Leadership & Management Summit to highlight sector’s opportunity for evolution

What constitutes a future-ready university? It was a question that already weighed heavily on the higher education sector long before the Covid-19 pandemic thrust every institution’s long-term planning into flux. However, it suddenly became a question not of if a university should adapt to 21st-century demands, but when. The Times Higher Education Leadership & Management Summit, co-hosted with the University of Glasgow from 25 to 27 October, will explore how university leadership can utilise this historic moment as an opportunity to overhaul existing structures that have failed to address systemic issues, and incorporate revolutionary, inclusive modes of teaching and learning.

“Universities are being asked to play a leading role as governments seek to rebuild societies, economies and communities; but at the same time they are also grappling with the unexpected challenges and opportunities that the pandemic has brought upon their institutions,” said Phil Baty, THE’s chief knowledge officer. “This summit is a vital platform to share experiences, practical ideas and inspiration for current leaders, as well as practical examples of how universities are leading on the challenges of confronting racism and social injustice, digital transformation, climate change, and staff well-being.”

Stefania Giannini, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s assistant director general of education, will deliver the opening keynote on how higher education can be a vital resource for exemplifying resilience and innovative thinking to combat future challenges. How universities can be a model of economic growth will be discussed in the following session and first panel discussion, comprising the University of Glasgow’s principal and one of the UK’s top economists, Sir Anton Muscatelli; along with Lorraine Dearden, professor of economics and social statistics and research fellow at UCL; and Anna Vignoles, director of the Leverhulme Trust.

Preserving academic autonomy in political climates that have weaponised policies to undermine the sector will be the focus of the subsequent panel, featuring insights from Fernando León-García, president of the CETYS University System in Mexico, and Rocky Tuan, vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The day’s final session will feature EAB’s director of research growth strategy, Gary Guadagnolo, on implementing strategies to promote organisational resilience in the face of internal and external threats to one’s institution.

Examining tensions that have been heightened by the pandemic will be the focus of the second day of the summit. The first panel discussion, including Michael Goh, vice-president for equity and diversity at the University of Minnesota, will address uprooting systemic racism in institutions by reviewing their historic ties and existing structures that conflict with current standards of inclusivity and racial sensitivity. The following session will examine the decline in staff well-being, with Ciarán O’Boyle, director of the Centre for Positive Psychology and Health at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, weighing in on the policies needed to draw a clearer boundary between work and home in an increasingly hybrid teaching environment.

The third day will investigate the future of university impact, starting with a session focused on the benefits of university alliances in achieving mission-led goals, including Thomas Schneider, executive director of the Pacific Alliance of Liberal Arts Colleges, and Jenny Dixon, provost of Universitas 21. Mr Baty will interview Mark Scott, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, on prioritising civic leadership in a post-Covid era, and ahead of COP26, the penultimate panel at the summit, titled “Generation 2030”, will address climate change, delving into the imperative mission universities must undertake to protect future generations of students.

The summit will also feature the exclusive live reveal of the THE World Reputation Rankings 2021, followed by a data masterclass with Mark Caddow, THE’s data scientist.

Paul Andrew, vice-president of public affairs and communications at Harvard University, will deliver a session on how universities can transform their reputation to make their case as pillars of a progressive society, and the final panel discussion, including Rachel Sandison, vice-principal of external relations at Glasgow, and Pankaj Mittal, secretary general of the Association of Indian Universities, will explore the link between institutional reputation and internationalisation.

Sir Anton said: “As the current THE University of the Year, we are delighted to host the THE Leadership & Management Summit. The pandemic has forced the University of Glasgow to reflect on our direction, management, and priorities. We have not only had to adapt to the impact of a pandemic, but also to the consequences of the UK’s changing relationship with the rest of Europe, and I am proud of the leadership, dedication, courage, and ingenuity that has been shown across our community of world-changers throughout this significantly challenging time. As a broad-based, research-intensive university rooted in history and heritage, we recognise the importance of learning from our experiences to remain credible and relevant in society today.

“The summit will provide you with an opportunity to share experiences and insights, along with challenges and opportunities, with some of the top leaders from the higher education and industry sectors. We hope that you will be inspired to further shape, strengthen, and lead positive and sustainable change in your universities and organisations as we all seek to restore, reset and rebuild.”

Click here to register for the THE Leadership & Management Summit 2021