Developing future-focused academic leaders
Effective leadership within academic departments and sections is essential for the success of higher education institutions. Yet, opportunities for professional development for this group remain limited. The Academic Leadership Programme (ALP) addresses this need by supporting colleagues who are shaping the future of academic leadership.
This programme is commissioned by institutions or consortia and is designed to foster leadership that is values-driven, collaborative and impactful. At Advance HE, we believe leadership is not defined by hierarchy but by behaviours and influence at every level.
Why choose the Academic Leadership Programme?
Please note: This programme is available for institutional purchase only and is not offered as an open programme for individuals.
Tailored to your context and strategic priorities. Develops confident and effective academic heads and teaching leaders who cascade learning within their departments.
Equips leaders to head learning and teaching and drive innovation across the institution.
Builds leadership capability for tomorrow’s challenges.
Online, face-to-face or hybrid, with synchronous and asynchronous elements.
Delivered with institutions across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia.
The programme has been excellent. A particular strength has been the atmosphere in which it’s been delivered which has created a real sense of teamwork and sharing of experiences. The focus on influencing and leading change will really help me in how I approach day-to-day challenges and obstacles as well as how to approach more complex ones in the University.
University of Bahrain participant
Our approach
The programme introduces participants to the key dimensions of academic leadership and provides time and space to reflect on shifting from thinking about leadership to embedding leadership practices that deliver institutional objectives.
Our approach combines:
Evidence-based frameworks
Introducing ideas and techniques during sessions.
Practical application
Encouraging participants to trial approaches within their own departments.
Flexible delivery
Online or face-to-face, with a blend of live sessions, recordings and asynchronous activities that model good practice.
Learning outcomes
Participants will:
- Explore the nature of academic leadership and its application in diverse contexts.
- Examine leadership models and approaches to devolved and distributed leadership.
- Develop influencing skills and strategies for effective stakeholder engagement.
These skills are further developed across subsequent modules to ensure sustained impact.
