The latest Advancing Women’s Leadership Special Interest Group took place on 10th December 2024 where Clare Trembleau and Antonia Adeyemi, AWLSIG Leads, and delegates were joined by Rachel Reeds.
The Invisible Realm of Higher Education
Rachel shared her journey of writing her book entitled Surviving and Thriving in Higher Education Professional Services: a guide to success, about the often overlooked realm of professional services in higher education. She highlighted the importance of these professionals, who are frequently undervalued, and the challenges they face in a sector dominated by academics. Rachel’s book aims to bridge the gap between academia and professional services, sharing the experiences and lessons learned by those in the field. She emphasised the need for recognition and support for these professionals, who are the backbone of higher education institutions.
Embracing Positive Disruption and Innovation
Rachel discussed the concept of positive disruption, stressing that it doesn’t have to be chaotic but rather thoughtful action. She shared her experience of writing a book, which was an act of disruption, and encouraged others to challenge the status quo by questioning assumptions, proposing new ideas, and starting conversations. Rachel also stressed the importance of innovation, stating that it often arises from constraints and can be sparked by collaboration and experimentation. She encouraged the team to identify areas in their roles where they could apply these principles and share their thoughts in the chat.
Empowering Part-Time Staff Contributions
Rachel emphasised the importance of recognising and valuing the contributions of part-time staff, who often feel overlooked in development opportunities. She suggested scheduling team meetings at optimal times and encouraging staff to share their achievements. Rachel also stressed the need for empowerment and advocacy, urging staff to own their roles and contributions, articulate their achievements, and build relationships with mentors and colleagues. She introduced a framework for creating a personal narrative, emphasising the importance of understanding one’s purpose and impact in their work. Rachel encouraged staff to identify their unique value and align it with their key values to guide their efforts towards change and improvement.
Beyond Job Titles: Personal Storytelling
Rachel led a discussion on the importance of presenting oneself beyond just their job title. She shared her own experience as an admissions specialist and encouraged others to reflect on how they introduce themselves. There was consensus around the idea that presenting oneself in a more personal and passionate way can help overcome assumptions and judgments. The group agreed that crafting one’s story is essential, particularly for those with marginalised identities, to own and share their experiences.
Addressing Power Imbalances in Higher Education
Rachel emphasised the importance of recognising and challenging power imbalances in the higher education sector, particularly between academic and professional staff. She highlighted the need for professional staff to own their roles and advocate for themselves, and to start small but boldly in their efforts to disrupt constructively. Rachel also discussed the challenges of bridging divides between academic and professional staff, noting the power imbalance and the lack of recognition of the privileged position of academic staff. She suggested that the sector needs to unlearn and understand each other’s perspectives better.
Challenging Outdated Practices and Habits
Rachel led a discussion where participants were asked to identify outdated practices or habits in their institutions that they wished to challenge. Participants were encouraged to think about a specific action they could take in the next week or so to disrupt these practices. Various ideas were shared, including the need for more student representation in meetings, the importance of minute-taking, and the need to break down silos. Rachel emphasised the value of minute-taking as a skill and the need for an action log rather than minutes. The conversation ended with participants sharing their thoughts on how to disrupt outdated practices.
Balancing Value and Knowledge in Learning
Clare discussed her thoughts on how to balance the perception of value and knowledge, particularly in the context of learning and development. She expressed a desire to demonstrate that everyone has something valuable to contribute, regardless of their domain. Rachel then emphasised the importance of small, deliberate steps in disrupting the status quo and advocated for self-advocacy and ownership of one’s career. She also encouraged the attendees to share their accumulated wisdom to create a more empowering and equitable experience.
Navigating Higher Education Administration
Rachel discussed the importance of understanding the history and context of higher education administration to navigate its complexities. She emphasised the need to ask questions about acronyms and institutional specifics, and to network to understand one’s role in the student journey. Rachel also highlighted the lack of reference materials and webinars for higher education professionals, and suggested her book as a useful resource. Clare agreed with Rachel’s points, particularly about the significance of funding streams and the REF and TEF. She shared a personal experience where understanding the context of student registrations helped her avoid a mistake.
Exploring Career Progression and Opportunities
Participants expressed concerns about career progression, feeling that there are limited opportunities within the current field. Rachel advised thinking more laterally about career, focusing on skills and value rather than job titles. Rachel also shared her own experiences of career progression, including taking a pay cut and moving to a different role. There were book and podcast suggestions on the topics for example “Squiggly Careers” and Susanna Marsden’s job shadowing podcast.
Dr Rossana Gent – SDF Chair
r.gent@sdf.ac.uk