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Partners
Session Partners
Advance HE is a member-led charity of and for the sector that works with partners across the globe to improve higher education for staff, students and society.
Three strategic goals support the priorities of our members and of the higher education sector:
Enhance confidence and trust in HE
Address systemic inequalities and advance education to meet the evolving needs of students and society
Support the work of our members and the HE sector.
Advance HE are experts in higher education, with a particular focus on teaching and learning, governance, leadership development and equality, diversity and inclusion. We work with a network of global associates and partners, and with people, providers and systems around the world, to understand different contexts and challenges in the higher education sector, and to deliver solutions.
We deliver support through a variety of channels, applying their expertise and sharing best practice. These include professional development programmes, events, fellowships, awards, surveys as well as consultancy and enhancement services.
In addition, membership provides a range of research, knowledge and resources for members, as well as accreditation for teaching and learning and equality charters that aim to advance gender and race equality in higher education and research.
ARMA (UK) is the professional association for research management in the UK. We represent research leaders, managers and administrators, offering professional development and opportunities to build networks, knowledge and skills. With around 4000 members, we work with UK-wide and international bodies to influence and understand the changing research management agenda, translating the impacts of that change for our members. We work with others to promote public trust in research, communicating its benefits and value. Most of all, we work to enhance research management as a professional partner in the UK research environment. We provide a wide range of membership benefits and development opportunities, including regular e-news, social media channels, a member magazine, a jobs mailing list and our Annual Conference.
BUILA is the UK-wide, membership-led organisation, supporting the work and professional interests of HE staff working on the international agenda. We do this by:
Providing a strong and unifying international practitioner voice, representing a broad and diverse sector.
Helping to shape and influence future policy at a national, regional and local government level, through lobbying and work with government departments.
Helping to unify the sector by supporting, enabling and encouraging collaborations with partners at key stages of the student journey.
Strengthening the sector by enabling the sharing of best practice and enhancing the knowledge and skills of our members.
CASE is a global, not-for-profit membership association with a vision to advance education to transform lives and society. CASE is the home for advancement professionals, inspiring, challenging, and equipping them to act effectively and with integrity to champion the success of their institutions.
CASE defines the competencies and standards for the profession of advancement, leading and championing their dissemination and application with more than 97,000 advancement professionals at over 3,000 member institutions in more than 80 countries. Broad and growing communities of professionals gather under the global CASE umbrella. Currently, these include alumni relations, advancement services, communications, fundraising, government relations, and marketing. These professionals are at all stages of their careers and may be working in universities, schools, colleges, cultural institutions, or other not-for-profits.
The Data City provides real-time insight into what companies actually do - replacing outdated SIC codes and manual desk research with AI-driven classification built on live web data.
Our Industry Engine platform maps the modern economy at both national scale and local depth, showing where innovation is happening, who’s driving it, and how sectors are evolving. Trusted by governments, banks, investors, universities and consultancies, The Data City supports everything from industrial strategy and innovation mapping to investment planning, skills programmes and due diligence.
Contact: Alex Craven, CEO
Email: alex.craven@thedatacity.com
www.thedatacity.com
Founded in 1967, Graduate Futures Institute is a community of more than 5,000 members from 150+ universities across the UK and Ireland to help graduates get where they want to go.
We believe that all students and graduates deserve high quality careers and employability provision at every stage of their journey, and that this work benefits individuals, employers and society. We welcome all who contribute to the employability of students and graduates into our community.
Hayhurst & Co creates high performing teams by specialising in mindset, culture and prioritisation. We provide training, consultancy and coaching to help university leaders to get things done, really well.
Contact: Vicky Hayhurst
Email: hello@hayhurstco.com
www.hayhurstco.com
Huron is a global professional services firm that collaborates with organisations to help solve their most complex challenges and achieve their most ambitious goals. Working across the private and public sectors, we partner closely with clients to improve performance, accelerate transformation, and unlock new opportunities for growth.
Our clients choose us because of our deep industry and technical expertise, and proven track record of turning sound strategies into action. By combining practical experience, innovative thinking, and advanced analytics and technology, Huron helps organisations translate today’s ideas into tangible results and long-term value.
Infonetica empowers institutions to streamline their entire research lifecycle through our intuitive, configurable, and secure software. Trusted by over 300 organisations across 15 countries, our cloud-based solutions automate workflows, strengthen compliance, and provide real-time insights - reducing administrative burden and improving research governance.
iNHouse Communications is a full-service public relations and public affairs agency based in Westminster, London. Founded in 2006, it specializes in media relations, political lobbying, and crisis management, working closely with major corporate, education, and non-profit clients to shape policy and public opinion.
Knowledge Exchange UK is the professional body for KE practitioners working in universities, private and public sector research organisations to manage IP commercialisation, collaboration and other types of engagement between researchers and external organisations to deliver social and economic impact through innovation and enhanced productivity and skills.
Oxford International is a global education platform led by a talented team committed to creating life-enhancing experiences for students worldwide. We believe in learning without limits and that global access to education provides opportunities for everyone regardless of borders and backgrounds. We are a trusted educational partner with over 30 years of heritage delivering higher education programmes, vocational programmes, online digital courses and testing and academic English language courses as well as providing education services to academic partners across the UK, Canada, Australia, India, Germany and the USA.
Contact: Shaun O'Sullivan, Executive Assistant, Business Development
Email: ShOSullivan@OxfordInternational.com
www.oxfordinternationaleducationgroup.com
Public First is a policy, research, opinion and strategy consultancy. We work with global companies, governments, start-ups, institutions and foundations around the world to tackle major public policy and strategic challenges. Our team have advised Prime Ministers, C-Suite Executives, successful entrepreneurs.
Public First operates globally. We are headquartered in London, and have an office in Washington DC. We support clients across a range of markets to understand public opinion, navigate policy landscapes and engage effectively with decision-makers.
Our London and Washington presence enables us to bring a transatlantic perspective to projects and insights spanning multiple regions, including our partnership with POLITICO, which delivers regular polling in the US and UK and comparative surveys across major democracies.
More importantly, our work is rooted in an understanding of real people in real communities. We test public opinion and attitudes across the globe and link that to effective public policy. We are a company partner of the Market Research Society and members of the British Polling Council.
SUMS Consulting is a not-for-profit consultancy owned by UK universities. With over 50 years of sector insight, we work alongside universities to solve complex challenges, improve performance, and deliver lasting impact. Our expert team, many of whom have held senior university roles, span the full range of universities’ activities. Through a collaborative, practitioner-led approach, we devise implementable solutions that create lasting value. We provide support to institutions around the world, helping them navigate global shifts while staying true to their academic mission and are proud to be the consultancy of choice for universities seeking evidence-based, sustainable change.
Contact: David Becker, Chief Operating Officer
Email: consulting@sums.ac.uk
Phone: 0118 228 4020
www.sums.ac.uk
Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) is a central space for academics, policy actors, and professional services staff who undertake and support academic-policy engagement. We champion academic policy engagement to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking in the UK.