Business skills are needed to help university sector recover say Interim Managers
Funding problems, skills shortages and poor commercial leadership are just some of the challenges currently facing UK universities according to a new survey of interim managers who work in the sector conducted by Russam GMS.
Almost eight out of ten (78%) of interims questioned stated that the outlook for the sector had got worse over the past six months. 60% don’t see the sector recovering any time soon, 30% were unsure and just 10% disagreed.
Funding was cited as the top challenge. However, the interims also reported that many institutions are experiencing a skills shortage and that they lacked people with business experience and commercial skills. They said that universities were struggling with too few resources and yet recruitment has been put on hold in many areas according to 60% of respondents.
Other problems noted were a lack of strategic planning and poor commercial leadership.
John Wilson, head of universities at Russam GMS said, “There are multiple challenges facing universities currently – not least of all funding problems. One of the key themes that emerged from the research is that the sector has become highly competitive – especially for the newer universities, with students now acting like consumers particularly since the increase in tuition fees.
“There is a clear need for many universities to become more commercial and adapt their business models if they are to attract the best students and have a sustainable future. In such a difficult climate, interim managers can be an affordable and flexible way to bring in people with commercial experience and the entrepreneurial skills to deliver change, help with strategic planning and business development and get things back on track, even on part time or temporary basis.”
About Russam GMS Ltd:
Russam GMS is the longest established mainstream provider of Interim Managers in the UK with a 30 year industry track record and this year was awarded Best Interim Provider 2011 at the Recruitment Consultant awards and last year won ‘Best Interim Recruitment Agency’ at the Recruiter Awards for Excellence 2010.
The company is a search-driven consultancy and has a data base of 12,000 Interims which is the most comprehensive working database and range of contacts within the UK Interim Management industry. It provides Interims across a wide range of disciplines to board level across a variety of sectors including financial services, manufacturing, central and local government, financial services, aerospace and defence, healthcare, universities, charity and not for profit sectors and the private equity and venture capital sectors.
Russam GMS views the Interim Management Market more holistically and entrepreneurially than its competitors. It runs a unique Associates Programme for Interims which includes career advice, job news, events, training and its IND~EX Weekly newsletter to all its 12,000 registered Interim Managers. It has established www.TrusteesUnlimited.co.uk and also www.InterimWomen.com and has a growing number of JV arrangements with third parties building on its strong delivery capabilities across the broad Interim Management field.