Understanding the financial challenges in Higher Education: Navigating pressures through strategic collaboration

Thursday 7 November 2024

11:00-13:30

This is a joint event and open to members of AUDE, AULP, BUFDG, CHEIA, CUBO, HESPA, UCISA and UHR - please click on the appropriate ticket when booking your place - please choose one ticket only.

Who should attend? The session is targeted at Senior Leaders or aspiring Senior Leaders across your function (Heads of Functions, Deputy, Director levels)

Join us for this PHES event, with PwC leading on an update on the current HE financial landscape (following on from their HE financial sustainability report earlier in the year). We will get an update on how the last few months have impacted.

Following this (and a short 15 minute break at midday), we hear from a panel of leaders across a range of functions:- Finance, Estates, HR, IT, Facilities and Strategic Planning, as we hear how these challenges are manifesting in their function, how they are working cross-functionally to meet the challenge, and what tops tips they would give to working with other senior leaders in these difficult times.  

The session is not being recorded.

Agenda:

11am Understanding the financial challenges in HE – PwC

• Introductions (5mins)
• Update on Financial Sustainability of the UK HE Sector (15mins)
• Financial sustainability background
• Institutional overview 
• Government, funding & regulation
• Wider market perspective (incl. lenders, auditors, regulators)
• Sector impact
• Responding to the challenge (20mins)
• Insights and experience from other sectors
• Impacts, challenges & opportunities for different member groups (Finance, Estates, HR, IT professional services more generally)
• Institutional case studies
• Q&A – Chaired by Karel Thomas and Alexandra Owen

12 – 12.15am – break

12.15 – 1.30pm Navigating pressures through strategic collaboration

HE member panel session with panel members from AUDE, BUFDG, CUBO, HESPA, UHR and UCISA.  

The panel members will be ready to discuss the following:

• How the financial challenges are manifesting in their function
• How they are working cross-functionally to meet the challenges. Giving some examples of what has worked well and where improvements can be made
• Some top tips on working cohesively with other senior leaders in difficult times

Panel members include Alexandra Owen, CFO, Loughborough University, Clare Foyle. Director of Strategic Planning, University College London, Kirsty Woodward, Director of Estates and Campus Services, University of Leicester, James Smith, CIO at Middlesex University, Jane Embley, Chief People Officer and Organisational Development at Northumbria University and Stephen Wells, Director of Estates and Facilities, University of East Anglia. 

The session will have a Q&A managed by Karel Thomas and Alexandra Owen.

For any queries, please contact Gill Birch.