At FindAUniversity, collaboration with universities isn’t something we talk about in theory, but it’s embedded in how we work every day.
One of the most important ways we bring this to life is through our UK Advisory Board: a group of experienced higher education leaders in the UK who help shape our direction, challenge our thinking, and ensure what we build genuinely meets the needs of the sector.
Our Advisory Board isn’t a one-way conversation. It’s a space for open, honest dialogue between peers. Members bring deep institutional knowledge and strategic insight, and in return, they gain early visibility of emerging ideas, the opportunity to influence product development, and a trusted forum to explore shared challenges.
This means we’re not developing solutions in isolation. Whether we’re refining existing services or exploring entirely new products, universities are part of the process from the outset and not just at the point of delivery.
The strength of the board comes from the relationships within it. Over time, members have developed a close-knit, trusted environment where they can share ideas, test thinking, and discuss sector challenges candidly. That level of openness is essential, particularly when conversations touch on strategic priorities or sensitive areas of institutional activity.
Board members are typically senior leaders, bringing a strategic lens to discussions and ensuring that conversations remain focused on long-term impact as well as immediate needs.
While strategic discussion is at the heart of the board, the relationships behind it are just as important. We meet face-to-face at least twice a year, creating dedicated time to step away from day-to-day pressures and think more openly and collaboratively. These sessions often include a walk in the Peak District, alongside plenty of time for informal conversation and getting to know each other beyond our roles.
That balance of structured discussion and social connection has helped build a strong sense of trust and openness within the group. Outside of these meetings, members stay connected and regularly reach out to one another for advice, ideas, or a sounding board, creating an ongoing, supportive network rather than a set of scheduled interactions.
We work with universities at all stages - whether they are exploring new approaches, scaling existing activity, or navigating complex strategic decisions. The Advisory Board plays a key role in helping us understand those different contexts and respond in a way that is both relevant and practical.
It also allows us to sense-check ideas quickly, ensuring that what we develop reflects the realities of the sector, not just assumptions.
The higher education landscape continues to evolve at pace, bringing both new challenges and new opportunities. Our Advisory Board remains an important part of how we stay grounded in the realities of the sector while continuing to think ambitiously about what comes next.
By maintaining close, collaborative relationships with university partners, we ensure that our work is informed, relevant, and responsive. It allows us to keep learning, keep challenging our assumptions, and keep building solutions that genuinely support institutions in achieving their goals.