Job Shadowing HE

Susannah Marsden

Job Shadowing HE takes a deep dive into the roles of people who work in Higher Education. Featuring guests from across the sector, each episode reveals what’s involved in a specific role, the career path that led to it and tips on how to get in and get on in these jobs. Presented by Susannah Marsden.

  1. 18 FEB

    Hugh Jones: Hugh Jones Consulting

    Hugh Jones is a renowned figure in Higher Education having worked in several universities during his career and, since 2014, undertaken consultancy work with over 60 clients. He is also the founder of the HE postcard series on Wonkhe, and Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors at Birmingham City University.  In this episode, Hugh delves into his career background  and what it’s like to engage as a consultant. He also reflects more broadly on the HE landscape including the strategic opportunities institutions, as well as how governance needs to change into the future. He additionally offers some top tips for careers in HE professional services, and also shares what motivates him to continue working in the sector.  This podcast is kindly sponsored by Ellucian Student powered by Banner. Ellucian Student is the modern AI powered SaaS solution purpose-built for Higer Education, empowering your institution to seamlessly connect people, processes and applications. By choosing Ellucian you choose a winning combination of global and regional expertise. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

    52 min

  2. 4 FEB

    Professor Emmanuel Adukwu: Dean for Students

    Professor Emmanuel Adukwu is Dean for Students at UWE Bristol and professor of microbiology. Emmanuel started his Dean for Students post just a couple of months ago, transitioning from a deputy head of school into this university senior leadership role. A central focus of his career is removing barriers to ensure access and quality of opportunity for all, illustrated in his national and international work such as Chair of the Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum, as well as UWE’s Dean for Students. Amongst other things, we talk about his career to date, his approach to leading through influence, what “ownership thinking” means, what’s coming up in his Dean for Students role and how he balances life as a senior leader.  This episode is kindly sponsored by Peridot Partners. Peridot Partners transforms leadership and inspires change across organisations with a social purpose. Their specialist higher education team recruits diverse leaders and governors who are driven by your vision of academic excellence. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

    30 min
  3. Leading Differently: Aaron Tyler, Co-Founder and Director of Pact Solutions

    17/12/2025

    Leading Differently: Aaron Tyler, Co-Founder and Director of Pact Solutions

    Aaron Tyler is Co-Founder and Director of Pact Solutions. In this episode, Aaron reflects upon some of the themes I recorded with 4 different Vice-Chancellors in the Leading Differently mini-series, including how those topics inform practice at Pact Solutions. We also consider the institutional leadership qualities he looks for when working with an institution - and later on in the episode we look to the future in relation to the role of the student record system, the potential of AI and models of shared services.  This mini-series is kindly sponsored by PACT Solutions, which helps universities achieve their ambitions through digital transformation — specialising in the student journey, student records, data & reporting, AI and change management. The Association of Higher Education Professionals is proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

    38 min
  4. Leading Differently: Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol

    26/11/2025

    Leading Differently: Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol

    Professor Evelyn Welch is the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol. Evelyn has a notable career path in research intensive institutions,and took up the Vice-Chancellor post at Bristol in 2022. In this episode, we explore a number of current regional, national and international initiatives under her leadership. We also discuss a wide range of other topics including the student experience, university finances, the importance of modern languages in HE, collaboration between institutions - and we also touch upon Evelyn’s own research.  This mini-series is kindly sponsored by PACT Solutions, which helps universities achieve their ambitions through digital transformation — specialising in the student journey, student records, data & reporting, AI and change management. The Association of Higher Education Professionals is proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

    43 min
  5. Leading Differently: Professor David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University

    12/11/2025

    Leading Differently: Professor David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University

    Professor David Mba is Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University, and in this episode he talks about developing the vision for the University as being an exemplar anchor institution and how its work is intertwined with the city of Birmingham. He shares more about the innovative way in which science, technology, engineering, mathematics - and the arts - come together at the University, including what goes on in the unique Steamhouse, and we also discuss cultural change to reduce the degree attainment gap and to ensure high levels of student satisfaction.  This mini-series is kindly sponsored by PACT Solutions, which helps universities achieve their ambitions through digital transformation — specialising in the student journey, student records, data & reporting, AI and change management. The Association of Higher Education Professionals is proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

    32 min
  6. Leading Differently: Professor Damien Page, Vice-Chancellor, Buckinghamshire New University

    29/10/2025

    Leading Differently: Professor Damien Page, Vice-Chancellor, Buckinghamshire New University

    My guest in this episode is Professor Damien Page, Vice-Chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University.  Damien has progressed significant change at the University in his first few months in role and he talks in this episode about how things are being done differently at BNU to make a greater impact for students and staff, and to increase organisational efficiency. He reflects upon why operational understanding for a leader is just as important as strategic direction, and he also takes a reality check on the purpose of strategic plans. We also hear more about the Working Class Leaders in Higher Education sector network he set up in 2023 and the motivation behind it. This mini-series is kindly sponsored by PACT Solutions, which helps universities achieve their ambitions through digital transformation — specialising in the student journey, student records, data & reporting, AI and change management. The Association of Higher Education Professionals is proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

    42 min
  7. Leading Differently: Clare Marchant DBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gloucestershire

    14/10/2025

    Leading Differently: Clare Marchant DBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Gloucestershire

    Clare Marchant DBE is Vice-Chancellor at the University of Gloucestershire. She holds what currently looks like to be a unique position in UK Higher Education being a female Vice-Chancellor who has also come from a non-academic route, and one of the topics we discuss in the episode is the opening up of the Vice-Chancellor role to a more diverse community, and why this is important in leading the sector into the future. Clare also talks about the vital role of connectivity in leading an institution – with students, with staff and with the surrounding regional community – as well as the role of digital. We also discuss how she balances drive and ambition for the University with the practical reality of prioritisation, and she additionally reflects upon the changing shape of the Higher Education sector, and the potential for greater collaboration and partnership.  This mini-series is kindly sponsored by PACT Solutions, which helps universities achieve their ambitions through digital transformation — specialising in the student journey, student records, data & reporting, AI and change management. The Association of Higher Education Professionals is proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

    39 min

  8. 07/10/2025

    Andy Winter, Helene Usherwood, Jeremy Shute: Redundancy, Restructure and Beyond

    Guests: Andy Winter, Interim Director of Student Life at the University of Kent; Helene Usherwood, Senior Partner at Anderson Quigley; Jeremy Shute, Fortune 500 Leader and Co-Founder Ignition Strategy.     The Higher Education sector is adapting to the changing strategic and financial environment, and a particularly visible part of this adaptation is restructuring within many institutions. In this episode, 3 guests from inside and outside HE reflect broadly upon restructure and redundancy – how we talk about it in day-to-day working life, the impact it can have, how it is led, and the type of support that can be valuable in helping colleagues and institutions transition to a new phase. We also delve into the topic of who owns a career path, and whether we need to change our approach to better embed career conversations into overall professional life. While we will not have captured every angle of a redundancy and restructuring experience, the episode aims to provide an important space for some reflections and advice.  The Association of Higher Education Professionals is proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.

    53 min
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3 Ratings

About

Job Shadowing HE takes a deep dive into the roles of people who work in Higher Education. Featuring guests from across the sector, each episode reveals what’s involved in a specific role, the career path that led to it and tips on how to get in and get on in these jobs. Presented by Susannah Marsden.

Information

  • Creator
    Susannah Marsden
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Job Shadowing HE