Giles Polglase, South Network Coordinator

Giles Polglase has been appointed the new Network Coordinator for the South Region. We asked Giles to share a little bit about himself.

About Giles

I’m Giles Polglase, Regional Network Coordinator for the South of England. I have worked in higher education for over twenty years and I have recently been appointed Director of Faculty Operations for the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences at Canterbury Christchurch University. Previously I was School Administration Manager in the School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA) at the University of Kent and before that, Operations Manager for Kent Business School’s Medway campus. I have extensive experience of higher education administration including research administration (Arts and Humanities Research Board / HEFCE) and academic and staff development at Aberystwyth University.

I am passionate about the transformative power of higher education and believe that student experience should be at the centre of our professional activities. Personal development is an essential attribute for professional service staff in higher education which I why I have volunteered for this role.

From a personal perspective, I hold a BSc (Hons.) in Social Policy (University of Bath) and a Master’s in Business Administration (Aberystwyth University), I am a qualified teacher (University of Strathclyde), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), Chartered Manager (CMgr MCMI) and member Association of University Administrators (MAUA).

Network developments

Vision

My vision reflects the AUA’s objective to, “..advance, and assist in the advancement of education by fostering sound methods of leadership, management and administration in further and higher education by education, training and other means.”

Aims

My aims for the Geographic Network in the South is to build on the strong foundations laid by my predecessor, Linda Lough. I would like invigorate the network, and organise and deliver training and development activities across the region with the intention of increasing membership of the AUA. Given my staff development background I would aim to initially prepare and deliver some sessions myself, with the intention of finding and developing advocates in network institutions to develop their own training and development activities which could be delivered formally or via a VLE for the benefit of members not able to attend.

My targets for 2016/2017 will be:

1. Recruit Advocates for all institutions in the Geographic Network in the South.
2. Recruit a Deputy Regional Coordinator for the Geographic Network in the South
3. To actively retain existing members by undertaking a minimum of five regional events during 2017, at the following locations:

• South & West: based in Winchester or Southampton
• North & West: based in Oxford
• Central: based in Surrey or Reading
• South: based in Brighton or Sussex
• East: based in Canterbury (CCCU or Kent)

4. Proactively recruit new members by ensuring the regional events (3.) are open to all participants, without charge. These events will provide:

• Training and development
• Market AUA membership and benefits
• Improve social aspect of AUA membership

From a personal perspective I will:

1. Achieve and maintain Accredited Membership or Fellowship status

Get involved

Giles is looking to appoint a Deputy Network Coordinator to support activity in the Network. Email auanetworksupport@aua.ac.uk if you would like to hear more.