The student–university relationship is too important to be reduced to a service contract. In a world where challenges are complex and change is constant, partnership is not just an ideal; it’s a necessity.

The future of higher education lies not in eliminating organisational structure, but in making it more permeable, responsive, and human-centred.

The most impactful innovations in higher education share a common foundation: they start with genuine understanding of user experiences rather than predetermined solutions. This shift from assumption-driven to user-centred innovation isn't just good practice—it's becoming essential for universities navigating an increasingly complex landscape of funding pressures, changing demographics, and evolving expectations.

The financial collapse of the University of Dundee should prompt other university governing bodies and senior leadership teams to reflect on the lessons learned to ensure their ongoing success and resilience. 

Organisational change, while often challenging, provides a unique opportunity to reassess and enhance culture, behaviours, and ways of working. Change initiatives allow leaders to address longstanding challenges, improve governance structures, and create a shared vision that both engages and energises staff. When approached thoughtfully, change can drive long-term improvements that strengthen both the organisation and its people.

Of late, I find myself increasingly reflecting on the importance of empathy in everything we do. We live in an ever-changing world with ever increasing expectations, opportunities, noise and threat. I keep coming back to the urgent need for empathy to be baked into our service design and delivery, into how we deliver change and into our leadership styles and how, in these times, we need to lean into this as much as possible.

By Alice Wrigley , Consultant, and Senior Project and Engagement Coordinator / 18 February 2025 Navigating change Change, whether large or small, is disruptive and can be unsettling. For my family, a seemingly simple change to the usual Monday night dinner can cause upset and confusion! Whilst on a larger scale, organisational change presents similar reactions – familiar ways of working, relationships and systems are upended, and this can be uncomfortable and unsettling for t

Ensuring accessibility in online workshops demands the same focus on participant experience as in-person sessions.

Successfully implementing organisational strategy requires collective accountability from leadership teams during times of change.

In this article, the first in series of insights focussing on EDI, we explore common challenges facing the HE sector.

Moving to a service culture with a clearly defined service catalogue enables everyone to understand the ‘what, how, who and when’.

What does it really mean to be in the middle of a university league table?

Measuring civic engagement in higher education is inherently complex due to the diverse and varied nature of civic partnerships.

Understanding the different types can help individuals and organisations leverage these tools effectively.

In the face of an increasing set of challenges, universities must find new ways to innovate and adapt.

Best practice examples of how digital capabilities are deployed across the higher education sector.

Viewing people strategies through the lens of civic engagement offers opportunities for universities to deepen their civic mission.

Fostering a strong sense of belonging amongst staff supports a shared sense of purpose and encourages a supportive and enabling environment. This can provide the foundation from which to build on an organisation's institutional and departmental strategic objectives.

By Ben Hunt, Sector Insights Lead / 06 December 2023 Identifying and Engaging the Higher Education Student Higher education students’ identities are constructed in different ways, by them individually, by higher education institutions and within society. This article introduces different ways of thinking about student identities, considers what this might mean for student expectations, and finally reflects on what this might say about different forms of student engagement.  

Relatively recently in the sector, there has been an increased focus on social responsibility and civic engagement, generating more debate around the focus and the definition of these terms. There are now fifty-nine universities committed to creating a Civic University Agreement. This article introduces some factors driving civic engagement in the sector, and discusses some of the challenges related to scoping where civic engagement should apply.