Issue #48: October 2025

The Human Engine of Higher Education: Behind every policy, every strategy, every change, it’s people who make HE work.

As global and sector turbulence continues to reshape higher education, this month’s Development Monthly reminds us of what holds us steady: connection, courage, and care. We begin with a message from Rachel Hill-Kelly, AHEP’s new Chair, who shares her vision for a thriving, collaborative community of HE professionals. Rachel reminds us that AHEP’s strength lies in its members, in the shared purpose that unites us as we face the challenges ahead.

This spirit of collective growth also shines through in our feature on the Professional Services Insights Survey. As Thea Gibbs explains, “This new survey is designed to run regularly and provide valuable insights into the experiences, views and aspirations of UK PS staff… a window on trends in the workplace as well as insights into hot topics of the moment.” Jonathan Dempsey adds that “we as professionals are not resting on our laurels… we need the support of our leaders to champion diversity within our profession and build a sustainable future for each other, our institutions, and the sector as a whole.” Finally, we have the collaborative sustainability piece that emerged from our conference workshop earlier this year. A great example of how working together across institutions and disciplines can ignite new ideas and shape a more sustainable future for our sector. Together, these pieces remind us that higher education is about people as much as strategy or survival. It’s about showing up with courage and compassion. It’s about making space for learning, for listening, and for each other.