Higher education leadership explained

A guide to the skills and techniques that constitute effective leadership within universities and academia

Image representing leadership

What is good leadership? There are many different answers to this question depending upon whom you ask. Higher education in every country and region faces a unique set of challenges, from stretched resources, fierce competition and overworked staff to huge and diverse student bodies demanding ever better teaching and support services. Amid these pressures, university leaders need to inspire, reassure, manage and hustle to drive their institutions forward sustainably. And much more than their predecessors, institutional leaders today must be outward facing, responding to the wider societal movements and issues affecting the world we live in. This collection of resources explores what skills aspiring leaders in academia need and what approaches have proven successful for those in the top jobs.

Authentic leadership: the four pillars of keeping it ‘REAL’

Corinna van den Heuvel explains how developing a strong personal leadership philosophy is key to authenticity as a leader

Corinna van den Heuvel

The University of Adelaide

Leading with care

People-first leadership in university and higher education

The importance of being a people-first leader – and tips on how to do it

There are many small ways you can show appreciation for your employees and make them feel valued on a daily basis, says Sabrina Casas

Sabrina Casas

Colorado State University Global

Leading with empathy is more important than ever in HE

How to be an empathetic leader during times of change

No one style is the panacea for all leadership challenges but, as Rachel Gibson explains, empathy is a crucial ingredient for leadership success

Rachel Gibson

The University of Adelaide

Empathy is a big part of authentic leadership, along with open decisionmaking

Authentic leadership isn’t new – but we need it more than ever in HE

For leadership to be effective, we need to understand our own limitations and listen to others to learn how to overcome them, say Sarah Jones and Alasdair Blair

Sarah Jones, Alasdair Blair

De Montfort University

Team of researchers

What is the secret to leading a successful knowledge transfer partnership?

Knowledge transfer partnerships between academics and businesses can result in innovative products and services. Tony Leslie offers 10 pointers on how to increase the likelihood of making these collaborations a success

Tony Leslie

University of the West of Scotland

No one agrees on what research leadership is, let alone how to do it well

The academy has no common idea of what research leadership really is, why it’s important or what good practice looks like. That needs to change, says Matthew Flinders

Matthew Flinders

University of Sheffield, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)

Driving progress on EDI

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

THE podcast: what Freeman Hrabowski wants you to know about inclusivity

The outgoing UMBC president and civil rights activist speaks about the difficult conversations around inclusivity and how it is work that benefits all of humanity

Freeman Hrabowski

University of Maryland Baltimore County

A human paper chain representing how university leaders must come together to tackle inequity

How leaders can and must work together to address inequity

Leading by example and striking the right balance between competition and collaboration are crucial points for those hoping to lead HE to a more equitable future

Charles Egbu

Leeds Trinity University

University senior management should employ authentic leadership to advance EDI

Managers are so far from the front line; how can they advance EDI?

Authentic leadership involves being clear about one’s values but taking a step back to allow others the space to develop the scope of projects, says Harriet Dunbar-Morris

Harriet Dunbar-Morris

The University of Portsmouth

Image of a mamager talking to her team

Running a diverse team is harder work – but the rewards are immense

John Womersley managed more than 50 nationalities on a €3 billion science project. Here, he reflects on the experience and gives tips on getting the most out of a diverse team

John Womersley

University of Oxford

Five ways to motivate and inspire a high-performing team

Senior leaders should hold themselves and their teams accountable for performance-driven metrics, foster psychologically safe workplaces and reward values-based behaviours

Sandy Jones

Colorado State University Global

Leadership in a fast changing world

University leaders must demonstrate an adaptive mindset and be aware they don't have all the answers

University leaders need to demonstrate an adaptive mindset

With huge change ahead, leaders must be brave and accept that the right decisions may not always deliver the best spreadsheet results, say Alasdair Blair and Sarah Jones

Alasdair Blair, Sarah Jones

De Montfort University

Combining business and educational acumen is required for HE leaders

Modern higher education leaders must blend business and educational knowledge

Clearly articulated values, structures that support accountability and metrics that align with strategic goals are the new leadership competencies, says Angela Hernquist

Angela Hernquist

Colorado State University Global

University leaders need to create policy for permanent remote work

What must leaders consider as they develop permanent remote work policies?

Most agree that remote working is here to stay, so developing thoughtful and effective policy will be critical to ensure that students are served and institutions thrive

Jon McNaughtan, Catherine Whaley, Chelsea Wallace

Texas Tech University

Protestors marching

Four key strategies for higher education leaders to advance democracy

University leaders must use their positions to develop citizens and communities that combat tyranny and facilitate democracy – hard work that is done on and off campus

Jon McNaughtan, Alexander W. Wiseman

Texas Tech University

What can universities do to protect Russian and Ukrainian academics fighting for truth?

Academics’ struggle is a stirring reminder that the freedom of scholars and students to speak, teach and publish is neither inviolable nor dispensable, says Ron Daniels

Ron Daniels

Johns Hopkins University

Building a supportive environment

Everyone at universities need their collegiality stocks replenished post-Covid

We need our collegiality reserves replenished post-Covid – here’s how

While collegiality rests mostly with the people, institutions cannot just sit back and wait for it to spring on its own, says Lucas Lixinski

Lucas Lixinski

UNSW Sydney

Friends online

Virtually friends: building bonds in a remote work environment

When Sandy Jones came into her first remote position in 2020, she made it her mission to develop closeness among members of her team – here’s what she did

Sandy Jones

Colorado State University Global

Mentorship and helping

Leading through mentorship: a guide to the ups and downs

Anna Chur-Hansen reflects on her experiences as a mentee and mentor, how this skill can be developed and how it contributes to the building of a meaningful career

Anna Chur-Hansen

The University of Adelaide

Penguins following each other across a beach

The promotion process needs bigger, better data if we’re to make it fairer

Enough of the tiny sample sizes at institutional level – if we want to identify the issues that hold back careers, we need sector-wide figures and cooperation

Patrick Bailey

London South Bank University

Complaining that the leadership talent pool is running dry? Here’s how to fill it

Abandoning traditional hierarchies and allowing mid- and early-career staff to experience leadership creates a thriving, diverse talent pool, say Jo Cresswell and Peter Hogg

Jo Cresswell, Peter Hogg

Dr Joanne Cresswell Coaching, University of Salford