Rob Rattray’s Post

I know this probably isn't the space for such things, but if any of my #Sheffield contacts know of any part time jobs for a diligent driven hardworking undergraduate with outstanding communication skills, could you let me know please? My daughter is not having much luck at the moment so her dad is trying to help her out!

Yesterday, I dropped off my daughter who is starting the next stage of her journey at the University of Sheffield. From the very first moment I took her for a campus tour (she had never visited a university before with her school), she was smitten. She has brought nothing but joy to our lives, and I must admit, after years of advising others, it was really tough to say goodbye. I was quite emotional, and not just because I'm not allowed to put a pool table in her bedroom. I'm so excited about how her story develops. A massive thank you to Daniel Capewell for his advice and kudos to Jess Stott and her team for amplifying her excitement through your events on campus. I really have sharpened my focus on what Open Days need to be for all stakeholders, and through my introduction of 'the Gift' to academic colleagues, we can work together to ensure that the passion and excitement of higher education is guaranteed for potential students, but their parents and carers too. It makes it all a bit easier.

And so it begins again!

A collision of worlds! it's great to be able to bring my outreach work together with my rugby coaching for the Ujima Summer School at Leeds Beckett University. Both have been able to complement each other over the last couple of years and now it will be great to bring the fun and sense of community that both provides in a new context. #noncontact

What a week! 1 Personal Statements session 4 days across 3 universities to introduce the Gift to support open day academic sessions What felt like 477 hours sat in traffic jams (has anyone seen anyone work on the M1?) And tomorrow, an attempt at the Yorkshire 3 Peaks in aid of Maggie's Centres who have been so supportive to my dear friend and her family as she bravely battles triple negative breastfeeding cancer. Here's hoping I make it!

Part 2 of advice for Academic Outreach - Designing your activity #studentrecruitment #outreach #wideningparticipation #schools

I have had numerous conversations over the last few months about improving outreach for universities, not only from the Schools and Colleges Liaison point of view, but also for academic colleagues. I have decided to write three blogs on this topic, to be released over the next few weeks. Part one explores what we need to consider to maximise the impact of this work and appeal to various audiences. Part two will focus on designing your academic outreach, and Part three will concentrate on delivering this activity. I hope they help, or stimulate conversations. As ever, I'm always happy to discuss on here or via rob@synoeducation.co.uk #outreach #studentrecruitment #academicoutreach #workingwithschools

I have a question for some of my university admissions/ outreach contacts if anyone can help please? I have advising some students who are taking the C-tec in Business, who have now been told that the school have been teaching them the wrong curriculum and they have three weeks to resubmit all of their work. Many are understandably concerned about their university options if they do not complete this to the correct standard. What safeguards to you have at your institution should unfathomable things like this happen to students? My view is that the school, rather than the student should write to each institution to explain this, in hope of mitigation, but I'm keen to find out how this may be managed in your university. Please message me if preferred! Many thanks

If any of my contacts could support great events like this, it would be gratefully received!

Rob or Robert? Robert is definitely the house name that I grew up with and usually came with a few exclamation marks after it! But what's in a name? Over the last few weeks, I have met numerous outreach professionals who have been lead to believe that Schools and Colleges Liaison isn't a priority in the current institution. There seems to be a divide in those institutions investing in their teams, and those who are not. So let's take a moment to think our house name when we're at our universities. Dare we use the word 'Sales'? For some it seems to sit uncomfortably but can anyone name a successful multi-million pound organisation that doesn't have a sales focus? It is different to marketing in many ways and it is not to diminish the work that marketing teams do (I have worked alongside some of the most talented marketeers in my contract with Leeds Beckett, such talent and commitment), but sales is different. We're on the road, we're meeting the market. We're meeting the people who don't believe in Higher Education and those who do, but have such anxiety regarding it. They are there to sell Higher Education AND the university that employs them. So when we're talking to our colleagues, please don't be afraid to consider using a different house name. It makes what we do all the more tangible to those who we can work with across our institutions. I doubt a school or college would welcome a sales officer in, but come on, they're not daft. Schools and Colleges Liaison, Outreach, Sales....what ever you choose to call it, is vital and the people who do it are brilliant. So let's finish this mad March off by celebrating the impact we can make, onsite and off.