In conversation with Professor Phil Vickerman

As Student Voice Season and the launch of the National Student Survey begins, we caught up with Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience, Professor Phil Vickerman.

Phil shared updates on the ongoing work across LJMU to enhance Education and Student Experience, what a typical day looks like in his role, his priorities over the next two years, plus how LJMU staff can support and ensure ‘every contact counts.’

Tell us about your current role and what a typical day looks like for you?

As PVC for Student Experience, my role is all about making sure students get the most out of their time at LJMU. That could mean anything from meeting with colleagues to plan new initiatives, checking in on how support services are working, or attending events that celebrate student achievements. 

No two days are the same, but it’s always focused on listening to students, supporting staff, and improving the overall experience for everyone on campus. In addition to my role as PVC for Student Experience, I also lead on the university’s climate and sustainability plan, as well as Athena Swan developments.

My message to colleagues is simple, ‘every contact counts’, and we all have a role to play in helping LJMU, our students, and staff, be the best we can be.

Tell us about your career prior to joining LJMU

Before coming to LJMU, I worked in a few roles, all focused on improving opportunities for children and adults to participate in sport. I started off my career working with adults with learning disabilities organising and delivering recreational activities in the community. I enjoyed the variety in this role and found the job really fulfilling creating opportunities for people to come together through the medium of sport.

Following this, I worked for two national disability sport charities where I led on opportunities for children and adults to access services at all levels of the development continuum. For a lot of the time, I worked in schools helping PE teachers to deliver inclusive activities. Another part of my role was to work with paralympic athletes at the pinnacle of their careers and utilise them as role models with children in schools. 

I’ve always been passionate about inclusive education and learning and these experiences certainly shaped my values on helping people to succeed. 

What project or achievement are you most proud of while working here?

I’d say one of the things I’m most proud of is leading on developing the university values of being student focused, inclusive, community engaged, and courageous in everything we do. These four values certainly speak to my own life experiences as well as fitting well with the mission of LJMU.

I am proud seeing how the values drive our university, students, and staff behaviours and how this shapes everything we strive for. Developing the institutional values was a major task involving consultation with all our internal and external stakeholders. Its moments like this when I see people talking about the values that reminds me why this work matters.

What’s your favourite spot on campus and in Liverpool?

On campus, there are a few spots I would place in my favourite list. I love the gardens at the back of John Foster Building, Student Union spaces in the Student Life Building, new Student Social Zone at Byrom Street, and the City Library quiet zones. However, if I was pushed to name one, I would say the JMSU space in the Student Life Building.

In Liverpool there are so many places again I love to visit. However, for me, you can’t beat the Anglican Cathedral where we hold our graduation ceremonies. I just love the range of spaces the cathedral offers, from quiet contemplation through to our graduation dinners. Seeing all our students, their families, and friends gather for graduation– it’s what the job is all about for me, celebrating our students, and their achievements in such a wonderful building.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

This is quite a tricky one, as I often hold onto various bits of advice and guidance from people in and outside of work. However, I am going to go for some advice I was given from Professor David Sugden who was my PhD supervisor at the University of Leeds. 

David would often say: “Listen first, act second, and always act with empathy.” These words have stuck with me in some respects for their simplicity, but also for the impact they have when you meet people. 

Outside of work, what are you reading, watching, or listening to right now?

I’ve just bought Gareth Southgate’s book ‘Dear England: Lessons in Leadership,’ as a few people told me how interesting the book was as it focused on insights from his time managing the England football team. I’ve just started reading the book but have been inspired by his leadership principles, resilience, and building culture. 
Over Christmas, I binge watched The Diplomat on Netflix. I don’t tend to watch drama programmes but got hooked on the trials and tribulations of an American Ambassador to the UK. 
I also have a Spotify playlist of about 70 songs I listen to when driving on long journeys – but I’ll leave to the imagination what you think my playlist consists of – suffice to say it is very, very, varied!

What are your priorities in the next two years and how can staff get involved?

Over the next couple of years, I’m focused on improving student wellbeing, expanding opportunities for experiential learning, and using student feedback to keep making things better. It all ties directly into the LJMU Strategy 2030 creating an inclusive, high-quality experience for all students. 

I have recently developed a Framework for High Quality Teaching and Learning that I am rolling out across the university. The Framework has six strands with the intention of enhancing the student learning experience and importantly supporting our staff to deliver the best teaching experiences they can. 

Staff can support by sharing ideas, participating in initiatives, and supporting students in every way they can. The more we work together, the stronger the student experience becomes. My message to colleagues is simple, ‘every contact counts’, and we all have a role to play in helping LJMU, our students, and staff, be the best we can be.

Executive Leadership Team

Professor Phil Vickerman is a member of the university's Executive Leadership Team providing leadership and direction, developing strategy and managing the operations and affairs of the university. Find out more about the Executive Leadership Team.