Report: What’s it really like to work in HE?

People Insight, in collaboration with the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA), is thrilled to present a new sector report, “What’s it really like to work in HE?”.

Leveraging our extensive Higher Education (HE) benchmarks derived from the 50+ HE institutes we partner with, this report meticulously explores the intricacies of the HE employee experience.

It not only highlights sector strengths but also identifies areas for growth, accompanied by strategic recommendations to help the sector attract and retain top-tier talent.

A glimpse into where HE excels

1. Purpose-driven work: HEI employees express a profound sense of purpose, fuelled by the positive impact they can make on students’ lives and careers.
2. Colleagues and teamwork: The collaborative spirit among colleagues is regularly cited as the most positive aspect of working in HE. Local teams naturally build a camaraderie that contributes to a more fulfilling work experience.
3. Learning and working environment: The learning-positive culture of HEIs resonates well with employees, offering ample opportunities for professional growth.

Areas for HE to develop

1. Connection to senior leadership: Trust and confidence in HE senior leadership tend to be marginally lower compared to the public sector, emphasising a need for improved connectivity.
2. Workload management: Approximately half of HE employees feel the need to regularly work excess hours to meet their weekly requirements, let alone to excel. This is unsustainable and signals a need for progress such as the recent introduction of flexible working.
3. Feeling valued: Over 40% of HE employees don’t feel valued or recognised for their contributions, a sentiment stronger among Professional Services staff where clear career pathways may be less defined.

Eager to learn more about engagement in the HE sector? Download the full report and check out our recent HE Learn & Share Webinar with King’s College London,  check out our guide on decoding the HE employee experience or get in touch with us about a higher education staff survey.

Have a look at our follow-up report with UCEA: Bridging the gap: employee experience in higher education