Episode 49: Spoons, Zombies and Fancy Gowns

The latest episode of the podcast sees me talking about stuff with Mike Shore-Nye who is Registrar and Secretary at the University of Exeter. We talk about Mike's role at the university and his title, which now has a classic feel to it but means that it requires some explanation, particularly to those not familiar with university administration. We learn that he has a rather good Registrarial gown too.

After graduation Mike worked for both Majestic Wine and Wetherspoon's before joining the HE sector having decided he needed to do something a bit more worthwhile. Stints at Liverpool, Manchester and Queen Mary Universities followed before he joined Exeter seven years ago.

Interestingly, Mike encountered Tim Martin, founder of Wetherspoon's, at a Brexit debate on campus and Martin picked him out, despite his having left the organisation many years before, and asked how he was getting on. 

Mike describes some of the strengths of Exeter and its recent strategy development and resulting organisational realignment in support of delivery of agreed strategic themes, drawing on a rugby analogy to make the point.

Looking to the future Mike sees big challenges ahead in terms of finances, industrial action and the expectations placed on universities and stresses the need for institutions to project ourselves better.

Finally he notes with pleasure the value and joy in graduation ceremonies and observes that the tone and atmosphere of different ceremonies is often aligned to the subject matter, for example slightly staid Law versus exuberant Drama, suggesting perhaps a future university parlour game of guess the discipline from graduation video footage.