Three teams from SHU have been shortlisted for the Times higher Education Leadership Management Awards (THELMAs). The awards aim to highlight the work done by teams, often out of the limelight, to lay the groundwork which allows institutions to achieve success.
The awards showcase and celebrate the best examples of innovation, teamwork and enterprise and are open to anyone working in higher education. Below are the three categories in which SHU teams have been nominated and some information about their excellent work.
Excellence in Registry Services
The Registry Services team led a significant development programme to partially re-implement the student management system (SITS).
The enhancement of the existing system has allowed the provision of accurate, up-to-date, personalised data, improving effectiveness and accessibility, and enabling a step-change in the quality of institutional information.
The improvements to the system have delivered two new online tools: the ‘Curriculum View’ and the ‘Student View’. These user-friendly web tools display relevant live data from the system to colleagues to support their specific professional activities. The technological innovation involved in this work arguably puts Sheffield Hallam at the forefront among SITS users and has significantly improved the effectiveness and accessibility of the system at SHU.
Personalisation through the allocation of personal roles means that the user sees what is relevant to them first and data disclosure is easily managed as individuals see only what is required for their role.
The transition to the new system was implemented collaboratively, working closely with academic and professional services colleagues throughout the programme.
Feedback from presenting at HE sector events confirms that this is sector-leading work, with sector colleagues reporting on its ingenuity.
Outstanding Student Services Team
Sheffield Hallam is recognised as an exceptionally inclusive university, supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds and giving them the best opportunity to succeed during and after their time at the University.
Our Student Services Team provides outstanding support to all students during their studies and we are one of only thirty-eight universities who have taken the Stand Alone Pledge; a commitment to support students who are studying without the support or approval of a family network.
The team provide pre-entry support in the form of outreach, information and application support for students estranged from their families, links to homeless shelters and a dedicated Vulnerable Groups Co-ordinator. Support is also provided during study such as one to one guidance and peer to peer support as well as priority access to financial support schemes. The team ensures a joined-up approach by working with other teams in areas such as accommodation, employability and outreach as well as student funding who provide Student Finance England Guidance appointments.
Outstanding Employer Engagement Strategy
We are leading the way in supporting the apprenticeship agenda, and are the first university to have a dedicated resource to work with industry and in the development of Higher Degree Apprenticeships (HDAs). The growth in HDAs has been rapid: intakes of 70 in 2015/16 rose to 130 in 2016/17 and almost five hundred in 2017/2018).
We have commenced apprenticeships with approximately 100 new SME and large businesses within the region and have won national contracts with Dixons Carphone, Morrisons, Network Rail and Wipro, to name but a few.
Employer engagement has been stepped up through workshops and seminars as well as a range of support packages and toolkits to support employers.
Our inroads into HDAs and business engagement, as well as sustained connections with local and government agencies, mean we are now fundamental in helping to support our region’s economic growth and addressing the workforce skills gap.