You can now book your places for all of AMOSSHE's remaining professional development events for this academic year, including the AMOSSHE National Conference 2021! All these events take place online during the day in the British Summer Time (BST) time zone.

Creating an anti-racist culture: the role and impact of Student Services

This conference explores how Student Services leaders and their teams can tackle racism and create an anti-racist culture in higher education, through strategic planning, service delivery and practical initiatives.

We're so excited about our lineup of inspiring speakers for this event, including Stuart Lawrence (activist, campaigner and author), Professor David Richardson (University of East Anglia), Nkasi Stoll (Black Student Wellbeing Study, Black People Talk, King's College London), Yannick Yalipende (Black People Talk, University College London), Samantha Budd (National Union of Students), Dr Arun Verma (Advance HE), Khadija Mohammed (University of the West of Scotland), Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, Professor Rowena Arshad (University of Edinburgh), Professor Randall Whittaker (Leeds Arts University) and Dr Gurnam Singh (Coventry University).

When: Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 April 2021

Cost: £109 for AMOSSHE named members or £149 for non-members

Book here

Self-care in Student Services: looking after yourself and your teams

We all know that working in Student Services can be challenging at the best of times, with stressful situations to manage and workloads that can often feel overwhelming. The changing contexts brought about by the pandemic have only piled on the pressure. With our focus on the wellbeing and welfare of students, it’s easy to downplay or neglect our own self-care. It’s hard to support ourselves when trying to support others – but we’ve got to walk the walk as well as talk the talk! This practical workshop for Student Services leaders in higher education provides ideas, techniques and perspectives to help you support your own mental health and wellbeing at work, as well as that of your colleagues.

Join us to explore how you can support yourself and your colleagues when managing stressful situations directly (handling difficult people or traumatic situations, pressure to perform or deliver, disrupted work-life balance) and also when encountering other people's stress and distress. Take part in activities designed to develop your approach to self-care, and learn ways to ensure that your teams are as well considered and supported as your students. Discover for yourself how creativity can enhance your wellbeing, and share your experiences and ideas with peers in a supportive, positive space.

When: Wednesday 19 May 2021 from 09:30 to 13:30 (BST)

Cost: £59 for AMOSSHE named members or £99 for non-members

Book here

AMOSSHE National Conference 2021

The AMOSSHE National Conference 2021 is an opportunity to reflect on the energy, creativity and commitment of Student Services, establish strategic connections, and take our achievements forward. The conference is an inspirational, collaborative space for Student Services leaders to share expertise and good practice, develop strategy and skills, and build professional networks.

The key themes for this conference are reflections, connections and ambitions:

• Reflections – let’s take time to review what has taken place in higher education during the year, including our understanding of the student experience, and how different kinds of students have been impacted in new and unexpected ways. Let’s evaluate and appreciate the innovative work that Student Services teams have undertaken, adapting quickly and flexibly to the demands created by the pandemic and emerging sector issues.
• Connections – the impact of the pandemic, as well as social movements such as campaigns to tackle racism, inequality and sexual harassment, have emphasised the importance of collaboration and networks. It’s vital to ensure that our students and colleagues are connected and meaningfully engaged. Let’s identify how Student Services can work with colleagues and communities within and outside higher education through co-creation, evidence-based understanding and action learning.
• Ambitions – let’s look forward to the future of Student Services, drawing on all we’ve learned and the connections we’ve made. What are our strategic ambitions as Student Services leaders? How can we leverage the high-profile attention on our work this year to establish innovative approaches and responsive services that enhance and develop students? Let’s consider how we further establish ourselves as positive, proactive leaders, developing skills and finding solutions.

When: Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 July 2021

Cost: £185 for AMOSSHE named members or £225 for non-members

You can take your pick of all the sessions over the three days, and you'll get recordings of all the presentation-based sessions afterwards!

Book here