ABSTRACT
At a higher education (HE) sector conference on public affairs, I found myself on my feet as the chair asked the audience to stand up if they worked in a newly created public affairs role. This exercise effectively showed how quickly public affairs had grown as a profession in the HE sector over the preceding two to three years. We are a new breed of communications professionals in UK universities. In a diverse sector, much of the recent growth represented by the dozens of delegates on their feet is to be found in younger universities where a public affairs function is often being set up for the first time. These roles may involve other responsibilities such as policy, media relations, community engagement, corporate communications, and supporting a vice-chancellor. They may also be part-time roles.
