Rapid change and growing complexity are reshaping the leadership challenges facing Presidents, Principals and Vice-Chancellors.
Globally, the higher education sector continues to face significant pressures, from geopolitical instability and changing student expectations to rapid digital developments and country-specific challenges. In this increasingly complex environment, leading a higher education institution requires a broader and more adaptable set of skills than ever before. The scale and complexity of institutions, combined with multiple and often competing expectations, place significant demands on heads of institution.
This member benefit brings together Presidents, Principals, Vice-Chancellors and equivalent leaders from across Advance HE’s global membership for a three-part online series. It provides a dedicated space for senior leaders to step back from the immediate demands of their roles, reflect on the challenges facing their institutions and exchange perspectives with peers navigating similar circumstances. Each session is deliberately framed around provocative questions to challenge assumptions, encourage fresh thinking and stimulate open discussion, rather than provide simple answers.
Presidents, Principals and Vice-Chancellors are responsible for balancing short-term operational pressures with long-term institutional sustainability, reputation and impact.
This dialogue offers a trusted environment for candid discussion, peer learning and collective reflection on the leadership challenges shaping higher education today and in the years ahead.
Are you interested in joining?
The Leadership Challenge
Topics will be informed by the priorities and challenges facing institutional leaders and may include:
- Financial sustainability and business model transformation
- Leading institutional change in an increasingly complex environment
- Navigating governance, accountability and public scrutiny
- Harnessing AI and emerging technologies for institutional success
- Building resilience while balancing short-term pressures and long-term priorities
- Defining the future role and value of higher education institutions
Three Online Events
The sessions aim to catalyse fresh thinking through expert insight, spark meaningful debate and discussion, and enable international peer-to-peer dialogue among Presidents, Principals, Vice-Chancellors and equivalent leaders on the issues shaping higher education.
Session 1
Embracing AI or just using ChatGPT? Are we out of our depth – and what do we do about it?
Generative AI is transforming higher education at extraordinary speed. For university leaders, the challenge is not simply balancing risk and opportunity, but considering whether AI requires us to rethink the university itself. This session explores responsible governance, strategy, education and research, ethics, equity and data privacy, and how leaders can harness AI as a trusted thought partner rather than see it solely as a threat to creativity and academic integrity.
Session 2
Are our change programmes transforming our institutions, or just seeing us do the same with less?
Transformation has become essential as universities respond to mounting pressures. Yet many change programmes fail to deliver their intended benefits. This session asks how leaders can think differently about their institutions and social purpose, drive efficiencies without simply doing more with less, and enable creative problem-solving while maintaining a positive and inclusive culture.
Session 3
Why is there a divide between the rhetoric and reality of working with a governing body?
Effective governance is critical to institutional sustainability and success, yet the relationship between Presidents, Principals, Vice-Chancellors, Boards and Executives can be complex. This session explores how leaders can navigate these relationships effectively and asks whether current models of governance remain fit for purpose in today’s higher education landscape.
What You’ll Gain
Gain deeper insight into complex challenges by exploring the assumptions, tensions and factors that underpin them.
Test your thinking alongside experienced peers and develop greater confidence in decision-making under conditions of uncertainty.
Explore possible approaches, trade-offs and leadership considerations that can be applied within your own institution.
Build relationships with fellow Presidents and Vice-Chancellors through open, confidential and constructive dialogue.
The sessions use deliberately provocative questions to challenge assumptions and stimulate meaningful discussion.
Project Leads
Professor Susan Lea
Associate
Professor Susan Lea is passionate about the role of universities in transforming individual lives and positively impacting society through education, research and community engagement.
Alistair Jarvis CBE
Chief Executive
Alistair is Chief Executive of Advance HE, a member-led charity that supports higher education institutions to develop and improve with a particular focus on excellence in teaching and learning, effective governance, leadership development and embedding equality, diversity and inclusion.
Fiona Lennoxsmith
Head of Leadership, Governance & Management
Fiona Lennoxsmith is Head of Leadership, Governance & Management at Advance HE, where she leads a team of senior consultants to design and facilitate innovative leadership interventions, programmes and thought leadership for the Higher Education sector.
