1. What is your job title?

I’ve just started as the Manager: Planning and Analytics at the University of South Australia.

NB: I’m a boomerang AAIR member and have returned after a few years working in academic services and quality improvement.

2. Briefly, how would you describe your role in your institution?

My role is to design and implement business intelligence systems/resources to support strategic planning, monitoring, and review.

3. From your perspective, what will be the key skills, capabilities, and knowledge required for institutional research moving forward?

It’s critical to understand the business and market context, have effective communications and stakeholder engagement, and be solutions/results focussed …

… plus be an expert in matrix arithmetic, etc.

4. What do you believe will be the future priorities or emerging areas of interest for institutional research, in particular, since COVID-19?

I’ve only been in the role for a few weeks, but instinctively, I think the changing environment and business model(s) will require more insight to support strategic and integrated workforce planning/management.

5. Complete this statement: In my role, I can’t operate effectively without …

… my Luckdragon!

Simon Potts

October 2021