University administration?

[eastwest]

So I've been looking around for a new career, and to cut a long story short, am interested in going into university administration. I would be starting at the bottom but have relevant work experience so hopefully would be able to progress. I have looked at some websites such as AUA to get an idea of what's involved, but there's not much detail. Just wondering if anyone has worked in this field and knows

• what the career opportunities & prospects are like
  
• what the day to day work is like once you progress a bit (I know it is very varied, but...)
  
• how best to move up and on from admin assistant
  
• what sort of qualifications you'd need to really move forward (MBA? I have a first degree and MA)
  

Thanks!

[NoodleNuts]

I'm a University Administrator so may be able to answer some of your questions.

-Career opportunities are quite good, jobs of all grades come around quite frequently in different parts of the Uni so there are plenty to apply for.

• Not sure what you mean by what the day to day work is like once you progress a bit
  

• To move on from an admin assistant you just need to get on with your work, maybe assist your colleagues to get experience in other areas and then apply for higher grade positions when they come up!
  

-I don't think an MBA is really needed, I don't have a degree but have plenty of experience so could apply for higher positions if I wanted to. My previous line manager has recently moved to a different University as School Business Manager and she doesn't have an MBA, just a degree.

[eastwest]

Thanks, that's really useful! Sorry about the vague question about progress/ daily work. I just meant that I basically know what sort of thing is involved in being an admin assistant (I worked as one a few years ago) but i don't know what is involved in the higher-grade jobs - like School Business Manager as you say. There seem to be different directions you can go in, too, and I wondered if something like an MBA was necessary for any of these.

[eastwest]

The thing is, where I worked previously (a few years ago - I've had a self-employed career since) as admin assistant was a lovely organisation, but very small, so the only thing I could apply for was the publicity officer's post which I really didn't have the experience for at the time. So I don't really know where one would go after admin assistant in a bigger organisation.

[NoodleNuts]

Well in my University, I work within a School and jobs are graded as follows:

Admin assistant would be grade 3 (we haven't actually got any of these)
Administrator - grade 4
Team leader or equivalent is grade 5
School Admin Manager - grade 6 or 7
Senior School Manager - grade 8 or higher

So there is plenty of progression if you want it. Also you don't have to remain with in a School/Faculty, you could also work for one of the central departments such as Records and Exams, Governance, Appeals and Conduct (and others) and there are various different roles and grades within those areas.

[NoodleNuts]

Forgot to say, have a look at some University websites and check out the vacancies, the person specification should tell you what qualifications you need for what roles.

[eastwest]

Thanks, NoodleNuts.

[marialuisa]

There's a graduate trainee programme for university administartors called Ambitious futures. That might give you some insight into it all as it starts them off at junior management level.

[eastwest]

Thanks,w ill look. I don't think I'll be eligible as I am many years out of uni and post-grad too (though there's a PgCert I saw via AUA).