Our Services
UCEA’s services for Subscribers and the sector as a whole include:
Professional advice
UCEA’s highly experienced human resources advisers respond to written and verbal enquiries from across the higher education sector. From part-time pension queries to the legal implications of the Freedom of Information Act, UCEA’s advice is based on direct knowledge and experience, extensive research, expert input and access to a broad range of human resources and higher education networks.
Updates
Updates are the primary printed information resource provided by UCEA to its subscribers and provide a speedy response to developments within the sector. Covering all areas of higher education human resources management, Updates are emailed or posted to heads of human resources, vice-chancellors and others.
Research
Underpinning much of the advice and information UCEA provides to the higher education sector is a range of research undertaken on a regular basis. Recent examples include the annual survey of senior salaries in the sector; research into the progress of implementation of the Framework Agreement on pay modernisation; surveys on recruitment and retention practice; and further research on clinical academics and other healthcare professionals. UCEA’s own research is complemented by further analysis of research undertaken by other bodies within the human resources and higher education sectors.
Negotiation
As the employers’ representative on the New Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (New JNCHES), UCEA negotiates with the five trade unions active within higher education on a range of issues, chief amongst them being pay. The unions are EIS, GMB, UCU, Unison and Unite. Whilst the Framework Agreement on the modernisation of pay, also negotiated through JNCHES, has seen increased negotiation at a local, institutional level, a number of issues remain negotiable nationally. These include any increase in pay rates for higher education staff
and certain terms and conditions.
Lobbying
UCEA lobbies Government and other organisations, on behalf of the higher education sector, on issues connected with employment and human resources management, reflecting universities’ and colleges of higher education’s desire to see their staff well rewarded and well treated for the work they do. It also aims to ensure that any changes in employment law take account of the particular circumstances of higher education.
Pensions
UCEA is working with other HE agencies to help the sector devise a pensions strategy over the next ten years, responding to the huge demographic and organisational changes currently underway.
Briefings
UCEA provides regular verbal and written briefings to a range of audiences, including higher education institutions, professional organisations and sector bodies, on issues ranging from specific aspects of the Framework Agreement to pensions to employment law.
Consultation
UCEA’s negotiating role is underpinned by both ongoing and specific consultation with the higher education sector. The views of the sector are sought prior to pay negotiations, as well as on a range of other issues, such as employment clinical academics and general policy development. UCEA also seeks the sector’s views prior to responding to Government consultation exercises.
Health and safety
UCEA has lead responsibility within the higher education sector for the development of advice and guidance on health and safety as it affects both staff and students. UCEA’s Health and Safety Committee, which includes representatives from the Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA), develops and publishes best practice guidance on a range of health and safety issues.
Project management
As opportunities arise, UCEA submits funding bids for, and subsequently manages, projects which aim to increase capacity and promote good human resources practice within the sector. The most recent example of this work is UCEA’s management, as part of JNCHES, of the Working in Partnership project, which aims to increase the capacity of institutions and trade union representatives to work together towards shared aims and move away from more confrontational styles of working.
Seminars and events
A varied programme of seminars is arranged every year. Each seminar provides the latest information and views from experts from across the higher education and human resources sectors. Subscriber universities and colleges of education are invited to send as many staff as appropriate and a modest attendance fee is charged. Due to their popularity early booking is advisable.
Promoting equality
UCEA takes every opportunity to promote equality and to help employers move forward from just complying with legal requirements to ensuring that the principle of equality of opportunity for all staff underpins all activity within universities and colleges of higher education. Recent work in this area has included negotiating the Framework Agreement on pay modernisation, a key principle of which is equal pay for work of equal value; the publication, through JNCHES and in partnership with the Equality Challenge Unit, of the Race Equality Communication and Consultation Report and Toolkit; and the development of sector-wide approaches to tackling age discrimination and disability discrimination.