Hilary Orpin BA Hons, PGCE, PGCertHE, MA

Associate Dean of Student Success

Hilary Orpin is an Associate Dean of Student Success at the University of Greenwich.

Prior to working in higher education, Hilary had an extensive career as a professionally qualified youth and community worker across London and nationally on a variety of different projects including youth arts, youth centres, young offending institutes, motor offending projects and alternative curriculum. She is passionate about social change and developing sustainable communities.

Hilary gained her management experience both within higher education and previously as a youth and community work manager. Hilary has developed a range of management experience during her time at Greenwich as both Acting Head and Deputy Head of department managing a team. Whilst deputy head she took the operational lead on employability and social enterprise within the department.

She has written and embedded social enterprise within two undergraduate degree programmes, launched the Social Enterprise in Education and Health Network (SEEH) at the House of Commons, and delivered the first Social Enterprise Festival at the University of Greenwich. She has also been programme leader for the youth and community work undergraduate degree, and organised and managed the students' professional practice.

She has broad experience as a course lecturer on both undergraduate and postgraduate level for youth and community studies, education and childhood and youth studies, and MA in Education and PGCert in Youth and Community Work Practice.

Hilary's lecturing interests include: history of education, history of childhood and youth, youth and community work, leadership and management in integrated services, and social enterprise.

Hilary's expertise in youth and community work practice has enabled successful validation on several courses including, management in integrated children and young peoples' services; the principle and practice of supervision; informal education; and social enterprise. Her research continues to develop with latest study for a PhD in Education.

Posts held previously:

  • 2013-15 Deputy Head of Department, School of Education, University of Greenwich
  • 2011-13 Programme Leader, BA Hons Youth and Community Work, University of Greenwich
  • 2007-11 Placement Coordinator, BA Hons Youth and Community Work, University of Greenwich
  • 2006-06 Freelance Consultant, Royal Borough of Richmond upon Thames and RUE
  • 2005-06 Manager Alternative Curriculum Project, Kent County Council
  • 2002-05 Manager Alternative Curriculum Project, Royal Borough of Richmond upon Thames
  • 2000-02 Regional Training Energiser, UK Youth
  • 1996-2000 Youth and Community Work Manager, Royal Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Early years studies Education studies

Responsibilities within the university
  • Associate Dean of Student Success

Recognition
  • External examiner, MA Applied Anthropology and Community; and Youth Work (professionally validated by the National Youth Agency), at Goldsmiths
  • External examiner, MA Applied Anthropology and Community Development, at Goldsmiths
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Research / Scholarly interests

Hilary's current research interests are linked to alternative education provision and the outcomes of the young people educated within alternative education provision.

Recent publications

Orpin, H. (2011). Ethical Issues in Youth Work by Sarah Banks reviewed in Youth and Policy, 107, pp. 104-105.