BEING AN AUA BRANCH ADVOCATE Katrina Swanton, FAUA, Academic Quality, Student & Academic Services, Edinburgh Napier University Michelle Terrell, MAUA, Student Recruitment Officer & School Support Administrator, School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University
AUA ANNUAL LECTURE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH: BUSTING HIGHER EDUCATION MYTHS Naomi Popple, MAUA, Ambitious Futures Graduate Trainee, Student and Academic Services, University of York
Naomi Popple
Having doffed my cap as
perceived antagonisms broadly characterised the lecture. Sir Ian
a Masters student in late
passionately championed institutional collaboration and partnership
September, my understanding
over competition, challenged the notion that Universities are
of professional services within
“awash with cash” and, despite the inherent difficulties posed
Higher Education was, until
by Brexit and the student finance system, for example, Sir
recently, limited to robotic
Ian evidenced a number of tangible and positive innovations
reminders of the draconian
taking place across the sector in pedagogy, accountability and
scale of penalties applied by
environmental, financial and systemic sustainability. Some
my department to those foolish
information, however, was more ambiguously reassuring. I learnt
enough to miss a deadline. Beyond academia and their macro-
that as well as graduating with a degree, I have also attained
political scuffles, universities appeared to me as if they ran
the statistical improbability of being murdered!
themselves. After joining the Student and Academic Services
Katrina and Michelle
When Edinburgh Napier’s Branch Advocate position became
directorate at the University of York as a Graduate Trainee
Given the seniority of the many present, the seriousness and
and member of AUA in the same September, I realised – very
complexity of the subject matter, and my newness to the
swiftly – how naïve my student’s-eye-view of HE was.
sector, I hadn’t expected the warm, relaxed, collegial lightheartedness (not to mention the coffee, wine and canapés) I
informal activities including lunchtime development workshops, monthly coffee mornings on each of our three campuses, and a
My inaugural attendance at AUA’s 18th Annual Lecture
was met with that evening. Neither did I expect to discover
as we knew it would provide a great opportunity to make
University-wide book group. We have hosted an AUA Scotland
complemented this steep learning curve, with guest speaker
common ground between myself and AUA chair Tessa Harrison,
a positive contribution to AUA and our branch, allow us to
Network event and have been working hard to raise the profile
Professor Sir Ian Diamond (Vice-Chancellor of the University of
who did a sterling job of making all in attendance feel welcome.
develop new skills, and gain more experience. However, we
of the organisation on campus by, for example, promoting
Aberdeen and Chair of the UUK Efficiency Task Group) calcifying
Summarily, the lecture, the people, and the hospitality of the
AUA on plasma screens across the University, and holding
the reality that academia and its administration are, despite
University of York left me feeling optimistic and confident about
the role justice would require a significant time commitment. At
meetings with senior staff to encourage AUA engagement and
appearances, wholly complementarily and interdependent.
embarking on a career in the sector at such an exciting time.
the time, we were midway through a challenging secondment
support. While our priority was to strengthen the branch for our
Refreshingly myth busting HE’s, both internally and externally,
and managing full-time work along with study for AUA’s PG Cert
existing members, our activities have also resulted in the branch
respectively and we did not want to put ourselves up for the
attracting many new members which gives us the confidence to
role if we were not able to do it to the best of our ability. For us,
believe that we are doing the right things as advocates.
vacant we were both interested in putting our names forward
were also hesitant to do so as we both recognised that doing
REFLECTIONS FROM A NEWBIE ATTENDING THEIR FIRST AUA ANNUAL LECTURE
the solution was to share the position. Although at the time we didn’t know each other very well, it was clear that we shared a
To share the role successfully it is important that we meet up
vision for the branch and a commitment to AUA. It made sense
regularly to plan activities and bounce ideas off each other. Sharing
to put in a joint application, which was submitted in writing to
the role also means that we have someone with whom we
the Scotland Network Co-ordinator, and in February 2015 we
can share our frustrations – which is not to be underestimated.
were successfully appointed.
Sometimes being a branch advocate can be demoralising,
Wendy Cairney, MAUA, Finance Coordinator, Edinburgh Napier University & AUA Scotland Network Coordinator
particularly when events which have taken time and effort to Our branch has developed considerably since our appointment.
organise are poorly attended, or when it feels as if you keep
From the outset we were keen to ensure that AUA offered
on hitting a brick wall. Being able to share the good with the bad,
added value to our existing members and have actively sought
and having each other’s support is what keeps us going. Sharing
feedback on all branch activities to make sure that we are
the role also enables us to adjust how we manage the workload in
putting our efforts into organising activities and events which
order to balance it with the demands of our day jobs.
are welcomed by our branch. As well as continuing to organise In summary, we would both agree that being a Branch
LinkedIn page to encourage ongoing discussions and debates
Advocate is a challenging but rewarding role. However, being a
between meetings. We have planned a range of formal and
joint Branch Advocate is even more fulfilling.
18 - Newslink Spring 2016
Professor Sir Ian Diamond was an amazing speaker, who made
first AUA Annual Lecture was
the subject of university funding and efficiency inspirational. I
both exciting and, if I am being
work with finance research as the day job so know this subject
honest, a little daunting too.
can sometimes be a little dry. This lecture wasn’t and it is
I hadn’t had an opportunity
testament to AUA (again) that they provide fascinating speakers
to attend an AUA Annual
who inspire our membership.
Lecture before so I wasn’t Wendy Cairney
regular branch meetings, we have set up a members-only
The thought of attending my
sure whether I would find it
I would thoroughly recommend that all members attend
beneficial. As a member and
an Annual Lecture; it is a way to improve your professional
a Network Coordinator I felt some responsibility to attend, to
development and a superb networking opportunity. As the
consider feedback to members on its usefulness.
Scotland Network Coordinator I know I will be recommending branch advocates to attend in the future.
Newslink Spring 2016 - 19