Workshop A1: Risk management, engagement and integration
Speakers: Laura Knox, Assistant Vice-Principal (Strategy and Planning), University of St Andrews; and Brian Kennedy, Director of Planning, University of St Andrews
This session will explore the integration of risk management and assurance practices within an organisational ecosystem. It will look at the real-world challenges of balancing stakeholder needs, financial constraints and technology. We will discuss complexity and barriers, and explore options for connecting risk to other elements of the organisational framework (such as the annual planning process and performance framework) to enhance understanding, improve assurance, present opportunities for deeper analysis, and improve connectivity and engagement with risk on a practical level.
Workshop A2: Student journeys through Scottish higher education
Speaker: Naomi Jeffery, Head of Analytics, Scottish Funding Council
In this workshop we’ll explore how identifying and reporting student journeys can be used to develop and improve opportunities for students to achieve their best education outcomes.
Workshop A3/B3 (workshop ran twice): Lifelong Learning Entitlement
Speaker: Paul Smith, Head of Partner Services, Student Loans Company
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) aims to provide individuals with flexible funding for education and training throughout their lives, empowering learners to upskill and reskill at any stage of their career. Paul will discuss the pivotal role of SLC as the delivery organisation, outlining how it is preparing to implement the LLE. Delegates will gain insights into how the LLE will enhance access to lifelong education and what it means for learners, institutions, and the future of student finance in the UK.
Business Session 1: Simitive - Strategic Resource Planning for today's university
Speakers: Paul Sheppard, Managing Director, Simitive; and Julie Woosey, Interim Deputy Chief People Officer, University of Salford
As the pressures and challenges facing universities increase the ability to confidently plan, model and forecast strategic resource needs has never been more important.
The session will explore strategic resource planning based on Simitive’s experience working with more than 60 universities reflecting the changing delivery models and approaches in UK and Australia.
Julie will provide insight to what has changed and been achieved at Salford University over the last decade in practice and what the resultant data provides as a critical input into the planning process.
Speakers: Robert Lintzen, Advanced Analytics Consultant, Studyportals and Dr Bo Wang, Senior Market Insight Analyst, University of Glasgow
In this session we examine the data available along the student recruitment lifecycle. We will also discuss the important economic impact of international students to local economy, and the critical role of universities in shaping employability policy amidst rapidly changing global dynamics. We'll explore how different nations approach these challenges and how the UK compares to other countries. Leveraging powerful global employability and stay rates data from Studyportals, we'll address the urgent need for universities to adapt to students' growing concerns about their job prospects.
With the UK grappling with a post-Brexit workforce gap and European countries shifting focus from mere growth in international education to strategic student retention, this session will spotlight the pivotal role of universities in securing our future workforce. Senior Market Insight Analyst Dr Bo Wang from the University of Glasgow will share how universities can use this data to enhance student recruitment and retention using the full student lifecycle data model, and examples from Scotland's ambitious efforts to keep talent within its borders.
Speaker: David Sweeney, Professor of Research Policy, University of Birmingham
As the UK faces increasing global competition and evolving policy landscapes, the role of research and innovation as drivers of long-term economic growth has never been more critical. This plenary session will explore how universities and the wider higher education sector can adapt to shifting priorities, harness opportunities, and address challenges in the pursuit of excellence in research and innovation.
With insights into the implications of recent policy changes and the Autumn Budget, the session will examine how institutions can position themselves to remain competitive and impactful in the global research ecosystem. This is an essential conversation for strategy and planning professionals looking to shape a resilient and forward-thinking approach to research and innovation in the UK.
Plenary 3: What the UK can learn from Canadian (and global) HE
Speaker: Alex Usher, President, Higher Education Strategy Associates
In this thought-provoking plenary session, Alex Usher will draw on his extensive expertise in higher education strategy and planning to explore valuable lessons the UK can learn from Canadian and global higher education systems. With institutions worldwide grappling with financial pressures, societal shifts, and the need to redefine their strategic priorities, this session will highlight innovative approaches and strategies from across the globe that can inform the UK's response to these challenges.
The discussion will delve into topics such as institutional differentiation, the importance of culture in shaping strategy, and adapting planning processes to ensure resilience and relevance in an evolving landscape. Drawing insights from Alex’s recent writings on strategy and his global perspective, attendees will gain actionable ideas to enhance their strategic frameworks and planning processes.
Workshop B1: Mergers: The bold path to higher education transformation
Speakers: Dominic Davis, Director of Strategy and Planning, City St George’s, University of London; Julie Leeming, Director of Planning, St George’s School of Health and Medical Sciences, City St George's; James Rolfe, Chief Operating Officer, Anglia Ruskin University and Dawn Taylor, Deputy Secretary (Compliance & Risk), Anglia Ruskin University
At a time where institutional size and shape are under intense pressure, mergers have surfaced as both a strategic necessity and a formidable challenge. This session will delve into the multifaceted journey of mergers, drawing insights from our speakers whose institutions have successfully navigated this complex process. They will explore the strategic drivers behind mergers, the regulatory requirements that shape them, and the cultural transformations they necessitate. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on creating effective target operating models, managing stakeholder expectations, and leveraging mergers as a tool for growth and resilience. Join us to understand why understanding mergers is becoming an essential skill to survive and thrive in today’s dynamic higher education landscape.
Workshop B2: Getting it right: The UK Quality Code – developing advice and guidance
Principle 4: Using data to inform and evaluate quality & Principle 5: Monitoring, evaluating and enhancing provision
Speakers: Ruth Burchell, Quality and Standards Officer, QAA; and Rebecca Robinson, Data Analyst (Higher Education Insight), QAA
