Appointing PVCs: are universities getting maximum bang for their buck?
A desire to bring in fresh blood is encouraging universities to turn to executive search agencies for Pro Vice Chancellors. But Sue Shepherd argues that this is neither a good use of resources, nor effective in achieving the ambition of reaching the widest possible pool of candidates.
Leading the efficiency agenda
When change is on the agenda, leadership is important. Alison Johns explains how the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education is helping the sector’s leaders to rise to the many challenges thrown up by the efficiency agenda.
Making data work harder for both academic and HR staff
When the University of Bath introduced its new research information system in 2012, the aim was to ease the burden on academics and to make it easier to reuse data. Katy McKen explains how research managers teamed up with HR to create a system that they discovered had many possibilities.
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.
Want your staff to stay? Make training a priority
Giving workers the tools to do their jobs to the best of their ability can result in a more motivated and productive workforce, lead to improved retention and reduce the need for costly recruitment procedures, a guide produced by the Association of Accounting Technicians says. The guide gives a snapshot of the state of training in the UK and offers advice for employers considering their training needs.
Introducing some calm into clearing
In one of the craziest weeks in the academic calendar, Rosie Niven talks to higher education professionals involved in the clearing process to discover efficient ways of coping with the increased pressure.
Technology-enhanced learning for efficiencies and enhancement
Technology is helping to make the staff / student relationship more productive. Sarah Davies of Jisc reports on how universities are embracing technology to improve learning and teaching, with the help of students.
Projects fit for purpose: delivering more with less in the public sector
A recent report has investigated what makes successful project management in the public sector. John Lakin, one of the researchers for the report, comments on the lessons for higher education.
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.
Academic Career Frameworks: making the change
Bournemouth University’s new career frameworks for academics are the subject of a longitudinal study funded by the Innovation and Transformation Fund. In this blogpost Matthew Bennett highlights some of the learning gathered to date.
