Ian Sinker

Biography

Having previously undertaken a number of academic and professional service roles within the University, and its legacy institutions, I am currently the Associate Dean of Academic Development and Innovation (ADI). I joined St. Martin’s College in 1999 from my post as youth and community work manager and practitioner for Lancashire County Council, where I had worked for 10 years primarily involved in developing inter-agency projects for young people and communities in urgent social need, and a range of youth and community development projects. I also worked with young people in the criminal justice and care systems as an Intermediate Treatment Worker, and as a part-time youth and community worker in a range of projects.

Reporting to the Executive Dean I lead the ADI team which, along with a range of other administrative and delivery colleagues, includes:

• The Head of Educational Partnerships and Lifelong Learning
• The Head of International Development
• The Industrial Partnerships and Contracts Lead (Nuclear)
• The Programme Leader for Integrated Foundation Programmes
• The Head of Widening Participation and WP Projects
• The Deanery Enterprise and Business Development Leads

The main aims of the role include:

• Strategic leadership of relevant areas of activity including academic development and innovation, collaborative provision and partnerships, widening participation (including OFFA and Hefce requirements and initiates), international development and lifelong learning.
• Leading diverse externally facing specialist activities that will strengthen the University’s external profile, identify and grow business opportunities, develop its operational effectiveness, improve quality and sustainability and enhance the student experience.
• Overseeing the achievement of agreed income generation and other targets (Home/EU/International), and of a range of mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships.

My priority in the next 12 months is to build on recent good practice within the university and to develop an infrastructure and ways of working which allows ADI and colleagues within it to work closely with the Deanery (particularly Heads of Departments) and other colleagues from across professional services to provide coherent, consistent and effective support and to deliver ongoing work/ projects which diversify and maximise the university’s income and ability to respond with agility to sustainable external opportunities.

Previously I was the co-Head of External Relations/  Director of Partnership and Development at UoC after leading the setting up of this new service in September 2010. This included management and strategic responsibility for the University of Cumbia’s central external facing activities and services which included Academic Partnerships and Collaborative Provision (including HE in FE provision), Widening Participation (and the OFFA Agreement/ Hefce WP Strategic Statement), International Development, Enterprise and Business Relations, Alumni and Development and Stakeholder Management/ Regional Strategy. I also played a key role in leading the development of the University’s work in Lifelong Learning and non-standard/core academic activity.

Other previous posts within the University, and its legacy institutions, include Head of UK Partnerships/ Executive Director of the Lifelong Learning Network, Head of School (School of Applied Social Science), Head of Youth and Community Studies and Principal and Senior Lecturer.

Qualifications and memberships

• Member, Hefce Widening Participation Reference Group
• Governor (Chair of Learner Experience), Furness College
• Governor (Chair of Staffing and Curriculum), Morecambe High School

Academic and research interests

The transformational nature of education for individuals and communities, the role of partnership, making education accessible to all who could benefit from it and the role of UoC in this.

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