aua newcomers session

promoting excellence in HE management

Newcomers Session, 2 April 2012

Annual ConferenceManchester 2012

Introductions

Matthew Andrews

Academic Registrar Oxford Brookes

University

Vice-Chair of the AUA

Christine Child

Head of the Student Services Centre

London School of Economics

Member of the Board of Trustees

Programme for the session

You and the AUA

You and your career

The future for the profession

The aims of the session

This session will help you to:

Understand key elements and benefits of the AUA

Make the most of your membership

Think about how AUA can help to advance your career

Play your part in a developing profession

You and the AUAMatthew Andrews



Why have you joined the AUA?

Quick task!

Talk to you neighbour and find out why they joined the AUA.

Have they joined for the same reason(s) you have?

What do you hope to gain from your membership? We’ll ask you to share your ideas in a few

minutes.

What is the AUA?

Around 3,500 members Covers the UK and Ireland Present in most UK universities and HE colleges

as well as in key decision-making bodies in HE Originally formed in 1961, but the current

incarnation dates from 1993 with merger of the Conference of University Administrators (CUA) and Association of Polytechnic Administrators (APA)

Run by and for its members Elected Board of Trustees

Charitable Objective

“The Object of the Association is 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.”

Your Commitment

AUA members are individually and collectively committed to: The continuous development of their own and

others’ professional knowledge, skills and practices

Actively championing equality of educational and professional opportunity

The advancement of higher education through the robust application of professional knowledge, skills and practices

The highest standard of fair, ethical and transparent professional behaviour.

Why join (and stay) in the AUA (1)

For professional development To keep yourself informed To share good practice To develop the profession


Publications: Perspectives, Newslink, Good Practice Guides, and more…


Networking opportunities through Annual conference Regional conferences activities Annual lecture Institutional activities Training courses and mini conferences

Electronic networking ensures contact with your colleagues, sharing information and expertise

Twitter, Linkedin, Google+

https://twitter.com/The_AUA

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3069016&trk=hb_side_g


Themed Networks (Special Interest Groups) Special Interest Groups Applicant Experience Departmental

Administrators Equality and Diversity International Higher

Education Managing Change Organisational

Development Partnerships Planners Quality Practitioners Space Management


International opportunities Study Tours Travel Awards IHEN Seminars

Partner Associations AACRAO (USA) AAUA (USA) ACHEA (Caribbean) ANUPA (Nigeria) ARUCC (Canada) ATEM (Australia and New

Zealand) CAUBO (Canada)

GAUA (Ghana) JAUM (Japan) HEFAF (South Africa)


To play a part in developing the profession The AUA is not an end in itself

Progressive Membership Levels

Current

MAUA

FAUA

Proposed

MAUA

AAUA

FAUA

members.aua.ac.uk

http://members.aua.ac.uk/

You and your careerChristine Child



Career preparation

Quick task!

Did you chose your career or did you fall into it? Talk to you neighbour again and discuss those

areas where you would like to prepare yourself for future career opportunities: these areas could be behaviours or knowledge.

How can the AUA help you prepare? Be prepared to share in five minutes time!

Career Pathways

AUA CPD Framework: http://www.aua.ac.uk/LGM/careerpathwaysfinal.pdf

See also Whitchurch, C. (2008). Professional Managers in UK Higher Education: Preparing for Complex Futures Final Report. Research and Development Series. London: Leadership Foundation for Higher Education

(2008). Professional Managers in UK Higher Education: Preparing for Complex Futures Final Report . Research and Development Series. London: Leadership Foundation for Higher Education

Is there such a thing as a planned career?

A career is like crazy paving Planned happenstance – preparing for the

opportunities you don’t yet know about Being prepared to take opportunities Don’t expect always to have linear progression Constantly plan and be prepared to change your

plan Hard work will always help… The hardest workers seem to get the most ‘luck’! It’s more about career preparation than career

planning

Professional Behaviours

Professional Knowledge

• What do you need to know to do your job?• Where do you get that information?• The AUA can be especially valuable in a context

where knowledge is not necessarily easy to come by.

The future for the professionMatthew Andrews



What are the pre-conditions for creating a profession?

The self-esteem of a defined occupational group The creation of an organisation or association to

promote the interests of that group The definition of members of that group through

‘entry criteria’ (inter alia) The maintenance of order in the profession The development of individuals in the profession The assertion of authority from Government

(maybe) The acquisition of status (at some point, to some

extent)

The current climate for professionalisation

For• The AUA• Massification • Complexity of HE• You

Against• Specialist roles• Lack of clear knowledge

base• Disunity between roles• Lack of clear incentive• Academic suspicion

Do we want to be a profession?

A ‘profession’ could mean:

A euphemism for ‘doing a good job’ Attaining the status of a formal profession

Professional Status

Quick task!

Do you think you work in a profession? Would you think it advantageous to be employed

in a recognised professional role? What changes to your working practices would

you be willing to accept to become part of a profession?

Have we answered your questions?



More information at www.aua.ac.uk

Or call 0161 275 2063



http://www.aua.ac.uk/