The HR in HE Community is an online forum for all staff working in HR, from the most experienced professionals to those looking to increase, expand or develop their institution’s HR function.
The Community enables staff at ACU member universities to connect directly, share knowledge and good practice, discover opportunities for collaboration and partnership and keep up-to-date with news and trends. From September 2025, the Community will be hosted on the ACU’s online networking platform, ACU Connect.
University HR functions have a unique responsibility: HR leaders must ensure the best staff are recruited, developed and retained, and that their efforts are aligned to the university’s strategic mission. The growth of many universities means the HR function has become increasingly complex and staff need to be supported to grow with their institutions. The HR in HE Community champions the importance of the strategic positioning of HR in higher education institutions across our membership.
Open to staff at ACU member universities working in the area of human resources, the grants support the essential work of HR within universities and the aims of the HR in HE Community.
Applications are currently open and will close on 13 August 2024, 3PM UTC.
Benefits
This community provides a dedicated online space where insights, knowledge and resources can be shared directly between university staff to support personal and professional development and inform institutional practice. Members have the opportunity to:
- Expand your international network and build new relationships
- Access and share resources
- Share knowledge and good practice
- Create and post in discussions with other Community members
- Discover the latest opportunities from the ACU and our partners including speaking and funding opportunities
- Promote the work of your HR team and university
- Engage in HR-related initiatives facilitated by the ACU
- Raise the profile of HR-related issues and contribute to the ACU’s policy and advocacy work
Join the community
There are two main ways to be part of the community:
Community member
The community is open to all staff members and students at ACU member universities - with over 400 member universities in 40 countries, that’s a potential group of 10 million students and more than 1 million academic and professional staff.
Whether you are a professional, academic, vice-chancellor or student at an ACU member university, by joining you will instantly become part of a global collaboration with a diverse set of potential partners. You can join as many ACU networks and communities as you like, at any time.
Steering committee
The steering committee sets the vision, strategic direction and delivery plans for the community. Some committee members also lead a thematic group that focuses on a mission-oriented or subject based theme for the community.
- Jennifer Ellis, Consultant and ACU HR in HE Community Steering Committee Chair, Jamaica
- Karen Mather, Director, Academy Affiliation and Organisational Development, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
- Kgomotso Kasonkola, Senior Director: Human Resources, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
- Teresa Nmadu, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), University of Jos, Nigeria
- Dr Navroz Surani, Director Human Resources - Talent Development, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
- Dr Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities
- Ayana Gloudon, Assistant Registrar – Recruitment, University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago
- Paula Cottrell, Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development, Staffordshire University, UK
Advisors
- Elizabeth Baré, Honorary Senior Fellow, LH Martin Institute
- Alison Johns, Chief Executive, Leadership Foundation for Higher Education
- Taiwo Folasade Ipaye, Former Registrar & Secretary to Council, University of Lagos
Country Liaison
- Dr Sally Jackson, Chief People Officer and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Diversity and Inclusion), Sheffield Hallam University, UK
We have a selection process for recruiting Steering Committee members when vacancies arise. We will announce when there are opportunities to join on this page.