Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

A SCD workshop at the University of Warwick

Simplify, collaborate, deliver at Warwick

Solving problems doesn't always have to be a job for the bosses. Darren Wallis explains what has been achieved at the University of Warwick by empowering staff to identify and implement solutions directly.

Change management

A guide providing evidence-based research from projects involving large-scale change, focusing on: organisational efficiency, the student experience, business and community engagement and environmental performance.
Leadership Foundation logo

Leadership Foundation to fund projects that support workforce change

The Leadership Foundation is pleased to invite proposals from member institutions for funding for projects to support the Workforce change, processes and practices workstream of the second phase of the Diamond programme (Diamond 2.0) to improve efficiency and effectiveness in higher education.

Developing the next generation of researchers and academics

When developing guidance on good practice to inform staff development, Brunel University asked academic and research leaders to reflect on their own experiences early on in their career. As part of a series of posts by the nine ITF-funded projects, Fiona Denney explains the work.

How to create a lean team

Institutions implementing a lean strategy need to think carefully about who will support it. The University of Sheffield’s Rachel McAssey explains some of the elements that make up a successful lean team.

Fitter for the future

Think human resource efficiency is all about redundancies? Think again. In this post, UCEA's Laurence Hopkins explores a range of ways in which Higher Education institutions are increasing organisational efficiency and effectiveness through their human resources policies.
The Aber-Bangor Strategic Alliance team

People, process and performance – a model for change in HE?

A project to bring the questions of people and performance together with lean methodologies has been developed by the Aber-Bangor Strategic Alliance with funding from the Innovation and Transformation Fund (ITF). The Alliance’s Chris Drew provides the first in a series of posts by the nine ITF-funded projects.
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.
Participants in the first NEUPC CIPS induction (pic credit: NEUPC)

How can we tackle procurement skills shortages in higher education?

The higher education sector is facing difficulties in finding and recruiting procurement professionals with the right skills. NEUPC’s CEO Frank Rowell talks about how the consortium is addressing the issue.

Donna Kendall: striving for success, the Coventry way

Coventry University has been one of the star performers in recent university ranking tables. The university’s pro vice chancellor for strategic development, Donna Kendall, tells Rosie Niven the role she plays in building on this success for the future.