ALDERMAN’S APPLICATION LACKED EVIDENCE OF “INTERPERSONAL SKILLS” AND OF ABILITY TO WORK WITH UK BORDER AGENCY

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL OVERSIGHT AT THE QAA

ALDERMAN’S APPLICATION LACKED EVIDENCE OF “INTERPERSONAL SKILLS” AND OF ABILITY TO WORK WITH UK BORDER AGENCY

Professor Geoffrey Alderman, the internationally-known authority on the shortcomings of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), described himself as ‘deeply shocked’ on receiving feedback following his failure to be short-listed for the post of Director of Educational Oversight at the QAA.

‘Following my utter devastation [Alderman explained] at not being short-listed, and being naturally anxious to improve myself and enhance whatever career prospects I may still perchance enjoy, I asked the QAA for some honest-to-goodness feedback on my failure. This morning I got it, in the form of an email from the Agency’s Human Resources & Organisational Development secretariat.’

‘Typically, the QAA did not mince its words [Alderman continued]. In a hard-hitting judgement it declared that my application had contained only ‘partial evidence’ of meeting the QAA’s exacting selection criteria in two areas, namely "resource management" and "well developed interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with senior staff in institutions and other organisations (including UKBA)”.’

‘My gast was flabbered! After all, my carefully crafted application for this post highlighted, inter alia, my experience in relation to the strategic management of an HE institution whose operating budget ran into well over £100 millions per annum. What is more, the application pointed out that key players in the Home Office in relation to Tier 4 (international students) were personally known to me.’

Asked whether it might not be true that, at least to some extent, he lacked the ability to ‘work effectively’ with one or two senior staff Alderman launched into a robust defence of his managerial profile. ‘Working effectively [he insisted] is not the same as being liked. Some people (offhand I can't think who) may not like me.  But by jingo they sit up and take notice whenever I put finger to word-processor.’

Alderman added that he understood no-one had been appointed to the post of Director of Educational Oversight at the QAA. ‘I’m prepared to forgive and forget,’ he explained, and I have told the Agency that – in the national interest -  I am standing by to take up this important position at a moment’s notice.’

Note for Editors:

‘Educational Oversight’ is a newly-established inspection process which the QAA runs on behalf of the UK Border Agency.

Professor Alderman, who holds an endowed professorship at the University of Buckingham and is a visiting professor at several UK and overseas universities, may be contacted atgeoffreyalderman@gmail.com or on 07850-457289.

This statement is issued by Professor Alderman in a personal capacity.

[1 August 2012]