Introducing NCUK
History
The Northern Consortium was created in 1987 by eleven British universities to facilitate
their collaboration in establishing and running foundation courses for international
students. The Northern Consortium’s activity is delivered through its commercial arm
called the NCUK. Building on its achievements and experience over the last 25 years,
NCUK has become a highly successful education organisation working in a rapidly
expanding number of countries. Its aim is to provide a range of cost-effective pathway
programmes to prepare international students for part or all of their university study
outside their home country. NCUK programmes have been delivered in 15 countries
worldwide and are currently offered in China, Kenya, South Korea, Ireland, Japan,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia and the UK.
Today NCUK has established itself as a global pathway provider delivering a suite of highquality widely recognised undergraduate and postgraduate preparation programmes in
nine countries. Over 22,000 students have experience the NCUK pathway to higher
education with over £500m in tuition fees generated for the universities.
NCUK Owner Universities
The eleven owner universities that came together to set up NCUK and which still own the
Northern Consortium today are:
The University of Bradford
The University of Huddersfield
The University of Leeds
Leeds Metropolitan University
The University of Liverpool
Liverpool John Moores University
The University of Manchester
Manchester Metropolitan University
The University of Salford
Sheffield Hallam University
The University of Sheffield
Many other UK universities welcome NCUK qualifications, not just its founding
universities. In addition, our qualifications are recognised in Australia and the Republic of
Ireland.
NCUK Company Structure
The ‘holding’ company for the Consortium is the ‘The Northern Consortium’ a company
limited by guarantee and wholly owned by the eleven universities listed above
(Registered Company Number 2788226). The Northern Consortium is also a UK
registered charity (Registered Charity Number 1018979).
The Northern Consortium has a wholly owned ‘trading’ company Northern Consortium UK
Limited (Registered Company Number 4842064) through which the bulk of the
organisation’s activity is undertaken. Both The Northern Consortium and Northern
Consortium UK Limited are known as NCUK.
NCUK Programmes
NCUK currently offers three different types of pathway programme:
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
The NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY) is a modular programme that
prepares students for first-year entry to a wide range of bachelor degree courses.
Students take combinations of modules appropriate for their intended degree
course.

The NCUK Graduate Diploma (Grad Dip) and Pre-Masters Programme (PMP)
provide specialised English for Academic Purposes (EAP) training and an
introduction to the research skills needed for success at Masters level.

The NCUK International Diploma programmes (Int Dip) in Business, Computing
and Engineering are first-year undergraduate degree level equivalent programmes
that will articulate into the second-year of selected undergraduate degree courses.
International Diplomas can be combined with the IFY to form a 2+2 study
programme.
Our full range of programmes and further information about NCUK can be found at:
http://www.ncuk.ac.uk/programmes
The NCUK UK Office
There are four teams based in our Main Office currently: Academic; Students, Systems
and Delivery; Marketing and Business Development and Finance and Administration.
The NCUK Academic Team covers a wide remit, from the production of syllabuses,
assessments and QA material, to the registration of students on NCUK programmes,
managing QA processes, organising exam boards, finalising results for all NCUK students
and the issuing of certificates.
NCUK’s Students, Systems and Delivery Team have oversight of the NCUK student
experience and provide the infrastructure and processes to facilitate the progression of
successful NCUK students to university courses.
NCUK’s Marketing and Business Development Team, is responsible for NCUK’s marketing
strategy, identifying and developing new business opportunities, raising awareness of
NCUK and its study programmes and promoting NCUK externally and within its owner
universities.
The NCUK Finance and Administration team manages all matters related to NCUK
Company finance and legal matters and provides general office and administrative
services.
Location
NCUK’s main office, where this post will be based, is located in the Sackville Building on
the North Campus of The University of Manchester in central Manchester (formerly
known as the UMIST main building). Currently we have 20 full-time staff based in
Manchester. We also have two smaller offices overseas, with four members of staff in
Beijing, China and one in Lahore, Pakistan.
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MARKETING OFFICER, RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
Job Description
Reports to:
Director of Marketing
Job Purpose:
To make a significant contribution to implementation and
development of NCUK’s strategy undertaking projects and providing research and
analytical support to the Marketing, Business Development, Student Services and
Academic teams.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
1.
To support NCUK’s marketing and business development through the provision of
market research and analysis
2.
To monitor market trends and competitor activities in international higher education
and to interrogate internal and external datasets in order to prepare market
overviews and market updates.
3.
To proactively research and source lists of schools, overseas education institutions
and related organisations for business development purposes and to develop and
manage a database of prospects and key contacts (including Embassies, British
Council, UKTI, BIS).
4.
To support the provision of data and analysis to inform business decision-making and
to fulfil NCUK’s reporting obligations.
5.
To ensure effective exchange and dissemination of market intelligence and relevant
information (including NCUK data) internally and with key stakeholders on a regular
basis, to inform the recruitment and development activities (of NCUK and its’ owner
universities).
6.
To research competitor programmes to inform new programme development.
7.
To provide support for marketing communications including sourcing key information
and statistics to support production of marketing campaigns and collateral (including
UK rankings and international rankings information as it relates to our owner
universities).
8.
To commission and project-manage specific research and activities such as mystery
shopping, student focus groups and surveys with registered NCUK students,
prospective students, prospective partners and key stakeholders.
9.
To play an effective role in supporting NCUK marketing activities with the marketing
team and the wider NCUK team. To contribute to marketing initiatives such as UK
based international events including student events, UK university partner events etc
10. To undertake other duties as required by the Director of Marketing.
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Person Specification
Qualifications and experience (* = desirable but not essential)
1.
Degree or appropriate equivalent qualification in a relevant subject (such as
Economics, Statistics, Information management).
2.
Marketing qualification*
3.
A minimum of one year’s experience in a research/analyst role involving the analysis
of statistical, economic or international data for marketing or business development
purposes.
4.
Experience of desk based research and using databases and online information
resources.
5.
Experience of presenting data and analysis to support problem solving or marketing
decisions
6.
Experience of commissioning and managing desk research or market research
projects*
7.
Knowledge of the UK higher education and transnational education*
8.
Experience of problem solving/working on own initiative
9.
Experience of organising, prioritising and co-ordinating workloads within an
environment of competing demands and deadlines
10. Experience of working as a member of a team, providing effective support and
assistance to colleagues where required
Skills (Essential)
1.
Market analysis and research skills
2.
Excellent IT skills including MS Office, Word, Excel and Access
3.
Project management skills
4.
Database management skills and/or student record systems*
5.
Ability to manage a diverse workload
6.
Ability to work constructively as part of a team and in isolation
7.
Excellent interpersonal skills
8.
Excellent oral and written skills including writing reports
9.
Excellent customer service skills
10. A high level of personal organisation and attention to detail
11. Ability to problem solve and work under pressure, to deadlines
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Salary and Benefits
The benefits include a competitive starting salary around £20,000 plus membership of
the Company’s defined benefits pension scheme (University Superannuation Scheme see
http://www.uss.co.uk/). Holiday entitlement is twenty-seven days plus public holidays
and other days when the University of Manchester is closed. The post offers development
opportunities for the right candidate.
How to apply
Please complete the NCUK Application for Employment Form. In the Section
“Supporting Statement” you should address each of the points in the ‘Person
Specification’.
NB Interviews will last approximately two hours including 45 minutes for a preinterview test.
Please send both the completed application and the completed task to Caroline Beirne:
caroline.beirne@ncuk.ac.uk Please note incomplete applications will not be considered.
Informal enquiries are welcomed via email only to Piera Gerrard
(piera.gerrard@ncuk.ac.uk).
The deadline for applications is 17.00 hrs on Friday 14TH June 2013
Interviews will be held at the NCUK Office in Manchester on
Thursday 4th July 2013.
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