I’m David Meech Mazumdar, and I am currently the Department Manager for Strategic Planning and Development in LSE’s Department of Management. I’ve been in the role for five years and serve as the professional services lead for a team of approximately 60 staff. I work very closely with the academic lead to ensure that strategic goals are met and that the department is run in a way that optimises the student experience. I’ve been working in higher education for approximately 15 years now…
I’ve known of the AUA (as it was then) for a while. I had a member of staff who was interested in doing the PgCert about seven years ago, particularly because she was interested in the potential pathway to a master’s qualification—so that was the first time I became aware of it. I didn’t really think much about it after that point until I was in my current role and had a couple of colleagues who had also done the PgCert. I felt that the time was right to do something like that myself because I did an undergraduate degree in drama, which I loved, but it wasn’t very vocational. It was still amazing, and it was all I wanted to do when I was younger, but I wanted to pursue something that was linked to my career in the sector.
The PgCert was something that really stood out to me, and I think the fact that there was a clear pathway to a master’s was very appealing, something I ultimately knew I wanted to pursue in order to develop both academically and professionally.
I think what’s great about the PgCert is that it’s entry-level. You’re working with a wide range of people from various types of roles. On the programme, there’s a great mix of senior managers, more junior managers, and other early-career staff. That varied level of experience makes for a really interesting cohort, spanning many disciplines and specialisms across the sector.
How do you apply your learning into your day-to-day work?
You can really apply your learning directly to your work. The HE in Context module has broadened my knowledge of higher education policy and practice, linking management theory to real-world application. In addition, the reflective work involved enabled me to consider aspects of my role that worked well—and not so well—using a range of tools, which has been incredibly valuable. I think the programme really helps you understand the wider HE context, and I now feel like I truly understand the journey that higher education has been on throughout my lifetime. It’s been a significant journey, with considerable changes in recent years, and developing that understanding has enabled me to better adapt to those changes.
On the PgDip, where we explored management and leadership, there were some great theoretical models that we were able to apply to our home institutions. These also fed into considerations for research topics on the MSc. I certainly feel that I’ve developed academically, and at the same time, my day job has developed in parallel through the knowledge I’ve been absorbing across the three courses.
How have you developed professionally and personally following the PgCert?
It’s made me much more rounded in my view of how things work. I feel like I’ve developed a much stronger understanding of the sector, but also, working with academics all the time, I’ve started to understand a bit more about their journey. I’ve learned how challenging it is and how complex it is to conduct research, to analyse data, to write that up, and develop this into your own theory—and the deadlines that go with that. And sometimes we don’t understand that as professional services staff, just as they don’t necessarily understand our work. So that’s been a great bonus on top of broadening my own skillset.
I would say to everyone: consider the PgCert, even if that’s the only thing you’re going to do or you’re not sure whether you want to do the full journey. It’s a really good way to broaden your understanding of the sector, and there is a practical element to it which you can directly apply to most roles within higher education.
What are you looking forward to beyond the PGCert?
The AHEP relaunch, I think, was amazing. I was at the Annual Conference when the relaunch happened, and I think we could all feel a change coming. It’s a very exciting time to be part of that organisation and the HE sector overall. It really does feel like there is a shift among professional services staff, and to have our membership body evolving with us is fantastic.
I’ve really enjoyed being part of that journey, and I really loved how the PgDip wove into the PgCert specifically, as you start to understand what is underpinning the organisation as well. I’m really looking forward to the conference this year, and I have built up a very strong network through the programme, which I’m sure will be beneficial going forward.