Meet our graduates
Hear from some of our current trainees about their experience on The Graduate Programme for University Leadership.
CURRENT TRAINEES
Name: Alex Barker
University: University of Manchester
Degree: BSocSc in Politics and International Relations
Year of Graduation: 2010
I have really enjoyed the insight into a number of different roles in HE management and also different institutions. My first placement was in the Careers Department at the University of Manchester and my second is at Lancaster University supporting business to improve their trade links with China. This breadth of experience will be really valuable in deciding what aspect of HE most suits me and where I want to aim for in the future. On top of this, it's great to have the network of other graduates on the scheme to share experiences with, as well as the learning sets and the support of a mentor.
Due to the relatively short placements on the scheme you're expected to hit the ground running. All graduate trainees need the ability to think strategically and see the big picture - universities are vast and diverse organisations, and yet every team you work with, and every project you work on, is steered by the same high-level aims. Trainees require excellent communication skills, again because universities are so huge and diverse - you'll need to communicate with a lot of people with competing priorities, so getting your message across clearly and succinctly and managing expectations while maintaining relationships is really important.
Name: Katie Osmon
University: Royal Holloway, University of London
Degree: BA History
Year of Graduation: 2013
The programme presents a range of challenges; it's fast-paced and full of variety. For a graduate who is unsure about the line of work they wish to pursue in Higher Education, Ambitious Futures offers placements in a variety of departments and administrative teams. Few programmes offer as many opportunities in their short duration.
Individuals working in Higher Education have to be adaptable, innovative and patient. With the knowledge that HE may look very different in ten years, those pursuing a career in the sector must be visionaries.
Name: Ben Harris
University: St. George's, University of London (Graduated from UCL)
Degree: BA History
Year of Graduation: 2013
I have been fortunate to be placed in a university that, despite not being where I graduated from, has been extremely accommodating and allowed me to determine the direction of a range of projects. I would therefore say the most enjoyable aspect of the programme so far has been the flexibility and encouragement I have received from all members of staff from the outset of my placement. Rarely has a day passed without someone asking me what I'm working on, and usually offering their help, too!
My work up to this point has focussed on enhancing the Student Experience at St. George's. This, as you can imagine, is an extremely broad assignment which can be approached in a number of ways. Learning to lead a major project has subsequently been a steep and exciting learning curve that has at times been challenging, but has ultimately proved extremely rewarding.
My experience has indicated that a willingness to be collaborative and work closely with your peers is essential in a higher education setting. Universities are complex organisations, and it is rare that a project can be completed without the expertise of your colleagues. What's more, an individual working in higher education needs to be extremely sensitive to context. Government legislation, sector best-practice and the needs of students all play a role in shaping how a university functions, and it is important that staff keep abreast of current trends.
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Whilst on the programme you are there to improve your university and the sector as a whole, which means you will be indirectly influencing the brightest minds of the coming generations.
Jennifer Grote, King's College Graduate Trainee -
I love that we get the chance to move between two different universities as this is rarely offered on a graduate programme. The opportunity to work in a wide range of departments is invaluable because it opens up so many career paths at the end of the scheme.
Caroline Taylor, Leicester Graduate Trainee
You need to be motivated and ambitious, but also aware that you are working in an environment where things are constantly changing and you need to keep up to date with the new developments - which is exactly what makes it exciting! -
For me, the key characteristics that you need to pursue a career in Higher Education are: being personable, being committed, and having a real interest in what you're doing, what the university is doing, what the sector is doing, and having a thirst to see how it all fits together and what can be improved.
Doug German, Royal Holloway Graduate Trainee -
My role is a general management position working with senior academic colleagues on the strategic development of our teaching and research, but also has responsibility for financial planning and resource allocation, as well as leading the College's 150 professional services staff, who cover a range of duties including laboratory technicians, student administrators, secretaries, and department managers.
Geoff Green, Director of Administration in the College of Science & Engineering, University of Leicester -
Moving placements every five months means that I have to adapt to new situations and tasks, and I'm continually learning about different functions of a university.
Kathleen Minett, UCL Trainee -
I'm continually interacting with a huge range of people, from students (undergraduate and postgraduate; Home and International), to academics, to professional services staff and numerous external organisations.
Laura Smyth, Lancaster Trainee -
My career has been hugely varied, happy and interesting. I started as a Project/Training Officer on an IT system at Royal Holloway, before becoming School Administrator within the School of Management. I then became Executive Officer to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Roehampton University, followed by a Programme Manager role and then Head of Systems. In my current role as Director or Student Experience, I'm tasked with ensuring our students get a great deal more out of their time than simply an excellent degree.
Mike Johnson, Director of Student Experience, Royal Holloway University
