Effective communication and collaboration between professional staff, administrative departments, and academic staff are essential for creating efficient, supportive, and productive university environments. However, differences in priorities, workflows, organisational structures, and communication practices can sometimes create barriers that impact relationships, service delivery, and institutional outcomes.

This interactive workshop will explore common communication challenges experienced across professional, administrative, and academic areas. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own experiences and identify factors that contribute to misunderstandings, duplication of effort, delays in decision-making, and missed opportunities for collaboration. Through facilitated discussion, the workshop will examine how differing perspectives, expectations, and organisational processes influence communication across teams.

Following a brief overview of key themes and challenges, participants will engage in small-group discussions to share examples of successful and unsuccessful communication practices within their institutions. Groups will then work collaboratively to identify practical strategies for improving communication, strengthening relationships, and fostering a more collaborative culture across professional and academic boundaries.

The workshop aims to generate actionable ideas that participants can apply within their own contexts, while also providing an opportunity to learn from colleagues facing similar challenges. By encouraging open dialogue and collective problem-solving, the session seeks to promote greater understanding, trust, and partnership between professional staff, administrative units, and academic colleagues.

Participants will leave with a range of practical approaches and insights that can support more effective collaboration, enhance workplace relationships, and contribute to improved institutional effectiveness.

Bernadette van Lunenburg, Lecturer in Management and Marketing, Department of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business and Economics