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<\/a><\/p>\nWithin universities, secretaries, clerical workers and administrators have had to acquire specialist skills and knowledge.\u00a0 We have had to learn on the job, using advanced computer systems and communications.\u00a0 We have taught ourselves to become experts on university funding, teaching and research initiatives.\u00a0 The corporatisation of universities has had a profound impact on the way HE institutions operate and our roles have been affected. Our roles have changed to those of higher education professionals and we daily respond to changes, pursue complex tasks, deliver innovative solutions, facilitate learning and development, drive the student experience and effect outcomes.<\/p>\n
When universities were established in the 60\u2019s<\/a>, secretarial\/clerical workers\u2019 jobs were much more about paper pushing.\u00a0 Nowadays, we are much more multi-skilled and we do all the functions ourselves.\u00a0 The expertise of this body of staff is crucial to the core of the university\u2019s structure and I believe that the professional administrative service is integral to the strategic success of the University of Kent.<\/p>\n Talking to colleagues, here are some anecdotes about how work has changed:<\/p>\n \u201cOur work is often project-based, or we work as a team member on other projects\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOn a daily basis, I am asked to think outside the box, solve problems and come up with new solutions<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNowadays, I\u2019m always thinking about the bigger picture\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI manage my own work\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI make autonomous decisions effecting the way things are done within the university\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It is often the female, clerical and administration team who are the experts at the \u201csoft skills\u201d and the \u201cspecialist skills\u201d – counselling the students, greeting visitors, doing the ground work for projects, managing student admissions, balancing the finances, writing the press releases, overseeing course administration, brokering student employment initiatives \u2013 all skills which can easily go unnoticed.<\/p>\n It begs the question, if one of these skills was performed by a man, would it have a grand title and be better paid?\u00a0 We often associate the word \u201cmanager\u201d with one who controls.\u00a0 Feminine administrative functions are perceived as nurturing – feeding, nourishing, supporting, and furthering the development of.\u00a0 Nurturing is usually quietly done, with much of the work invisible \u2013 and this clearly aligns with the perception that clerical and administrative functions can easily go unnoticed and be undervalued.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These days, Higher Education clerical and administrative staff are expected to be equipped with multifarious skills and competences and the role of professional administrative staff is seen as pivotal to the success of an organisation.\u00a0 Many tasks require a high level of professionalism and education, and some require commercial or political acumen. Within universities, secretaries, … Continue reading The evolving and multifarious role of the administrative professional<\/span>