Are you an administrator in higher education - education or teaching dept? job related

[2512BC]

Hi - I'm hoping someone can help - and am posting it on employment thread as well

I have not worked in Education sector before but would really like to - I have lots of experience in local government and similar - so feel I have transferable skills.
I have a question to answer which is related to an understanding of issues relating to HE administration. I have googled and looked at Times HE
While I can think of lots affecting HE such as, league tables, global education, e-learning, widening participation, I can't think of how to link this with administration.
Hope someone can help on this.- Thank you

[titchy]

Is this for a specific role? The things you mention will have different admin impacts depending on the job. If you're in an academic dept for instance, maybe a course administrator, super-friendly efficient customer-service is all. Get students work back to them quickly. Tell them immediately a room change is made etc. All will boost your NSS results which are vital.

If you're not student facing though there'll be other aspects that are important.

[thatstoast]

NSS and league table are important. Students want a good student experience for their 9kp/a. Administration feeds into the student experience as you could be responsible for timetabling, mark entry, certificates, accuracy of student records, handling extenuating circumstances, anything really. I work in HE admin and it's really varied.

Some websites which might help:

www.oiahe.org.uk/

www.hefce.ac.uk/

www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-consumer-law-advice-for-providers

[olafisking]

Student as customer is a big one - the high fees have really changed student expectations.

NSS as a previous poster said.

If you're going into a course admin dept that is answerable to external agencies then it's worth looking into those a bit - eg I work in teacher training so NCTL and Ofsted are big in our lives. Medicine, social work, psychology will all have similar issues. STEM subjects (engineering, maths etc) have the issue of recruiting females.

Read the dept website which should give an insight into current priorities.

REF (research exercise) is very big in how universities are ranked, read up on that.

AUEA is the association of university administrators, again worth looking at.

[2512BC]

Thank you very much everyone - the responses are all spot on and lead me in the right direction - thanks again

[rightsaidfrederickII]

CMA is a big and topical one - there are many people running around like headless chickens at the moment. Following a ruling that universities are now covered by consumer law, we've realised that we could be sued if we tell a prospective student something that's incorrect.

Cue mass staff training, information gathering, updating of websites, information packs, and disclaimers galore. Oh, and an ever present fear that it will be something a student ambassador or academic says that will trip us all up. www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-34604509 One university will be made an example of - you just don't want it to be yours!

The removal of student number controls are another one - some universities have been able to expand, but others have seriously struggled.

If you're working in a healthcare department, then removal of NHS bursaries and the new junior doctor contract. Each may have their own impact on demand - it remains to be seen - but nursing may be particularly severely affected due to the disproportionate number of mature students that it takes.

However, as titchy says, it will depend on the nature of the job - all the things I've told you are about getting enough bums on seats and not being sued!

[2512BC]

Thank you rightsaid. - I will let you all know if I get an interview x

[smellylittleorange]

AUA.ac.uk website also v good