Understanding Satellite Campuses

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Project leader

Dr Craig Gaskell, Dean of the Scarborough Campus, University of Hull, will lead the project.

Steering group

A small steering group will be formed to support the project. The following composition is proposed:

Project Leader
Project Support Officer
PVC Learning and Teaching from the University of Hull
Executive Director of the AUA
Senior Management Team member from a small HEI, possibly from MASHEIN, but out of the scope of this project

Project's administrative home

The University of Hull

Aims and objectives

The aim of the project will be to develop a better understanding of the current models adopted in UK Universities that operate a “main campus and satellite” model. It will seek to:

Provide a detailed understanding of the current situation in the UK with respect to main-satellite campus structures, with particular attention to the approaches adopted for leadership and management of the satellites.
Develop a set of story-based case studies from a selection of organisations (up to 10) that will be targeted for detailed study.
Set the work in the context of the published literature.

The project will provide a contribution to knowledge and a comparison of approaches that will be of interest to institutions with satellite campuses. It will be of particular significance as institutions look to continue to satisfy the specific agendas often served by satellite operations, such as increased local participation, while also looking towards a challenging future funding horizon. A better understanding of effective and efficient models and best practice in this respect will become critical if satellite operations are to remain sustainable.

The project will help to highlight existing leadership, governance and management approaches to HE satellites and the results will inform those with future decision making responsibilities for satellite campus operations.

Proposed methodology

The proposed methodology will include:

Literature Survey: Survey of the current literature on satellite campuses and multi-campus institutional models.
Desk Research: Desk research to develop a detailed understanding of the structures, statistics and externally observable strategies associated with UK institutions that operate a main campus and satellite model.
Survey: Questionnaire based survey to elicit more detailed information from institutions that operate a main and satellite model with a particular focus on the strategic approach and leadership roles currently in operation.
Case Studies: Select candidate institutions (estimate up to 10) to provide case study information and visit the institutions to elicit their specific stories. Where possible we will consider the perspectives of both the senior executive responsible for the satellite campus and the Vice-Chancellor of the HEI.

A mixed (quantitative/qualitative) methods approach will be used. Following analysis of the available data and a survey to better understand the general picture, a conversation-based qualitative approach will be used to elicit detailed case study information from a group of selected candidate institutions.

Although the primary subjects will be UK-based HEIs there may be a need to cross-reference to institutions overseas and the project will be set in the context of the literature currently available that relates directly to satellite and multi-campus Higher Education.

Outcomes, outputs and dissemination

The proposed outputs of the study will include:

Conference Paper: Presentation of the findings at a relevant conference (e.g. AUA, Society for Research in HE).
Journal Paper: An article on the results of the research to be submitted to a peer reviewed international journal.
Direct Dissemination: Direct dissemination of the results/findings of the project to all participating institutions.
Workshop: Organisation of a 1-day workshop aimed at all institutions broadly associated with the study, with the aim to examine the findings in more detail and develop a new network for colleagues with satellite HE campus leadership roles and responsibilities.

The intended outcomes will include:

Understanding: A better understanding of models, approaches and experience associated with satellite campuses in UK Higher Education, with particular emphasis on the leadership models, management structures and the trends associated with their evolution.
Knowledge: A contribution to knowledge in relation to satellite and multi campus strategy, leadership and operation, an area that is currently lacking detailed analysis.
Network: Initial steps towards formation of a new network for satellite HE campuses in the UK to start to help share thinking and develop best practice.

Intended benefits

An increased understanding of the models, issues and approaches to satellite campus organisation, management and leadership and an improved knowledge base to help support decision making as organisations develop their satellite operations will be of significant benefit to the sector. Although there is some published work that relates to satellite campuses there is a significant gap in the current literature, particularly in relation to the UK. This study will have significant sector-wide benefit in providing a foundation to begin to develop an improved body of knowledge to enable HE satellite campus experience and practice to be shared. It will also lead to a greater understanding of the subtleties of the different models and approaches and the historical tracks taken by various institutions to develop them. This will be particularly relevant given the current and future pressures on HEIs to improve their financial efficiency.

Maximising the operational efficiency of satellite campuses, which by definition are often perceived as more vulnerable in times of cost cutting, while ensuring they carry out their missions effectively, will be a key consideration for those with leadership responsibility in the HE sector. The partners involved in the study will benefit from early direct dissemination of the findings and the opportunity to engage in a broader support network of institutions working in a similar context.

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