| Type | Professional association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1961 (forerunner to CUA) |
| Location | University of Manchester |
| Origins | Conference of University Administrators, Association of Polytechnic Administrators |
| Key people | Christopher Hallas, Chair Alison Johns, President Alison Robinson Canham, Executive Director |
| Area served | Great Britain and Ireland |
| Focus | Higher education |
| Motto | Promoting excellence in HE management |
| Website | www.aua.ac.uk |
The Association of University Administrators (AUA) is the professional body for higher education administrators and managers in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The AUA exists to advance and promote the professional recognition and development of all who work in professional services roles in higher education, and to be an authoritive advocate and champion for the sector.
AUA was formed from a merger of the Association of Polytechnic Administrators (APA) and the Conference of University Administrators (CUA). CUA traced its history back to the Meeting of University Academic Administrative Staff, founded in 1961. AUA will celebrate the golden jubilee of the professionalisation of support staff in UK universities in 2011.
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AUA members are individually and collectively committed to: the continuous development of their own and others' professional knowledge, skills and practices; activiely championing equality of educational and professional opportunity; the advancement of higher education through the robust application of professional knowledge, skills and practices; the highest standards of fair, ethical and transparent professional behaviour.
AUA is governed by its Board of Trustees. The current Chair of AUA is Christopher Hallas, Director of Student Affairs at University of Greenwich. Alison Robinson Canham is Executive Director.
The Board of Trustees is advised by AUA's Council. The Council is chaired by the President, Alison Johns, Head of Leadership Governance and Management HEFCE.
The Association has a branch and regional network structure.
AUA's annual conference is the largest professional development conference in the UK HE calendar, with plenary and keynote presentations and around 100 working sessions. The 2011 Conference (in AUA's Golden Jubilee Year) was held at the University of Nottingham 18-20 April 2011. The 2012 Conference will be held in Manchester, at the University of Manchester, 2-4 April 2012.
AUA provides professional development opportunities for university managers and administrators in the higher education sector. It provides opportunities to help members identify and meet their professional development needs through information services, events and conferences. AUA organises an annual programme of seminars, workshops and conferences.
AUA has developed the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework to support the continuous professional development of all professional services staff working in the sector. The project was a culmination of a highly collaborative 2 year Leadership, Governance and Management (LGM) project, and was jointly funded by AUA, HEFCE, LFHE and the HEA. The framework is a significant milestone in the development of the profession of HE management and administration.
Since the framework was formally launched at the AUA Conference and Exhibition 2009, AUA has been working on plans to support implementation projects across the sector. By working with a small number of pre-pilot early adopting partners the AUA has established the extent to which the Framework can be adapted to a wide variety of organisational context.
The full CPD framework document and supporting on-line resources are available for use by staff in HE.
The AUA Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice is a portfolio-based scheme validated by the Open University. Achievement of the award demonstrates a knowledge of key areas within the HE sector, transferable skills and evidence of the 'professional journey' undertaken.
AUA has established a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which allow members with similar interests to share good practice and develop their understanding of specific areas of HE policy and practice.
AUA also have a number of established working groups which meet together to organise events or discuss key issues and exchange best practice, including the Planning Forum and the Equality Advisory Group.
AUA has strong links with organisations and individuals worldwide and works closely with the British Council and Association of Commonwealth Universities. Members can apply for travel awards to undertake study visits or exchanges.
Members receive free of charge the AUA's quarterly journal, Perspectives; quarterly newsletter, Newslink, and each new title in the Good Practice Guide series.
AUA's online services include a number of email discussion groups: aua-news, for electronic bulletins including weekly press digest and fortnightly professional development bulletin; and aua-forum, email list for sharing information and best practice. AUA also has JISC mailing lists, jiscmail, to aid communication within sub-groups of the organisation (eg. aua-bc, aua-pgcert) and for special interest groups (eg. aua-deptadmin). It has an online jobs noticeboard.