University leadership

A university lecturer responds to a student's question.

Build a practitioner community to embed industry experience into your courses

Bringing industry professionals into your teaching roster brings a multitude of benefits. Lesley Pender shares insights on building a community of teacher-practitioners

Lesley Pender

University of Strathclyde

A group of students arm in arm

How to embed inclusion into the curriculum

From getting buy-in at the highest level within an institution to clearly communicating inclusivity goals, Liz Jones outlines the foundations for putting inclusion at the heart of the curriculum

Liz Jones

University of Leicester

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Equitable international research collaboration is possible – find out how

Lessons on building a successful international research collaboration founded on trust and respect between partners

Manuel Barcia

University of Leeds

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Greening your university is not optional; it’s urgent

Investing in greening your institution will result in huge savings in the long run. Here are some strategies that have worked for CETYS University

Isaac Azuz

CETYS Universidad

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THE podcast: two vice-chancellors on maintaining quality and financial stability within a university

Hear Anton Muscatelli of the University of Glasgow and Alex Zelinsky of the University of Newcastle, Australia, discuss the complexities of successfully running a university

Anton Muscatelli, Alex Zelinsky

University of Glasgow, The University of Newcastle, Australia

The evolution of a paper plane from crumpled to flying form

Ways to enhance your institution’s change agility

How to involve and empower staff to make changes that can have a big impact on their roles and the institution as a whole

Kristy-Jai Chantrey

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Elements of innovation on a blackboard

Six actionable strategies to be a successful ambidextrous leader

Ambidextrous leadership requires not only strategic planning but also a deep understanding of the needs – current and future alike – of the research group, institution or organisation. Here are six aspects to consider in its implementation

Greta Faccio, Valentina Lorenzon

Independent consultant, Independent academic

A woman studying at her laptop

Promoting online courses: five effective marketing strategies

Several ways to promote Moocs and other online courses, including a focus on email marketing and paid advertising

Luke Howard, Ari Badlishah

The University of Edinburgh

Figures attached by strings

Seven tips for successful collaborations with other institutions

Collaborating with other institutions is a complex process, but in the current education environment, it can be transformative. Here’s how to make it work for all parties involved

Sami Mohamed

Dubai Medical College for Girls

Two hands fit jigsaw puzzle pieces together

How to achieve interdisciplinary research? Focus on the people

Restructuring research domains around four communities allowed academics to find their natural home, writes Andrew Linn. Here’s how to do it

Andrew Linn

University of Westminster

Student holding her books smiling to camera

Giving voice and taking action: equity-driven leadership

Ways for leaders of community colleges to encourage collective practices that advance equity and social justice for their institutions and the wider community

Pamela L. Eddy , Kim VanDerLinden

William & Mary, University at Buffalo

Green target on building blocks, sustainability

Three ways to create lasting change towards sustainability in your university

Progress towards sustainability falters when institutions don’t understand how change works. Here, Nicola Rieg explains how to apply concepts from organisational change management to integrate sustainability in higher education

Nicola Rieg

University of Surrey

Female lecturer at her laptop smiling to camera

Enhance inclusivity by switching to a more equitable work allocation model

A new approach to academic work allocation at the University of Newcastle promotes an inclusive working environment

Nicole Bagnall

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Team of engineers are conducting an experiment in a lab

Developing a GenAI policy for research and innovation

Establishing a framework to guide AI use in research is vital for ensuring institutions are and remain fully compliant

Helen Brownlee, Tracy Moulton

University of East Anglia

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Building blocks of a successful staff-student environmental, social and governance committee

To embed sustainability across institutions can be challenging. Find out how a staff-student environmental, social and governance committee can align priorities and drive meaningful change

Emily Centeno

ESCP Business School

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Everything you wanted to know about National Teaching Fellowships but were afraid to ask…

The UK’s National Teaching Fellowships were established to recognise excellence in teaching and student learning. Fellow James Derounian asks if the scheme fulfils its goals

James Derounian

University of Bolton

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Ways to create time and mental space for strategic innovation in higher education

How higher education institutions can better position themselves to adapt and innovate

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University

A woman stands up in front of a boardroom table

How to navigate your first steps into leadership

Moving from colleague to taking charge can be a daunting transition. Kingsley O. Omeihe and Ibiyemi Omeihe offer advice on your first few moves as a leader

Kingsley Omeihe, Ibiyemi Omeihe

University of the West of Scotland

A young woman shakes hands over a desk

A blueprint for hiring innovative educators

Academics in Pakistan found the rules for hiring university teachers were letting well-rounded candidates, with real-world experience, slip through the cracks. Here’s how they changed and improved the situation

Asghar Zaidi

University of Oxford

Hands holding a compass

Taking on academic leadership even if you are not prepared for it

The call to leadership can come before you feel ready for a more senior role, as happened to David Waller. Here he shares what he has learned from five years as a department head

David Waller

University of Technology Sydney

A ball of paper gradually becomes a paper plane

Change is coming, whether higher education likes it or not

Universities may talk about digital transformation, but are yet to translate it into action. Here’s how to start building the momentum for change, instead of standing still

Andrew Greenway

Public Digital

Leadership concept

Growing into an academic leadership role

What qualities in new faculty members predict success in academic administrative leadership? Here, William Owen explores the traits that can see junior faculty transition effectively into more senior roles

William J. Owen

University of Northern British Columbia

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THE podcast: how technology is reshaping the 21st-century campus

When hybrid learning and immersive technology can connect and engage students working in any location, where does that leave all those lecture halls and libraries? We ask two US experts about how universities are adapting to the digital transformation

Stephen W. Harmon, Lev Gonick

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities, Arizona State University

International student concept

Taking an administrative office performance from process-focused to people-driven

Improving processes can start with an objective to help team members be happy in their jobs while supporting their office’s activities. These steps focus on staff, faculty and students rather than systems

Joanna Daaboul

Université de Technologie de Compiègne

Departures sign at an airport

It’s time: how to get your department off X

With a flurry of HE professionals leaving the platform, here’s how to notify your followers and provide alternative options for staying up to date

Ned Potter

University of York

A Black student in a lecture hall

Equity without whiteness: what leaders get wrong in pursuit of an equitable campus

How can equity be advanced within a system that protects the status quo, and how can university leaders make a difference? Jordan Harper, Rozana Carducci and Adrianna Kezar examine how

Jordan Harper, Rozana Carducci, Adrianna Kezar

Morgan State University, Elon University, University of Southern California

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THE podcast: how to prepare for university leadership

Middlesex University vice-chancellor Shân Wareing talks about the need to make the path to senior roles transparent and why confidence is not the be-all and end-all of leadership

Shân Wareing

Middlesex University

A group of people work in a room full of books

Tips for moving from learning designer to educational leader

Learning designers have all the skills to make great leaders. Here’s how to transition into the role

Paul Moss, Richard McInnes, Simon Marek

The University of Adelaide

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THE podcast: higher education leaders on their priorities for the new UK government

What will the UK’s new Labour-led parliament mean for university funding, research impact, international student flows and free speech on campus? Two higher education leaders share their perspectives on the challenges ahead

Vivienne Stern, Chris Day

Universities UK, Russell Group

A yellow ball rolls out ahead of blue blocks

We can face the challenge of corporatisation by embracing subversive leadership

Educational developers must balance the corporatisation of higher education with providing transformative education. To do this, subversive leadership is the key, argues Richard McInnes

Richard McInnes

The University of Adelaide

In a group of wooden toy people, a red one stands out

Emerging leaders, your universities need you

When a university is undergoing transformational change, emerging leaders are crucial for translating strategy into action. Zoë Allman and Gary Souter share their experience of leading on curriculum change

Zoë Allman, Gary Souter

De Montfort University

Compass pointing to sustainability

Why visible senior leadership in sustainability matters

Successful or sustainable? Is this the biggest challenge that universities face when striving to reduce their carbon footprint? Jan Evans-Freeman explains where leadership fits into the equation

Jan Evans-Freeman

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Advice on developing and managing successful interdisciplinary research teams

How to successfully develop and run interdisciplinary research teams

John Domingue explains how to foster a culture of openness and support that encourages and helps staff teams to pursue interdisciplinary research projects

John Domingue

The Open University

Two female colleagues discussing some work over a laptop

Eight ways to be a better leader

Being brave enough to make decisions without worrying about failure is important. Lead the way and you can inspire and develop your team, writes Padma Rani

Padma Rani

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Female leader in an office smiling at the camera

Five leadership tips for women in higher education

The first woman of Indian heritage to head a Russell Group business school shares leadership insights for women in higher education, from mentorship and resilience to self-discovery and embracing your unique identity

Palie Smart

University of Bristol

Hispanic woman at desk in thought

Questions for the next stage of university leadership

What do I want my legacy as a woman leader to be? These questions can provide a road map for reflection on and planning an academic career, writes Katia Paz Goldfarb

Katia Paz Goldfarb

Montclair State University

Women in leadership concept

Three principles for leadership in academia

Reflecting on her personal journey, Catherine Moran shares the key guidelines that have shaped her leadership as a woman in higher education in times of change

Catherine Moran

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Black female academic at desk

Leaving a legacy as a Black female leader in higher education

Women of colour can leave a legacy that endures far beyond their tenures, writes Menah Pratt. Here, she shares her experience with racism and sexism and describes actions that leave a mark on institutions and students and defy under-representation

Menah Pratt

Virginia Tech

A woman stands in front of a boardroom table, delivering a speech to colleagues

Women’s leadership is vital in the evolving landscape of higher education

The higher education sector is facing unprecedented changes since the pandemic, with technology evolving at a faster rate than ever. Becky Takeda-Tinker and Jenna Tarleton show that women can play a pivotal role in leading the way through this new normal

Becky Takeda-Tinker, Jenna Tarleton

Colorado State University Global

Female leader speaking to her team

Improve women’s accessibility to leadership by following these steps

Weaving equity practices into talent and succession planning and creating roles that work alongside personal commitments are just two of the ways you can enhance the diversity of your leadership

Kim Brooks, Grace Jefferies-Aldridge

Dalhousie University

A male and female figure stand atop piles of coins, with the male figure's pile higher

Why have higher education’s female leaders had to wait so long for equal pay?

The higher education sector’s gender pay gap stands at 14.8 per cent, three percentage points higher than the UK as a whole. Janet Jones asks why and what we can do about it

Janet Jones

University of Westminster

In a boardroom, a group of women discuss the charts on the screen

Let’s celebrate the qualities women bring to higher education leadership

Şerife Eyüpoğlu reflects on her experiences in higher education and the benefits women’s leadership styles can offer

Şerife Eyüpoğlu

Near East University

Climate protest in the street

Empowering women leaders in fighting climate change: a call to action

Achieving gender balance goes beyond mere representation, writes Tahseen Jafry. Tackling the climate crisis necessitates a profound shift among the next generation of leaders towards gender-sensitive decision-making processes

Tahseen Jafry

Glasgow Caledonian University

An illustration of a woman held back by red bindings

The challenges facing female leaders in higher education – and how to address them

Women still face many hurdles on the road to leadership in higher education. Qiuling Chao outlines how we can overcome them

Qiuling Chao

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A small figure kicks over the first in a line of towering stone dominoes

How small universities can make big digital changes

Even tiny institutions can punch above their weight when implementing changes. Chris Porter shares the lessons learned from overhauling library digital services at Birmingham Newman University

Chris Porter

Birmingham Newman University

Two women giving a presentation to their colleagues

Administrators can and must act to nurture LGBTQ leaders

Advocacy by straight administrators and expansion of mentoring could increase the number of LGBTQ leaders in higher education, writes Kevin Leonard

Kevin Leonard

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Black allyship in academia

Backing Black scholars: here’s how universities can do better

Yaz Osho offers nine ways that HEIs can start chipping away at the structural disadvantages and institutional practices that negatively impact Black scholars

Yaz Osho

University of Westminster

red arrow through a wall of wooden blocks

How to advance equity-informed leadership in universities

Increasing diversity at universities requires more than raising aspirations and enrolment among Indigenous and other under-represented students. Braden Hill offers seven ways leaders can address barriers to equity

Braden Hill

Edith Cowan University

Hands holding seedling surrounded by sustainability icons

A holistic blueprint for sustainability

Instead of compartmentalising decisions about infrastructure or resource allocation, universities need a whole-system approach to sustainability that shifts attitudes and behaviour, writes Lily Kong

Lily Kong

Singapore Management University

International partnerships for universities

Seven tips on finding and establishing international partnerships

An international partnership is like a marriage – once the courting is over, long-term compatibility is crucial, says Debra Hinds

Debra Hinds

Arden University