AHEP’s consultants specialise in enhancing the student journey within higher education institutions, focusing on various aspects to create a more enriching and supportive experience.
Which areas can our consultants help you with?
Reviews of PS functions related to these areas (typically: Admissions, Registry, Student Services, Student Experience, Quality, Access and Participation)
Interface and organisation between centre/faculty/school
Supporting excellence in student experience/NSS outcomes
Developing student support services
Systems and process support
Academic planning
Student number planning
Academic elements of OfS conditions, and DAPS/TEF
Case Study:
Middlesex University – Introducing streamlining and workflow into course approval procedures
Read more…
We worked with Middlesex University to develop a workflow solution for its course/programme approval and closure processes, incorporating streamlining and process enhancement, aligned to the University’s revised governance approval mechanisms.
A client-centred approach including close liaison with the University throughout, and direct consultant input on campus.
A flexible project timeline to suit the University’s requirements within the pattern of the academic cycle.
An interim options report to support institutional decision-making.
“Thank you again for all your work on this project – the forms and process look in good shape. It’s been a pleasure to work with you – we could never have carved out the time to produce what you have.”
Meet the Consultants Specialising in Student and Academic Journey:
Tim Cobbett
About Tim
Tim has worked in registry and/or planning roles across six HEIs, along with a 3-year spell working as a UUK Policy Adviser. He went freelance as an interim manager and consultant in 2015, focussing on consulting from 2017. His consultancy work has covered a range of specialist areas including: student systems and databases; administrative processes; data management; admissions; metrics and reporting; student dispute management; and academic governance.
Alison Levey
About Alison
Alison has worked as a senior manager in HE for nearly 20 years and has considerable experience in change management and strategic development, covering both pre- and post-1992 sectors. She has specialist expertise in line-managing across multi-site campuses and working with non-standard student populations such as part-time, mature adult learners and bespoke commissioned programmes for both public and private sectors.
Andrew West
About Andrew
Andrew is former University Secretary at the University of Sheffield. His career in Higher Education spans 30 years, including 11 years leading student-related services encompassing student recruitment and admissions, academic services and learning and teaching support, registry and student administration, careers and employability, and a broad range of student support and well being services.
A former Chair of AMOSSHE, The Student Services Organisation, and former Vice-Chair of AHEP, Andrew has provided advice and consultancy at a wide range of institutions in all parts of the UK, across all mission groups. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Leeds Beckett University, where he also chairs the governance committee. formerly an Associate of Advance HE, he is now also a volunteer management consultant with the Cranfield Trust.
Joanne Tallentrine
About Joanne
Joanne has held senior roles leading Registry and Admissions functions for over 25 years, working both within Academic Secretariat and Marketing and Communications directorates. She has experience of leading cross-functional teams to deliver major change focused on service improvements for students and staff, and delivering institutional strategic objectives through enhanced governance, systems and processes within large-scale operational functions. In a varied career, Joanne has developed expertise in institutional governance, academic policies and regulations, quality assurance, student records, compliance and student casework.
A short spell working as UCAS Senior Relationship Manager for the South of England (and the London region in particular) broadened Joanne’s specialist knowledge of HE admissions to encompass the perspective of schools and colleges, an area she continues to engage with in her role as a Governor at The Sixth Form College, Colchester. Joanne has a particular interest in the student journey, the experience of students from their first point of contact with HE as prospects through to graduation and alumni status, and the ways in which HE professional services in central and departmental roles work in partnership to provide a high quality student experience.
Catherine Cobbett
About Catherine
Catherine has worked in Higher Education administration for over 33 years culminating in the role of Academic Registrar at Leeds Trinity University with intervening Faculty Quality and Registrar roles at Leeds Metropolitan University. Most of her career has been in leadership and management roles having responsibility for all areas of student academic administration, quality assurance and standards, regulatory frameworks and academic governance. Catherine specialises in process design and review, always with a view that policies and procedures are geared to aid quality assurance and enhancement; and she loves looking at academic regulations!
During the course of her career Catherine was an active member of QAA engaged in Institutional Audit, Review and Degree Awarding Powers and likewise a member of AUA (previous inception of AHEP) and particularly enjoyed acting as mentor for participants on its CPD award ‘Certificate in Higher Education and Leadership’. Catherine is also a School Governor for a Primary School with special interest in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability).
Pete Quinn
About Pete
Pete’s focus is on devising realistic strategic and operational approaches in ever-evolving and challenging circumstances. He does this with people throughout organisations whether this be Senior management, faculty, professional support or student support practitioners as well as outreach and marketing teams. Pete is a certified Coach and Mentor with the Chartered Management Institute.
David Law
About David
During a career that has combined academic roles and administration/management, David has worked at five universities in the UK and spent a research sabbatical at Harvard. His particular area of expertise is strategic planning, particularly in international operations and partnerships. He was Academic Registrar at the Universities of Warwick and Hull and a PVC at Edge Hill University. Following (what was meant to be) retirement, David directed the Confucius Institute at Edge Hill for two years. He is also heavily involved in AHEP and is currently Principal Editor of Perspectives the AHEP journal.
A former Chair of AMOSSHE, The Student Services Organisation, Andrew has provided advice and consultancy at a wide range of institutions in England, Wales and Scotland, across all mission groups. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Leeds Beckett University, an Associate of Advance HE and a Halpin Consulting Fellow.
Vikki Goddard
About Vikki
Vikki Goddard became an independent consultant for the sector recently, having worked in Higher Education for almost thirty years, including as a Registrar and Chief Operating Officer, Director of Strategic Planning, and Director of Faculty Operations. Her last role was as Director of Operations for the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester, having previously held the same role in the Faculty of Humanities. She was responsible for the provision and performance of all Professional Services in the Faculties. Her previous roles include Registrar and COO at the University of Salford, and Director of Planning at the University of Liverpool. She is passionate about enabling people to achieve their potential, and has a particular commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
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