Connecting with people

As part of Professional Services Together we encourage colleagues to build their professional networks and work collaboratively to further strengthen our Professional Services communities.

This area provides information about existing communities of practice, active professional networks (internal and external), forums and conferences for Professional Services staff. You can hear about professional communities and how they are supporting different groups of staff at this presentation recorded at the 2023 Professional Services Conference.

 

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If you would like to add your Professional Services network or forum (internal or external) to the directory below, please contact us at pod@admin.ox.ac.uk.

To start a Community of Practice, or learn more about how they operate, please explore our toolkit.

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Internal Networks

Education Administration Community of Practice

The Education Administration Community of Practice supports the development of a professional identity for those working in education-related professional services roles across the collegiate University.

We believe that creating more opportunities for colleagues to meet with each other to develop and share good practice will foster an increased understanding of the value of education administration in the context of Oxford and the wider UK sector, enhancing the university’s mission to provide students with an excellent academic experience.

Find us on our Teams page

Internal Networks

Professional Services annual conference The Professional Services Conference (formerly the UAS Conference) provides an opportunity for colleagues in professional and administrative roles to get together and engage with issues impacting the University. Visit the Staff Gateway, Professional Services Conferences page for further information.
The Business Continuity Network (BCN)

The Business Continuity Network is a thriving community for all staff involved in any aspect of business continuity work across the central and collegiate University. Routinely, the network meets via Teams on the first Wednesday of every
month and has an in-person Annual Meeting in Trinity Term. In the event of a major incident or disruption, meeting frequency will increase as appropriate.

Teams Meetings last 30 minutes and include: horizon scanning for potential disruptions, business continuity planning guidance, sharing best practice and answering questions. There is a dedicated Teams channel for resource sharing and communication
between meetings.

Please contact Neil Unsworth, Head of Risk & Resilience, for more information: 

neil.unsworth@admin.ox.ac.uk
Career support network     Confidential and impartial career advice for administrative and support staff. Further information is available on the People and Organisation Development website.
Continuous Improvement CoP The Continuous Improvement CoP provides a forum in which staff can learn from each other, share CI successes and inspiration and seek and offer support. Whether you’re a complete CI novice or someone bringing experience, you can join our growing
network of like-minded colleagues seeking to make positive changes in our daily working lives.
You can access the CoP via the Focus LaunchPad where you can also download a joining pack that provides more information about
what the CI CoP  can offer.

EDU supported networks including:

  • BME staff network
  • Disabled staff network
  • LGBT staff network 
Information on equality-related staff and student networks, including networks supported by the Equality and Diversity Unit.  
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion network

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion network is for all staff involved in any aspect of EDI work in the University, including Athena Swan, race equality, and staff development and inclusion more broadly.

It is a friendly, informal group which aims to share good practice and provide advice and support to EDI professionals. The group meets four times a year and has a dedicated Teams channel for resource sharing and communication between
meetings.

Please connect with the EDI Community of Practice Teams channel.
The Wellbeing Staff Network

Join the staff network created by the Wellbeing Programme team, a place for all staff with an interest in this area to share wellbeing ideas, resources and best practice across
Departments and Divisions.

If you want to take it one step further and contribute directly to wellbeing initiatives throughout the University, apply to become a Wellbeing Champion

 

External Networks

Association of Higher Education Professionals (AHEP) AHEP is the professional association for those working in higher education administration or management. Membership provides access to training and qualifications, mentoring, and networking and collaboration opportunities to support you in
your career in the sector.
Contact details: Membership | AHEP

Internal Networks

Communications Community

Supporting Oxford’s communications community through collaboration and capacity building. A weekly Digest email shares campaign information, questions from the community, tools and tips, training opportunities, and job vacancies.

Any member of staff with communications as part of their role can subscribe. To do so, please send an email to communications-officers-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk asking to be signed up.

To send messages to the list, send an email to communications-officers-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk – eligible items will be included in the next Digest email.

The Event Management Team The Event Management channel aims to support you in all aspects of event planning, including events that are online, in-person, or a mixture of both. We encourage you to share ideas, ask for help and offer advice to fellow members.

More information can be found on our Teams site

Alternatively, please email events@admin.ox.ac.uk

Oxford Video Makers

A cohesive community of video makers in Oxford which aims to communicate regularly, share ideas and skills, and collaborate on common goals.

Suitable for those who make videos and audio as a significant part of their work. Friendly to, but not suitable for, those who manage fixed AV assets (eg lecture theatres, events) and those who use video in comms (eg social media managers) – but if in doubt, say hello!

Please email tom.wilkinson@admin.ox.ac.uk to find out more.
Oxford Creatives (Creative Hub)

An interconnected community of creatives in Oxford, who talk, share inspiration, ideas and skills, as well as collaborating on common goals and challenges. We encompass print and digital designers as well as illustrators, photographers and we work closely with the Oxford Video makers.

We are here to provide a supportive space, nurture talent and provide a knowledge centre. We also look to connect with the University's wider comms community through Creative Hub sessions and workshops run throughout the year.

If you are a creative working within any part of the collegiate University and using proven industry tools (Adobe Creative Suite, but not limited to), we would love to hear from you.

Please email brandanddesign@admin.ox.ac.uk to find out more.

 

External Networks

CIPR Royal Chartered body for public relations professionals. Committed to professional standards and lifelong learning, supporting the careers of our members and building public understanding of PR. Further information is available on the CIPR website.
CIM The Chartered Institute of Marketing is a professional marketing body. More information is available on the CIM website.

Internal Network

The Change Community Forum

The Change Community Forum is a network for anyone with an interest in introducing and managing change.  

Membership is broad and currently includes people working in business change and communications, Focus continuous improvement activity, departmental change projects, business analysis and project management. 

We meet every 2 months and are keen to broaden our engagement.   We hold project showcases, hear from guest speakers, and work to share best practice.  

We like to hear how challenges have been overcome and successes achieved so we can learn and improve approaches for future change initiatives.  Someone somewhere is always working through similar issues!  A great place to go with questions, and to talk through challenges in an inspiring, supportive, and confidential forum.

Join our growing group for an opportunity to collaborate and network and contribute towards improving approaches to change across the University. 

Internal Network

Advancing Oxford

The forum for development, alumni relations and communications staff across the University of Oxford.

Advancing Oxford brings together over 500 staff working across more than 80 different departments, colleges, alumni societies and the overseas offices to engage, to network and to learn – whilst simultaneously showcasing the immense impact of philanthropy across the collegiate University.

Advancing Oxford's SharePoint Site

External Network

CASE The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the global non-profit association dedicated to educational advancement—alumni relations, communications, development, marketing, and advancement services—who share the goal of championing education to transform lives and society. www.case.org/

 

Internal Network

The University EA PA network group

The University EA and PA Community of Practice is a growing network of Executive and Personal Assistants dedicated to sharing best practices across professional services.

We warmly welcome new members and regularly organise networking events, professional development sessions, and informal gatherings to foster community and collaboration.

Please email lucy.curtin@phc.ox.ac.uk to find out more. 

Internal Network

FM Forum Network

A Teams channel to connect colleagues from a variety of disciplines, including facilities management, safety, compliance, sustainability and building management.

FM Forum members meet termly to receive relevant updates on policies, discuss building management issues and share resources and best practices.

Request to join with this link.

For more information please email estates.communications@admin.ox.ac.uk

External Network

AUDE : Association of University Directors of Estates  

Find out more

The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM)   Find out more
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)   Find out more

Internal Networks

Finance Community

All colleagues across the University working in financial administration (including relevant research administration) are invited to join the Finance Community.

The aim of the Finance Community is to create opportunities to come together, meet other people doing similar jobs, learn, support each other, and share good practice. We particularly hope to provide opportunities for finance officers or assistants to get involved. 

For details of upcoming events (seminars, surgeries, annual conference and mid-year roadshows), past event resources and how to get involved visit Finance Community | Finance Division (ox.ac.uk).

Join the Finance Community Team, or contact finance.pogs@admin.ox.ac.uk to find out more.
Finance Division Staff Forum

The Staff Forum is a voluntary group of staff members from across the Finance Division.

The Staff Forum's purpose is to represent the views of staff working in the divisions, to make decisions in respect of our working environment and allocate the dedicated budget accordingly.

Information on the staff form can be found on the finance website.
Professional Trainee Network Community We have developed a ‘Finance Professional Trainee Community’ to bring together finance colleagues from across the University who are studying, or wishing to study, a professional qualification, whether in accountancy or another discipline. Email finance.hbs@admin.ox.ac.uk for more information.

 

External Networks

AAT

The Association of Accounting Technicians is the world’s leading professional body for Accounting Technicians, with over 150,000 members worldwide.

There are 4,250 licensed AAT accountants providing accountancy, tax and business advisory services to more than 400,000 British businesses.

Further information can be found on the Association of Accounting Technicians website.
ACCA    Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is the global professional accounting body offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification. More information is available on the Association of Chartered Certified Accounts website.
BUFDG   British Universities Finance Directors Group
CIMA

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants is a UK based professional body offering training and qualification in management accountancy and related subjects.

It is focused on accountants working in the industry and provides ongoing support and training for members.

Further information can be found on the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants website.

 

Internal Networks

Growing Good Governance Internal Network

The GGG is a newly created space (July 2023) in which academic and professional services staff can engage with others involved in governance related work across Oxford.

We aim to share good practice from both within Oxford (UAS, departments, divisions and colleges) and from outside.

A place for debate, sharing of best practice, a forum for seeking advice on those tricky day to day dilemmas that we can be faced with and a source of information for colleagues navigating their way through the Oxford committee structure.

You can contact Lara.McCarthy@admin.ox.ac.uk, Sarah.Cowburn@admin.ox.ac.uk or louise.hasler@admin.ox.ac.uk for more details and access to our Teams site.
Compliance and Risk Network

The CRN aims to enable professional services staff across the whole University (UAS, departments, divisions and colleges) to keep in touch with the central Risk & Resilience team and each other, to share best practice and knowledge in an environment where resources are limited and compliance requirements only ever seem to increase.

We meet termly and also have a Teams site for sharing information and seeking advice between meetings.

Contact niamh.young@admin.ox.ac.uk for more information or request to join the Teams site.

Internal Network

Safety Network

The Safety Network is an extensive community comprising professional safety advisers and other safety role-holders.

Its purpose is to provide advice and support to all areas of the University.  It also provides direct support to the University’s Safety Executive Group and links with the Consultative Committee for Health and Safety. Safety Organisation | Safety Office (ox.ac.uk).

Members of the Safety Network are connected via a dedicated Teams site and work is coordinated across the Network by a Steering Group.

Please email enquiries@safety.ox.ac.uk to find out more.

External Networks

Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA)

USHA promotes safety and health in higher education ensuring the wellbeing of university staff, students and visitors.

It produces statistical analysis of the sector’s H&S performance, runs events seminars and conferences, and publishes professional standards and guidance documents. 

USHA leads the way with consultation and lobbying on national policies on the world stage, and offers members a community of support, knowledge sharing and networking.

More information can be found on the USHA website.
IOSH The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health is a global organisation for health and safety professionals. Further information is available on the IOSH website.

Internal Networks

Academic divisional HR networks

Normally termly network meetings for HR staff from Departments, Divisions and University HR within a Division.

Networks aim to provide updates on developments in HR, revisions to policy/practice, best practice sharing and the opportunity for networking.

Contact your divisional office or HR Business Partner
HR annual conference To bring together HR professionals from across the University in order to:
Provide;  professional development, build a deeper understanding of University-wide HR issues, support the career and personal development of participants, build effective networks across the University, further improve the effectiveness of the HR function
Contact your departmental HR manager, HR Business Partner or the HR Support general enquiry email address:hr-support@admin.ox.ac.uk
Learning and Organisational Development (OD) Network

The Learning and Organisational Development (OD) Network is for any member of professional services staff whose job predominantly involves learning and / or OD work. This includes staff working in departments, divisional offices, UAS and GLAM.

Please request to join via this Teams link.
Recruitment Community of Practice

This Community of Practice is for staff who manage and deliver recruitment by providing their department with expertise in attracting, assessing, and appointing employees and workers, across any of our varied staff groups. Recruitment will be a significant part of your job and could involve recruiting academics, researchers, professional services and support staff, or temporary workers.

The purpose of the Community is to:

  • Share good practice and develop a consistent, transparent approach to recruitment University wide
  • Improve inclusivity
  • Source expertise internally & externally
  • Process CI
Please email: heledd.gwilym@ndm.ox.ac.uk and helen.johnson@admin.ox.ac.uk to find out more.

External Networks

CIPD (national and local branches)

The professional body for HR and people development. Aims to champion better work and working lives, influence policy makers and provide an internationally recognized gold standard for HR and People Development.

Membership offers; Career hub and qualification levels, HR knowledge hub and research, Employment law support, People management publication, News and updates, Local networks and events, National events.

Website: CIPD main website and CIPD Thames Valley
The Staff Development Forum (SDF)

The Staff Development Forum (SDF) is a nationally recognised and regionally representative charitable organisation, representing and working with staff and organisational developers in Higher Education (HE) to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and organisational performance of the sector and its workforce.

Website: SDF – Staff development Forum – Developing Excellent Practice
Universities Human Resources (UHR) Leading HR in Higher Education. Provides development networking and communication to support Human Resources and Professionals in Higher Education Members can access CPD, UHR discussion boards, regional networks, a career framework with events, training, mentoring and an annual conference.  Website: www.uhr.ac.uk/
Universities and Colleges Employment Association (UCEA) Aims to develop excellence in HR management, enhance knowledge in the sector and represent the collective interests of members. Oxford is a member at the organizational level.  Website: www.ucea.ac.uk/

Internal Networks

ICTF    

ICTF is a body that represents all whose job function includes management, delivery or support of ICT throughout the Collegiate University.

It provides a framework that promotes and facilitates excellence incorporating the full involvement of ICT Staff in both the strategic development and day-to-day running of ICT in the Collegiate University.    

Further information can be found on the ICTF website.
ICTF conference   The ICTF Conference is the University’s all-day conference for everyone at Oxford who works in ICT. More information can be found on the ICTF website.
ITS3 ITS3 serves as a two-way channel for communication between IT Services and the approximately 650 IT Support Staff (ITSS) in the Colleges and departments of the collegiate University.     Further information can be found on the IT services website.

External Network

British Computer Society  The British Computer Society is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in information technology and computer science. More information can be found on the British Computer Society website.

Internal Networks

Business and Operations Managers (BOM) Network The Business and Operations Managers (BOM) network (formerly known as BIM) is open to everyone in an operations role across the University (irrespective of rank, grade and seniority) and creates a safe and inclusive space, with a focus on people who are new to Oxford or new to a Department/College/role and connecting them with their peers.

please email Iris.Hofmann@idrm.ox.ac.uk or matthew.brack@politics.ox.ac.uk

Internal Networks

RISN

The Research & Innovation Support Network (RISN) is a community of colleagues involved in the support and management of research and innovation.

It is a means to share best practice, encourage interdisciplinary activity, and identify opportunities for engagement.

Website: RISN Internal Network
Project Administrators’ Network The Project Administrators’ Network provides networking opportunities for research administration staff in the Humanities Division and Social Sciences Division. Email pan@admin.ox.ac.uk for more information.
Departmental Research Ethics Committee Network

The Departmental Research Ethics Committee Network (DREC Network) is a community of members of the University’s Departmental Research Ethics Committees and their administrators.

The Network meets once a term for talks on a variety of topics and to share good practice.

Go to the DREC Network website for more information.

Go to the DREC Network SharePoint site for more information.

External Networks

ARMA ARMA (UK) is a professional association for research management in the UK. ARMA represent research leaders, managers and administrators, offering professional development and opportunities to build networks, knowledge and skills. Website: ARMA External Network
PraxisAuril

PraxisAuril is an educational not-for-profit organisation set up to support innovation and commercialisation of public sector and charity research for social and economic impact.

PraxisAuril encourages innovation and acts as a voice for the research commercialisation profession, facilitating the interaction between the public sector research base, business and government.

PraxisAuril provides a forum for best practice exchange, underpinned by a comprehensive training and development programmes.

Website PraxisAuril Network

Internal Networks

Green Impact channel For Green Impact members and others who are promoting environmentally sustainable practices across Oxford University and colleges, to share resources and support networking, knowledge exchange and news. Request to join with this link. For more questions contact sustainability@admin.ox.ac.uk
Sustainable Lab Leaders A Teams channel to connect lab practitioners in promoting sustainable lab through LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) by sharing resources and informal discussions. Request to join with this link. For more questions contact sustainability@admin.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Environmental Sustainability Community For environmental sustainability leads across colleges, departments and divisions to collaborate on specific topics to advance our environmental goals. We meet regularly in person and also have a Teams site to share / ask questions. To join the network, colleagues can fill out the brief form here.

Internal and External Network    

The Technicians Network is for all technical staff working at the University.

To join the network, please use the link on Supporting Technicians at Oxford.

Professional Services Together and POD are working in partnership to support and develop Communities of Practice at Oxford


Looking for tips on how to build on your professional networks? Take a look at the resources below: