Alan Stafford is the Director of the Academic Partnerships and Implementation teams at Epigeum. He is responsible for leading both teams globally, along with maintaining and growing the collaborative partnerships that Epigeum have with institutions around the world. Alan graduated from the University of Liverpool, and has worked in Higher Education publishing since 2008, focusing on both print and eLearning resources. He has previously worked for Oxford University Press, Cengage, and Macmillan International Higher Education, and joined Epigeum in October 2018.

What brought you to Epigeum?

I was really impressed by what I had seen from Epigeum when doing competitor analysis of them in my previous role. In particular, I was impressed with the collaborative Development Group model that we use, which allows universities to share the cost of developing a programme with other institutions, network with other experts in their field to share knowledge in order to make the programme as relevant as it can be, and then access that programme in perpetuity. The quality, diversity, relevance, and importance of Epigeum’s programmes, and being a part of the prestigious and not-for-profit Oxford University Press, was also something that drew me to Epigeum, encouraging me to join the organisation in 2018.

Which parts of your role do you enjoy the most?

There are several parts of my role that I enjoy the most. Attending the collaborative Development Group workshop is a fantastic experience: seeing people come and work together from around the globe to mould a programme into the best possible version it can be. Watching the programmes evolve during that process is also fascinating, and truly shows the benefit of the collaborative approach. I also really enjoy meeting current and prospective customers on campus, to hear about the positive impact that our programmes are having on the institution, as well as discussing their needs and offering relevant solutions. Finally, I enjoy working with all of my colleagues, who are also extremely collaborative and positive with lots of great ideas for the future, and who really reflect the values of Epigeum and Oxford University Press.

What does your workspace say about you?

My workspace varies from day to day, as I split my time between visiting universities, meetings at our London office, and working in my home office. Therefore, my workspace can take the form of a table seat on my train to London, a coffee shop on campus, or my desk at home, where I spend a couple of days a week and is set up for regular Skype calls with my colleagues and contacts at institutions.

What do you do in your free time?

Most of my free time is spent with my wife and young family: Joseph, 8, Nicholas, 6, and Eleanor, 4. When I’m not taxiing them to their many activities, we’ll go out for walks and play football, board games, the Nintendo Switch (they love Mario Kart), and more. I also like going to concerts as well as watching live stand-up comedy, the occasional theatre show, and watching Liverpool FC on TV – and occasionally at Anfield when I’m lucky enough to get a ticket!

Tell us something we don’t know about you.

I have recently started coaching my son Joseph’s Under-8 football team, which has its highs and lows, and has only increased my respect for primary school teachers. It’s also fair to say that I’m no Jürgen Klopp!

To find out more about Epigeum’s work with universities and colleges, or to arrange a consultation, please get in touch with us.