AHEP Development Monthly #50
So this is Christmas, and what have you done? A moment to pause, look back, and smile at everything the year has brought. As I sat down to reflect for this article, that familiar song immediately started playing in my head. Change has certainly swept through higher education this year, yet, like the comforting chorus of Christmas classics, some things have stayed reassuringly constant.
So what have we as AHEP done this year? Quite a lot! It’s been a year filled with exciting events, proud milestones, and shared achievements across our community and our organisation.
We kicked off the year by launching AHEP’s MSc in Higher Education Leadership and Development with Nottingham Trent University, a wonderful next step building on the success of our PGCert. We also celebrated the first full year of our new institutional partnerships, marking another significant stride in our growth.
Our SIGs brought some fantastic events to us all, including sharp and timely discussions on governance, a topic that looks set to stay high on the sector’s agenda for years to come. The Policy SIG stepped forward with its first events, including giving us all valuable insight into the recent White Paper.
My personal favourite, though, was Japanese HE Unpacked. The session offered a fascinating overview of Japan’s higher education system and reminded us that HE professionals around the world often face similar challenges. It was a refreshing chance to look beyond our own sector and find new perspectives to bring home.
Artificial Intelligence has been both a force for change and a familiar companion in discourse in our sector. Change can feel challenging during a turbulent year, and the sector has seen a lot of it. Throughout 2025, members joined many insightful sessions exploring the impact of AI, discovering ways to harness it for good, and how to tackle some of the challenges it brings.
There are many constants to be celebrated when we look back over 2025. The high point of summer was, of course, the Annual Conference in Glasgow. We came together to reflect on what it means to keep higher education sustainable in every sense. The warm welcome from GCU, and the city itself, made the experience even more memorable, and it was a joy to celebrate the UK-ness of these discussions alongside the distinct contributions of the Scottish contingent of both our organisation and our wider sector.
Sustainability will stay at the heart of the sector’s conversations as we move forward. Even with the slight financial reprieve from the tuition fee rise, the turbulence we’ve felt this year is likely to continue. Many of us work in institutions where courses are being cut, resources are stretched, and some colleagues are facing redundancy.
In these difficult moments, AHEP steps up to support our community. We are introducing our new AHEP Bridge Membership, a unique offer in the sector, to help members navigating redundancy, restructuring, or financial hardship. The Bridge Membership gives you access to full ‘member’ level benefits for three months at no cost, helping you stay connected and supported during a challenging period.
As the end of those three months approaches, we’ll reach out to see how you’re doing and talk through the membership options available. Our aim is simple: to support our members in whatever way best fits their journey. Whether you’re exploring new opportunities or staying connected while you find your footing, the Bridge Membership offers resources, networks, and a community ready to uplift you.
The AHEP community is one constant in turbulent times. No matter which institution you work in, where in the country you are, or the point in your HE professional career, AHEP is there year in, year out with supportive networks and development to navigate that turbulence and help you to grow and flourish as a professional in the sector.
Collaboration continues to shine as an AHEP superpower. This theme took centre stage at our recent annual lecture, where QAA CEO Vicki Stott encouraged us to think boldly about how we can collaborate across the sector. Our SIGs and wider networks can come together to tackle sector challenges.
What will 2026 bring? I’m sure the new year holds plenty of challenges we haven’t yet glimpsed on the horizon, but it also promises moments I’m already excited about. There are a few key events on the calendar that I think will be real highlights, designed to be accessible for members juggling busy schedules and commitments.
Later in the year, there’s also something entirely new in the mix, a one-day gathering in collaboration with AHUA. It’s a first for both organisations and promises to be a fantastic opportunity to connect, share ideas, and experience insights from some inspiring speakers, more details will be revealed soon.
And as we wrap up the year, let’s not keep AHEP as a well-kept sector secret. Christmas is a season for sharing, after all. Encourage your colleagues to join us, and if they’re choosing a New Year’s resolution for their career to brighten their 2026, an AHEP membership makes a wonderful gift to themselves.
I remain blown away by the great contributions by AHEP members to the organisation and the wider sector discourse, and a big thank you to all AHEP volunteers for your time and dedication this year. We wouldn’t be the brilliant organisation we are without you, and you all deserve a hard-earned break.
And so, Happy Christmas, I hope you have fun.
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