggling or at-risk students in need of support
– Why engagement, used transparently is key to strengthening relationships between students, tutors and supporting services

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Gain an understanding of why engagement matters in all contexts of learning and to all types of learners
– Identify what engagement data points are useful, how this insight can help to make informed decisions about who and when to offer student support and tools that help manage these activities
– How engagement analytics can shape future strategy across the HE landscape

Speakers
Richard Gascoigne, CEO, Solutionpath

Session Format:
Individual one hour session

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Research | Equality and diversity | International | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior Management