University students often fail to realise that it requires an enormous number of employees working in a huge range of jobs to enable a Higher Education institution to function. More than 300,000 people currently work in HE in the UK across more than 170 institutions. Some of these workers are doctoral graduates working in academic…>
International Accommodation Officer
by Sarah Marten Helena Pritchard has a varied and rewarding role helping international students find accommodation at the University of Glamorgan in Pontypridd, South Wales. Building and maintaining relationships with students from all corners of the world, including Africa, Europe, China, the USA and Mexico are key to Helena’s role. What does your job…>
Interim Manager
“There’s no standard formula, you just make a difference and move on” Vivian Silverman is an Interim Manager. He works on a number of projects each year, implementing change within different companies. Over the years, many of his projects have been selected by Alium Partners, the leading independent provider of Interim Management Professionals in…>
The Challenges Facing Academic Staff in UK Universities
Everyone who has featured as a case study in our Career Development pages agrees on one thing – they really enjoy their jobs, and have no plans to move on from the university sector in the foreseeable future! Most echo the feelings of Professor Martin Shepperd from Brunel University who said, “I love my job…>
Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales, Australia
by Sarah Marten Dr Karl Cox Dr Karl Cox has recently returned to the UK after working in Australia for over six years, initially as a Senior Research Associate in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney. He then proceeded to combine a post…>
Early Career Fellow
by Dr Catherine Armstrong Deborah Toner is in the final stages of finishing her PhD and wants to go into university lecturing. Below she describes her academic journey from student to jobseeker and explains how she manages to remain positive in the face of stiff career challenges. What was your educational background/qualifications before doing…>
Personal Assistant to the Pro-Vice Chancellor
Suky Sanghera works as a PA to Professor Ian Marshall, who is the Pro-Vice Chancellor at Coventry University with overall responsibility for research. There is nothing routine or repetitive about Suky’s fascinating role, where she has been given every encouragement to develop her skills and take on lots of responsibility. What does your job involve?…>
Director of European and International Mobility
by Sarah Marten Dr Jean-Bernard Adrey leads the newly established European and International Mobility Service (EIMS) at Coventry University. This service enables current students and recent graduates the chance to engage in a range of exciting overseas study, work and volunteering opportunities. It also encourages participation in international projects, fieldwork and teaching placements. EIMS…>
Senior Lecturer in Sports and Exercise
by Sarah Marten Dr Gary Brickley Dr Gary Brickley combines a busy job as a Senior Lecturer within the University of Brighton’s popular and successful Sports and Exercise Department with an exciting role training Great Britain’s Paralympic cycling team. At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games he coached three cyclists who came home with eight…>
Equality and Diversity Adviser
By Sarah Marten Janine Chalmers works in the Policy, Planning and Governance section at the University of Aberdeen as Equality and Diversity Adviser. Under the legislation equality encompasses six strands: race, disability, gender, religion and belief, sexual orientation and age, and Janine helps the University ensure it is complying with all the necessary legislation,…>