Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA)

Limited spaces available!

Our next AHUA Expert Exchange meeting 'International Fees, Net Revenue and Risk: Pricing and Cost of Acquisition in Practice' will take place online on Monday 16th March, 09.00 - 10.00am.

Register here: bit.ly/4rFuY0y

A recent AHUA workshop highlighted that real progress on race equality in professional services will require coordinated, sector-wide action to tackle structural barriers and not isolated initiatives.

Read more in our latest blog: bit.ly/4aO8wvw

Last chance to register!

Following the launch of the Organisational Efficiency Maturity Assessment (known as 'OEMA'), we are hosting a live demo of the online assessment tool and example data and report outputs.

Taking place on Tuesday 24th February, 09.00-09.45am

Register here: bit.ly/3O4fRQ0

New blog!

Colin Campbell, Registrar at the Newcastle University explores the vital civic, governance and resilience roles that higher education institutions can play in strengthening national preparedness.

Read more here: bit.ly/4kBdal1

The opening plenary for our Spring Conference will explore the challenges shaping our sector through the perspectives of VCs, Chairs and COOs. Join senior leaders to discuss future leadership capability, resilience and safe passage for institutions.

AHUA members only. Register: bit.ly/4rTC2XN

AHUA member, Rob Kramer will join Arif Ahmed and David Bass on an @advancehe.bsky.social roundtable 'Identifying and Understanding ‘Barriers to Expression'.

Topics include foreign interference, student perspectives, and effective institutional practice.

Register here: bit.ly/3NSTI6Z

Over on our blog, Dr Allan Sudlow explores how libraries and collections intersect with artificial intelligence (AI).

Read more here: bit.ly/49QZhdn

In our latest blog, newly appointed Chair of Association of Higher Education Professionals, Rachel Hill-Kelly, reflects on her journey, from early career opportunities and governance leadership at QAA to shaping AHEP’s bold future.

Read the blog here: bit.ly/45CxSdU

Last year, AHUA commissioned research into the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in senior professional roles across UK universities. Led by Dr Louise Oldridge at Nottingham Business School (NTU), the team has now shared its findings.

Read the blog & full report: bit.ly/4rFM67r

Alistair Jarvis CBE, Chief Executive of Advance HE, highlights four key areas where institutions should actively reflect, challenge, and evolve their approaches in order to thrive in a rapidly shifting landscape.

Read more: bit.ly/4pthzYj

Hear from two experienced senior leaders from the FE sector as they share over a decade of learning from mergers and acquisitions, offering insights that can help universities navigate organisational change with confidence.

Registration here: bit.ly/48xRWQq

Deadline approaching!

Are you ready to take the next step in your higher education leadership journey?

The Aspiring Registrar and COO Programme is designed for professionals who are considering a move into the most senior Professional Services roles.

Apply here before 20th Nov: bit.ly/42Az2Fr

In this new blog series, Dr Catherine Eagleton and Catriona Cannon will be bringing together a number of inspiring and thought-provoking writers from across the higher education sector to set out their vision for the future of libraries.

Read the first blog here: bit.ly/3Xo1AyO

The deadline for Aspiring Registrar and COO Programme is fast approaching.

The programme is designed for director level staff considering a move into the Registrar / COO role and will assess readiness for such a leadership position.

Deadline: 20th November 2025 at 9am.

Apply here: bit.ly/42Az2Fr

Will a proposed levy on international students derail regional growth? In our latest blog, Martin Vincent partner and Head of Education at Weightmans explains why stronger governance is key to making sure HE funding and the devolution agenda work together.

Read the blog here: bit.ly/4nE5LSc

Missed the AHUA Autumn Conference 2025 or just need a recap? Our Executive Director @bvulliamy.bsky.social has got you covered with his latest blog summarising the vital discussions and key takeaways.

Read the blog here: bit.ly/3VTD1cb

Last week our Executive Director @bvulliamy.bsky.social appeared on the Wonkhe Show Podcast to discussed the merger announcement between the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent
Click here to listen: bit.ly/4gxJD9O
Or search for 'The Wonkhe Show' wherever you listen to your podcasts

We are very excited to announce that Helen Galbraith has been elected as our next Chair and will be succeeding Nicola Owen.

You can find out more about Helen, her history at AHUA and her vision for the future of the association and sector. Click here to read Helen's blog: bit.ly/467tfcD

Closing out the conference with a powerful session on collab. "Too coy? Too complicated?" explored the real barriers holding back mergers and partnerships, from regulatory hurdles to the fear of starting the conversation. An honest and insightful look at building resilience through shared success.

Shared spaces, shared success. This workshop explored the power of collaborative facilities, looking at how sharing resources with other universities, industry, and communities can drive innovation and efficiency. A great session on unlocking collaborative potential.

Feeling overwhelmed? The "Managing the Spinning Plates" workshop was the perfect space for a reset. This interactive session helped attendees map their priorities and challenges, providing a new approach to problem-solving and actionable next steps.

Navigating the complexities of free speech in HE. The "Free Speech: Getting the basics right" workshop provided crucial insights on how policies and practices can evolve to ensure pluralism and meet new regulatory requirements. A vital session on staying on top of the latest legal guidance.

An essential session on the Gillies Review which explored the 18 key lessons for university boards and executives—from practical governance to the deeper cultural questions.

Navigating the evolving landscape of university leadership. The "Evolving COO" workshop offered key insights into the shifting priorities and essential skills for today's professional services leaders. A great session for reflecting on pivotal challenges and sharing strategies for the future

Great insights from the "Organisational Efficiency Maturity Assessment" workshop. A huge thank you to the ASUMS partnership with AHUA (commissioned by the UUK taskforce) for showcasing their beta model. Your feedback is helping to shape university resilience

The first plenary session debated the future of higher education. With new government reforms and growing public skepticism, the conversation focused on what needs to change for the sector to thrive. What are your
thoughts?

A big 'thank you' to AHUA Chair Nicola Owen and The Open University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dave Phoenix for a fantastic 'welcome' alongside the announcement of the new AHUA chair - click here to read the full blog bit.ly/4mgzkIh

The AHUA Autumn Conference 2025 has now commenced. Stay tuned for our conference updates throughout the day on highlights from our plenary’s, workshops, speakers and sponsors #AHUA2025

How can UK universities create a more sustainable future? Our new blog post introduces the Organisational Efficiency Maturity Assessment model, helping institutions move beyond short-term fixes and make strategic choices for transformation and change.

Click here to read the blog: bit.ly/4mHJz9M

The Gillies report sparks key questions about leadership. @bvulliamy.bsky.social argues that true progress comes from cultural evolution, not easy process fixes, helping institutions build an agile future.

Read the blog here: bit.ly/4mHrPuy