In this session we welcomed first time visitors to the AUA conference. This was an ideal opportunity to network with other newcomers, see what’s in store for the two days, and find out how to get the most out of the conference.

1. Newcomers
Session
AUA Conference
Manchester 2017
Kathy Fowler &
Sam Bayley

2. Welcome
You and the AUA
Your Profession &
Career
AUA Conference
AUANewcomersSession

3. Kathy
Fowler
AUANewcomersSession
Welcome!
Sam Bayley
Deputy Executive Director, Aberdeen
University
Chair of the AUA Board of Trustees
Department Manager, University of
York
AUA Trustee & Network Coordinator

4. 12:45- 13:00 You and the AUA
13:00- 13:45 You and your profession & your career
13:35-14:00 How to get the most out of the conference
Programme
Overview
AUANewcomersSession

5. 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
Aims
This session willhelp you to:
AUANewcomersSession

6. Youand the AUA

7. 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.
You and the AUA
Activity 1
AUANewcomersSession

8. Around 3,500 members (AUA on twitter now has over 2,813
followers)
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 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
What is the AUA?
AUANewcomersSession

9. Whatis the AUA?
AUANewcomersSession
Charitable Object:
“The Object of the Association is toadvanceandassistinthe
furtheringofeducation by fostering sound methods of leadership,
management and administration in further and higher education by
education, training, and other means.”

10. Whatis the AUA?
AUANewcomersSession
Overview
Board of
Trustees
Board of Studies
Geographic
Networks
Themed
Networks
Members AUA staff

11. Scotland
Ireland
Yorkshire & North East
North Wales & North West
Midlands
South Wales & South West
South
Anglia & London
Whatis the AUA?
Geographic Networks
AUANewcomersSession

12. Whatis the AUA?
ThemedNetworks
AUANewcomersSession
Applicant Experience (with SPA)
Departmental Administrators
Equality and Diversity International HE
Managing ChangeinHE
Organisational Development
Quality Practitioners
Partnerships
Finance
Private Providers
HEin FE

13. 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 standards of fair, ethical and transparent
professional behaviour.
Your commitment – AUA
valuesAUAmembers areindividually and collectively committed to:
AUANewcomersSession

14. For professional development
To keep yourself informed
To network with colleagues (geographically and
thematically)
To share (as well as learn) from good practice
To develop the profession
Events, themed networks, publications: Perspectives, PG
Certificate, Newslink, Good Practice Guides, and much
more…
Why Join?
Why Stay in the AUA?
AUANewcomersSession

15. AUAMember Progression
AUANewcomersSession
Member
• MAUA
• Workconnectedwith
highereducationin the
UK orIreland
AccreditedMember
• AMAUA
• Level 4 Qualification
• 25 hours CPDin 2 years
• Reflective statement
• 1 reference
• Lasts for5 years
Fellow
• FAUA
• Level 4 Qualification
• 30 hours CPDin 3 years
• Reflective statement
• Development ofothers
• 2 references
• Lasts for5 years

16. Youand your
profession

17. 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!
You and your profession
Activity 1
AUANewcomersSession

18. Are you professional in your work?
Are you a professional?
Are you part of a global profession?
Did you select this profession by choice?
What collective term for professional staff do you
identify with?
* Adapted from an exercise devised by Dr Kenton Lewis
You and your profession
Straw Poll
AUANewcomersSession
Simple show of hands*

19. Are you contributing to the core academic purposes
of your institution in your work?
-Student learning outcomes?
-Research?
-Other?
You and your profession
Straw Poll 2
AUANewcomersSession
Learningand
teaching
Engagement and
Service
Research and
Innovation

20. Wider recognitionof HE Administrationas acareer
AUANewcomersSession
Before
Few of us ever plan to be a
University administrator….

21. Wider recognitionof HE Administrationas acareer
AUANewcomersSession
After
…sowhat does that mean in
terms of professional
identity?

22. CareerPathways
AUANewcomersSession
Research and
Innovation
Academic
Management
Specialist
Profession
Eg: finance,estates,
technical,HR,
marketing
Eg: student
administration,
secretariat,
faculty/school/
department
management
Eg: programme directors,headsof
department,associatedeans,pro-
vice-chancellors
AUA CPD Framework:http://www.aua.ac.uk/LGM/careerpathwaysfinal.pdf
Seealso Whitchurch,C. (2008).Professional ManagersinUKHigherEducation:
PreparingforComplexFuturesFinalReport. ResearchandDevelopmentSeries.
London: Leadership FoundationforHigherEducation

23. Is there a case for higher education as a
profession?
Is there a need to promote higher education
administration as a career of choice?
Should we / do we attract and retain our
graduates?
Are there concrete career pathways and routes?
What are the issues around specialist roles versus
generalist roles?
Key discussion topics
AUANewcomersSession

24. Youand yourcareer

25. Commitment to CPD, skills
development and training
(AUA, leadership programmes
and internal/external events
and conferences)
Engagement with the wider
agendas in the sector
Collaboration, Partnership and
Networking
You and your career
Career Preparation- key aspects to help support progression
AUANewcomersSession
Constructive engagement
with academic staff
Always be student focused
and remember the purpose of
higher education
Embracing change and
continuous improvement
Reflect on performance

26. Online personal development planning
tool (PDP)
CPD activity diary
Personal development record
These tools enable you to detail your
current and developing role and overall
future objectives.
Where to begin?
As anAUA Member, youwill haveaccess toour :
AUANewcomersSession

27. CPD Framework
AUANewcomersSession
Focuson the
hownot the
what

28. 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.
Professional Knowledge
AUANewcomersSession

29. Decide what is important (career progression vs. home life
– you can switch!)
What qualifications and skills do you need to progress in
your career?
Skills development is important (should also seek
opportunities to manage staff)
Good to have an “eye for talent”
Must be approachable a good communicator and able to be
build successful staff teams
Your Approach?
AUANewcomersSession

30. Embrace change
Networking (professional associations and bodies,
staff from other universities/external
agencies/companies – internal and external
relationships may help you to progress!)
Take responsibility (for projects, initiatives for
example)
Delegation is the key to survival (with accountability
– you cannot do it all on your own! Avoid burn out!)
Your Approach 2
AUANewcomersSession

31. Learningand Development Activities
AUANewcomersSession
• 360° feedback
• Action learning
• Coaching
• Committee
membership
• Conferences
• Contributing to
consultation and
feedback
• Delegation
• Distance learning
• E-learning
• Job rotation/Job swaps
• Mentoring
• Peer review/support
• Policy development
• Presentations
• Project team
membership
• Secondments
• Shadowing
• Visits
• Workshops
• Writing reports, articles
• Networking groups
• Volunteering
• Peer review/support
• Policy development
• Presentations
• Project team
membership
• Secondments
• Shadowing
• Visits
• Workshops
• Writing reports,
articles
• Networking groups
• Volunteering

32. Youand the conference

33. Youandthe conference
AUANewcomersSession
What made you come to the conference?
What areyourpersonal goals for the nexttwo days?
How will you ensureyou meet these goals?
How will you apply this learning back at work?

34. Networking
AUANewcomersSession
Usethe list of attendees
Seta target of meeting 2 new peoplein everybreak
Use”Meet the Networks” and”Meet the Trustees”
for introductions toothers
Ask focused, meaningful questions
Enjoythe moment andmake new friends!
Usesocial media
Follow up!
What’s specialabout you, your team or institution?
Everybody’shuman (and most are nice) –don’t be
starstruck!
Usethe time when you arrive at sessions to
introduce yourself
Stayoff your tech - the emails can wait!

35. Networking
Practice:
AUANewcomersSession
You havefive minutes to find
three people in the room you
haven’t metbefore – and
network!

36. Any questions?
AUANewcomersSession

37. www.aua.ac.uk
Email:
aua@aua.ac.uk
0161 275 8065