HEIs are no exception and recruiting the right support staff is a very challenging task. HEIs are described as complex organisations with a range of stakeholders (www.the highereducation.com) where academia and research rely on the administrative backbone. Professional services support staff are the pillars of the Institution and hence investing in the right people is crucial for the success of the Institution. 

To retain people, employees have to feel valued. In today’s era, employees have high expectations and are after a work life balance. Hence, employers need to look into offering more family friendly measures and find innovative ways to help parents return back to work.

The aim of this Staff Week is a continuation of the good work started during the Staff Week organized by the University of Gdansk in October 2023. It aims to foster discussions, share experiences and identify tangible best practices that can be implemented to attract and retain professional services support staff within our HEIs amid the challenges we are facing in the current competitive markets.