SUMS works for its Member universities and
undertakes work for other universities and sector
bodies. Our work in 2016 responded to needs
that were in part shaped by political strategies,
demographic changes and a more competitive sector.
The 2016 session was notable for ending with a
bang – the EU Referendum. The UK’s decision to
leave has wide ranging implications for HE. Work
that was undertaken or started earlier in the session
around transformation, student recruitment and
income generation was given a greater incentive
to succeed and realise benefits.
The session began with our core specialisms in
demand: transformational change, recruitment and
admissions, the student experience, learning and
research support and delivering efficiencies. We
helped with the development and implementation
of successful strategic transformation programmes
and used our demonstrable experience of taking an
integrated approach to strategy to make it operational.
Some universities stood back and considered the
overall configuration and operation of their professional
services: considering and challenging the way they
operate and should develop over the next 5-7 years.
SUMS helped at both a university and service level.
For one university, we facilitated the development
of a Target Operating Model (TOM), setting out
high-level strategic themes to provide a long-term
framework that provided a clear service
development path.
For another, using a maturity assessment model
that we developed for UK HE – that uses external
benchmarking and is informed by commercial sector
best practice – we helped shape HR services capable
of delivering strategy now that will still be fit for
purpose in the longer term.
Members were helped to respond to external
pressures and comply with legislation through
a number of collaborative studies, such as the
development of a framework to guide the
development and review of Freedom of Speech
and associated policies.
Our special interest groups: Marketing and
Communications, Academic Registrars, Change
and Space and Timetabling continued to offer
a great network and opportunity to share best
practice.
This year UWE Bristol and the University of Dundee
– who both illustrate the excellence of our Members
and our geographical spread – joined and enhanced
our membership. While our Members benefited from
the added value membership brings, our non-member
clients benefited from our HE specialist knowledge.
This Annual Review illustrates the range of our work,
providing case studies and a brief description of each
assignment undertaken.
The 2016 Session
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