This document summarizes a session for newcomers to the Association of University Administrators (AUA). The session introduces the AUA and discusses benefits of membership, including professional development opportunities. It also addresses career preparation and pathways for members and considers whether university administration could become a recognized profession in the future. The session aims to help newcomers understand the AUA and maximize their membership to advance their career and contribute to the developing profession.

1. promoting excellence in HE management
Annual Conference
Manchester 2012
Newcomers Session, 2 April 2012

2. Introductions
Matthew Andrews Christine Child
 Academic Registrar  Head of the Student
 Oxford Brookes Services Centre
University  London School of
Economics
 Vice-Chair of the AUA  Member of the Board of
Trustees
promoting excellence in HE management

3. Programme for the session
 You and the AUA
 You and your career
 The future for the profession
promoting excellence in HE management

4. The aims of the session
This session will help you to:
 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
promoting excellence in HE management

5. promoting excellence in HE management
You and the AUA
Matthew Andrews
Newcomers Session, 2 April 2012

6. Why have you joined the AUA?
Quick task!
 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.
promoting excellence in HE management

7. What is the AUA?
 Around 3,500 members
 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 the 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
 Elected Board of Trustees
promoting excellence in HE management

8. Charitable Objective
“The Object of the Association is to advance and
assist in the advancement of education by fostering
sound methods of leadership, management and
administration in further and higher education by
education, training, and other means.”
promoting excellence in HE management

9. Your Commitment
AUA members are individually and collectively
committed to:
 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 standard of fair, ethical and
transparent professional behaviour.
promoting excellence in HE management

10. Why join (and stay) in the AUA (1)
 For professional development
 To keep yourself informed
 To share good practice
 To develop the profession
promoting excellence in HE management

11. Why join (and stay) in the AUA (2)
Publications: Perspectives, Newslink, Good Practice
Guides, and more…
promoting excellence in HE management

12. Why join (and stay) in the AUA (3)
 Networking opportunities through
 Annual conference
 Regional conferences activities
 Annual lecture
 Institutional activities
 Training courses and mini conferences
 Electronic networking ensures contact with your
colleagues, sharing information and expertise
 Twitter, Linkedin, Google+
promoting excellence in HE management

13. Why join (and stay) in the AUA (4)
 Themed Networks (Special Development
Interest Groups)  Partnerships
 Special Interest Groups  Planners
 Applicant Experience  Quality Practitioners
 Departmental  Space Management
Administrators
 Equality and Diversity
 International Higher
Education
 Managing Change
 Organisational
promoting excellence in HE management

14. Why join (and stay) in the AUA (5)
 International opportunities  GAUA (Ghana)
 Study Tours  JAUM (Japan)
 Travel Awards  HEFAF (South Africa)
 IHEN Seminars
 Partner Associations
 AACRAO (USA)
 AAUA (USA)
 ACHEA (Caribbean)
 ANUPA (Nigeria)
 ARUCC (Canada)
 ATEM (Australia and New
Zealand)
 CAUBO (Canada)
promoting excellence in HE management

15. Why join (and stay) in the AUA (6)
 To play a part in developing the profession
 The AUA is not an end in itself
promoting excellence in HE management

16. Progressive Membership Levels
Current Proposed
MAUA MAUA
FAUA AAUA
FAUA
promoting excellence in HE management

17. members.aua.ac.uk
promoting excellence in HE management

18. promoting excellence in HE management
You and your career
Christine Child
Newcomers Session, 2 April 2012

19. Career preparation
Quick task!
 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!
promoting excellence in HE management

20. Career Pathways
AUA CPD Framework: http://www.aua.ac.uk/LGM/careerpathwaysfinal.pdf
See also Whitchurch, C. (2008). Professional Managers in UK Higher Education: Preparing for Complex
Futures Final Report. Research and Development Series. London: Leadership Foundation for Higher
Education
(2008). Professional Managers in UK Higher Education: Preparing for Complex Futures Final Report. management
promoting excellence in HE

21. Is there such a thing as a planned
career?
 A career is like crazy paving
 Planned happenstance – preparing for the
opportunities you don‟t yet know about
 Being prepared to take opportunities
 Don‟t expect always to have linear progression
 Constantly plan and be prepared to change your
plan
 Hard work will always help…
 The hardest workers seem to get the most „luck‟!
 It‟s more about career preparation than career
planning
promoting excellence in HE management

22. Professional Behaviours
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23. Professional Knowledge
• 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.
promoting excellence in HE management

24. promoting excellence in HE management
The future for the profession
Matthew Andrews
Newcomers Session, 2 April 2012

25. What are the pre-conditions for
creating a profession?
 The self-esteem of a defined occupational group
 The creation of an organisation or association to
promote the interests of that group
 The definition of members of that group through
„entry criteria‟ (inter alia)
 The maintenance of order in the profession
 The development of individuals in the profession
 The assertion of authority from Government
(maybe)
 The acquisition of status (at some point, to some
extent)
promoting excellence in HE management

26. The current climate for
professionalisation
For Against
• The AUA • Specialist roles
• Massification • Lack of clear knowledge
• Complexity of HE base
• You • Disunity between roles
• Lack of clear incentive
• Academic suspicion
promoting excellence in HE management

27. Do we want to be a profession?
A „profession‟ could mean:
 A euphemism for „doing a good job‟
 Attaining the status of a formal profession
promoting excellence in HE management

28. Professional Status
Quick task!
 Do you think you work in a profession?
 Would you think it advantageous to be employed
in a recognised professional role?
 What changes to your working practices would
you be willing to accept to become part of a
profession?
promoting excellence in HE management

29. promoting excellence in HE management
Have we answered
your questions?
Newcomers Session, 2 April 2012

30. promoting excellence in HE management
More information at www.aua.ac.uk
Or call 0161 275 2063
Newcomers Session, 2 April 2012