Please tell me about your role and remit at your university?
I lead the Operations team in Academic Partnerships. Collectively, we have validated 30 partners to deliver university awards. Many of our partners are further education colleges and universities in the region, while others are based elsewhere in the UK and some are even further afield in Hong Kong, Singapore, Greece and Sri Lanka for instance. Most are colleges or universities, which can provide students with an opportunity to study for one of our accredited courses, closer to home.
Please could you tell me about your career to date and how you came to work in higher education?
I started my career working as a legal secretary for a local firm of solicitors. After four years, I moved into an administration role at a nearby college, before pursuing a role in the management department. After four and a half years in this role, I moved on to the University of Plymouth to manage a European Social Fund (ESF) project. I carried out various roles at the University, primarily managing external funding projects. In 2006 I changed roles and became the Head of Faculty Administration for the University of Plymouth Colleges Faculty. Academic Partnerships, which is the department that I’m in now, was formed in 2012, following a university restructure. My role and remit widened as all university partnerships were brought under one department for governance reasons.
Would you say your job is rewarding?
Yes, that’s certainly the case. My job is rewarding and the University of Plymouth is a great place to work. I’ve worked at the University now for 22 years and undertaken several roles in that time. Many of our students are from widening participation areas and most of our international students studying through Transnational Educational Partners would not be able to travel to study in the UK. Within those partnerships, we have over 8,500 students, which would not be possible without our validation and partnership arrangements. That said, higher education is not without its challenges. Take the COVID-19 outbreak for instance, our staff have come together to try and limit the negative impact it will have on our students around the world.
Please could you highlight the standout development opportunities you’ve had and what did this mean to you?
The University would not be who it is, if it didn’t encourage staff to develop. I have been able to undertake a post-graduate qualification while working here, which enabled me to study for a master’s in management back in 2001/02. Training and conference attendance is also widely supported, and I encourage staff to undertake development opportunities or qualifications, as this helps to support the knowledge and experience that they’re gaining through their work. I also take great pride in seeing staff progress and being promoted into new roles, I believe because the University is a large employer, you have a good opportunity to progress your career. There are lots of opportunities in higher education and there are lots and lots of ways of enhancing your career.
How do you think working in higher education compares to working in a commercial environment?
From my experience the challenges are very different. The work in higher education isn’t just about your role or day-to-day job but about the whole ethos and purpose of higher education for everyone. We always strive to do the best for our students in relation to the quality of the teaching, their overall student experience and continually improving these for students in the future. Watching students at graduation events is very fulfilling and satisfying. I only worked in the commercial section for the first four years of my career, so it’s a long time ago now, but when I talk about my role and the work in our department for students off campus, people are always amazed and very interested.
Please could you tell me about your experience of the University’s facilities, wellbeing and social opportunities?
Staff at all levels generally have the opportunity to work with one another across the University, whether it’s working with their equivalent colleagues in other faculties and departments, or volunteering for a particular subject, such as; GDPR, health and safety, local improvement projects etc. This helps staff to take part in a new project and contribute to university-wide developments. In terms of wellbeing, the University offers a good holiday and pension scheme. As individuals, we take part in a lot of fund-raising events to raise money for great causes. The University has lots of HR and wellbeing support too, such as policies to help staff who might have caring responsibilities or absence or health issues. It is a supportive place to work and there are lots of mechanisms in place to enable staff to have that work/life balance as well. There are lots of social clubs available for both staff and students too.
What has been your career highlight whilst working in higher education and why?
Having worked at the University for 22 years, it’s hard to pinpoint one highlight, but the first would be when I managed the ESF partnership. The project outcomes and finances were very closely audited, and while the audit was set to last for three days, it was completed in half a day due to the processes and accuracy of my work. Also, securing the role in Academic Partnerships was a highlight for me, as I moved to a senior management role from an administration role. Later in this role, I was able to restructure our operations to make the service delivery more effective, which was very satisfying, and it’s still working well today.
I also feel a sense of achievement when witnessing success in others. For example, a member of my team has recently left our department to undertake a senior position in the University’s registry team. She is now playing an instrumental role in our COVID-19 academic regulations and planning. Having supported and mentored her throughout her career, it gives me great delight to witness her success. I’ve been fortunate to experience so many highlights in my career, and watch many others succeed too.
What are your tips for those considering a career in professional services at a university?
Work hard, gain as much knowledge and experience as you can. Look for opportunities to get you to where you want to be, there are lots of opportunities to help you move within a university and enhance your knowledge. Sometimes you might need to risks, along with a number of colleagues I joined the University on a temporary contract, but now I have been here for 22 years.
This interview was conducted before the Coronavirus Pandemic. Working arrangements on university campuses may have changed due to social distancing measures.