Focus Programme

What is Focus?

Focus is the University's continuous improvement programme, established in 2018 and led by Gill Aitken, the Registrar. It covers the spectrum of professional and administrative services that support Oxford’s academic mission.

Focus galvanises positive change and is currently helping the University respond to the challenges of COVID-19.

Aspiration

Focus aspires to an exemplary administration: one that underpins and sustains the University and can self-review and improve to accommodate new demands without a corresponding growth in costs. Focus is about working smarter and developing our staff, so we become the best that we can be.

Angles

Focus is interested in:

POLICY PROCESS DATA
Simplifying policies and communicating them clearly Improving efficiency and reducing unecessary complexity Developing trusted data sources
SERVICES SKILLS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Reviewing and improving services delivery models

Developing process improvement skills and increasing institutional capability for change

Creating greater consistency across roles and stronger networks to support professional development

Approach and methodology

Focus uses structured methodologies to deliver large projects and smaller quicker interventions. Focus provides the tools to help people think differently about what they do and how they do it.

Focus takes a diagnostic, problem-solving and joined-up approach. The Focus experience is participatory, collaborative and hands-on.

Focus trains and empowers you and your team to identify your own solutions and sustain your journey of improvement, going forward. We don’t do projects ‘for’ you or ‘to’ you – we help you succeed in achieving the changes you identify.

Benefits

The benefits we are working towards include enhanced staff/customer satisfaction, business continuity in the face of COVID-19, saved time, reduced cost, lowered risk, improved data sources and improved compliance.

Find out about the Focus Programme here.