Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

CCTV camera

Making campus safety more efficient

A government code regulating CCTV stimulated Aston University to take a fresh look at their surveillance technology. Mark Sutton explains how complying with the surveillance commissioner's code has resulted in efficiencies and savings.

We are lean, with a twist

Lean seeks to "design out" overburden, inconsistency, and waste in operational processes, but in higher education it is not a rigid concept. The University of Strathclyde embraces lean's respect for people and continuous improvement ethos, but with an added emphasis on data and evidence, as Heather Lawrence explains.
University College Dublin is trialling lean

UCD Agile: the start of a continuous improvement journey

University College Dublin (UCD) is seeking to weave continuous improvement into the fabric of the university. Its director of agile, Michael Sinnott explains the university’s approach.
Sandra Heidinger, Director, Human Resources, University of Strathclyde

Sandra Heidinger: Measuring up at Strathclyde

With a clutch of awards for its business process improvement work, the University of Strathclyde’s achievements are getting UK-wide recognition. The university’s HR director Sandra Heidinger talks to Rosie Niven about how empowering staff is the key to organisational success.

Share your views on process improvement capability in higher education

Two authors collaborating on a Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) guide to Establishing Process Improvement Capability in Higher Education have launched a survey to gather data for the project. Rachel McAssey and Steve Yorkstone, who are producing the guide as part of the UCISA Project and Change Management Group's work, are inviting colleagues to take part and will be seeking more contributions later in the project.

Is the diversity of terminology used by HE change practitioners diluting our shared goals?

A sector-wide survey was launched in April by the University of Strathclyde's Business Improvement Team to capture feedback on how its Guide to Evidencing the Benefits of Business Process Improvement in Higher Education has enhanced their delivery of change initiatives and how the guide could be improved. Nicola Cairns shares her insight into some of the survey findings.

How you can engage people to evidence the benefits of business improvement projects

Following the launch of last year's guide to evidencing business improvement, the University of Strathclyde's business improvement team are now testing out a business exploration map tool. Nicola Cairns' blog explores how people can be engaged to ensure that the potential benefits that they have identified fully demonstrate the impact of their project.

5 May: Design for Education | Service Design Basics, Lancaster

This one-day workshop will show participants how to develop and deliver great services through a design-led approach. This puts students, staff and stakeholders at the heart of delivery helping practitioners to learn new ways to find solutions to problems that impact their institution.

Evidencing the benefits of business process improvement – what do you think?

Following the success of its guide to evidencing the benefits of business process improvement projects in higher education, the University of Strathclyde wants to develop the guide to make it even better. In this blogpost, Dr Nicola Cairns introduces a survey that will help to make the guide a valuable tool for use across the sector.
gignerbread men

Using service design techniques to map the student journey

Some universities are attempting to map the student journey in order to better understand the student experience. In this blogpost consultant Jean Mutton explains how service design techniques can help to develop a deeper understanding about what is driving students.